Extensive diversity of RNA viruses in ticks revealed by metagenomics in
northeastern China
Abstract
Ticks act as important vectors of infectious agents, and several
emerging tick-borne viruses have recently been identified to be
associated with human diseases in northeastern China. However, little is
known about the tick virome in northeastern China. We used
metatranscriptomics to investigate the virome diversity in
Haemaphysalis japonica, H. concinna, Dermacentor
silvarum, and Ixodes persulcatus ticks collected from
northeastern China. In total, 22 RNA viruses were identified, including
four each in the Nairoviridae and Phenuiviridae families,
three each in the Flaviviridae, Rhabdoviridae, and
Solemoviridae families, two in the Chuviridae family, and
one each in the Partitiviridae, Tombusviridae families and
an unclassified virus. Of these, eight viruses were novel species,
belonging to the Nairoviridae (Ji’an nairovirus and Yichun
nairovirus), Phenuiviridae (Mudanjiang phlebovirus),
Rhabdoviridae (Tahe rhabdovirus 1-3), Chuviridae (Yichun
mivirus), and Tombusviridae (Yichun tombus-like virus) families,
and five members were established human pathogens, including Alongshan
virus, tick-borne encephalitis virus, Songling virus, Beiji nairovirus,
and Nuomin virus. I. persulcatus ticks had significant higher
viral species than H. japonica, H. concinna, and D.
silvarum ticks. Significant differences in tick viromes were observed
among Daxing’an, Xiaoxing’an and Changbai mountains. These findings
showed an extensive diversity of RNA viruses in ticks in northeastern
China, revealing potential public health threats from the emerging
tick-borne viruses. Further studies are needed to explain the natural
circulation and pathogenicity of these viruses.