Emerging tick-borne viruses are posing an increasing health concern.However,there is limited knowledge about the distribution characteristics of tick virome in Yunnan Province,southwestern China,where it is distinguis...Emerging tick-borne viruses are posing an increasing health concern.However,there is limited knowledge about the distribution characteristics of tick virome in Yunnan Province,southwestern China,where it is distinguished by its diverse eco-climatic zones and rich biodiversity,making it a hotspot for studying tick-borne pathogens.The present study aimed to explore the diversity and ecological characteristics of tick virome in Yunnan Province,especially to identify novel potentially pathogenic viruses threatening human and vertebrate animals,and to investigate host-specific viral tropisms and their transmission characteristics.Using a meta-transcriptomic approach,the study analyzed the viromes of 448 individual ticks and approximately 10,000 eggs collected from nine counties with different hosts,altitudes and landscapes.The ticks encompassed eight species across four genera.The study focused on delineating virome diversity profiles,evaluating host-specific viral tropisms,and investigating potential transovarial transmission through viral contigs identification and Sanger sequencing.The study identified 53 viral families,revealing significant virome diversity and geographic and environmental specificity.Haemaphysalis and Ixodes ticks exhibited greater viral richness and abundance,with host taxonomy being a primary influencing factor.We determined 102 viral genomes encompassing 35 species,comprising 15 novel viruses identified when their RNAdependent RNA polymerase/DNA polymerase sequences exhibited<90% amino acid identity to known viruses.The novel vectors for vertebrate-related or potentially pathogenic viruses were also detected,thus providing new insights into transmission cycles.The evidence for transovarial transmission was reinforced by the absence of significant differences in Chuviridae and Nairoviridae families between female ticks and their eggs.These findings underscore the necessity of continuous surveillance to avert the spillover of emerging pathogens.展开更多
Recently,there has been a continuous stream of reports on emerging tick-borne pathogens affecting humans.Qinghai Province,located in the northweastern region,is one of China’s major pastoral areas,providing a suitabl...Recently,there has been a continuous stream of reports on emerging tick-borne pathogens affecting humans.Qinghai Province,located in the northweastern region,is one of China’s major pastoral areas,providing a suitable environment for ticks''survival and transmitting tick-borne pathogens.Here,we collected 560 free-living and parasitic ticks from 11 locations in Qinghai Province using the flag-drag method or tweezers,identifying them as belonging to 4 species of ticks.The overall positivity rate for tick-borne pathogens was 51.61%,comprisingRickettsia(34.64%),Anaplasma(5.00%),Ehrlichia(2.14%),Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato(BBSL)(7.50%),Babesia(0.18%),andTheileria(5.89%).Sequencing revealed the presence of 7 species ofRickettsia,4 species ofAnaplasma,2 species ofEhrlichia,2 species of BBSL,1 species ofBabesia,and 3 species ofTheileria.Among the ticks,6.43%were co-infected with 2 pathogens,while 0.36%exhibited co-infection with 3 pathogens.Significant correlations(P<0.05)were observed between the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens and factors including tick species,sex,developmental stages,parasitic status,and blood-feeding status.The results highlight the diverse distribution of tick-borne pathogens in Qinghai Province,posing a significant threat to both local animal husbandry and human health.It underscores the need to enhance systematic monitoring of tick-borne pathogens in the local population and livestock.展开更多
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2024YFC2607504)National Natural Science Foundation of China(U2002219).
文摘Emerging tick-borne viruses are posing an increasing health concern.However,there is limited knowledge about the distribution characteristics of tick virome in Yunnan Province,southwestern China,where it is distinguished by its diverse eco-climatic zones and rich biodiversity,making it a hotspot for studying tick-borne pathogens.The present study aimed to explore the diversity and ecological characteristics of tick virome in Yunnan Province,especially to identify novel potentially pathogenic viruses threatening human and vertebrate animals,and to investigate host-specific viral tropisms and their transmission characteristics.Using a meta-transcriptomic approach,the study analyzed the viromes of 448 individual ticks and approximately 10,000 eggs collected from nine counties with different hosts,altitudes and landscapes.The ticks encompassed eight species across four genera.The study focused on delineating virome diversity profiles,evaluating host-specific viral tropisms,and investigating potential transovarial transmission through viral contigs identification and Sanger sequencing.The study identified 53 viral families,revealing significant virome diversity and geographic and environmental specificity.Haemaphysalis and Ixodes ticks exhibited greater viral richness and abundance,with host taxonomy being a primary influencing factor.We determined 102 viral genomes encompassing 35 species,comprising 15 novel viruses identified when their RNAdependent RNA polymerase/DNA polymerase sequences exhibited<90% amino acid identity to known viruses.The novel vectors for vertebrate-related or potentially pathogenic viruses were also detected,thus providing new insights into transmission cycles.The evidence for transovarial transmission was reinforced by the absence of significant differences in Chuviridae and Nairoviridae families between female ticks and their eggs.These findings underscore the necessity of continuous surveillance to avert the spillover of emerging pathogens.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(U2002219)The datasets generated or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable requestAll the nucleotide sequences obtained in this study are available in the GenBank of National Center for Biotechnology Information with accession numbers OR805110-OR805127,OR792783-OR792797,OR793990-OR793998,and OR813910-OR813915.
文摘Recently,there has been a continuous stream of reports on emerging tick-borne pathogens affecting humans.Qinghai Province,located in the northweastern region,is one of China’s major pastoral areas,providing a suitable environment for ticks''survival and transmitting tick-borne pathogens.Here,we collected 560 free-living and parasitic ticks from 11 locations in Qinghai Province using the flag-drag method or tweezers,identifying them as belonging to 4 species of ticks.The overall positivity rate for tick-borne pathogens was 51.61%,comprisingRickettsia(34.64%),Anaplasma(5.00%),Ehrlichia(2.14%),Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato(BBSL)(7.50%),Babesia(0.18%),andTheileria(5.89%).Sequencing revealed the presence of 7 species ofRickettsia,4 species ofAnaplasma,2 species ofEhrlichia,2 species of BBSL,1 species ofBabesia,and 3 species ofTheileria.Among the ticks,6.43%were co-infected with 2 pathogens,while 0.36%exhibited co-infection with 3 pathogens.Significant correlations(P<0.05)were observed between the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens and factors including tick species,sex,developmental stages,parasitic status,and blood-feeding status.The results highlight the diverse distribution of tick-borne pathogens in Qinghai Province,posing a significant threat to both local animal husbandry and human health.It underscores the need to enhance systematic monitoring of tick-borne pathogens in the local population and livestock.
