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Extensive diversity of RNA viruses in ticks revealed by metagenomics in northeastern China
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  • Ziyan Liu,
  • Liang Li,
  • Wenbo Xu,
  • Yongxu Yuan,
  • Xiaojie Liang,
  • L. Zhang,
  • Zhengkai Wei,
  • Liyan Sui,
  • Yinghua Zhao,
  • Yanyan Cui,
  • Qing Yin,
  • Dajun Li,
  • Qianxue Li,
  • Zhijun Hou,
  • Feng Wei,
  • Quan Liu,
  • Zedong Wang
Ziyan Liu
Bethune First Hospital of Jilin University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Liang Li
Changchun Veterinary Research Institute Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Changchun 130122 Jilin People’s Republic of China
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Wenbo Xu
Bethune First Hospital of Jilin University
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Yongxu Yuan
Jilin Agricultural University
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Xiaojie Liang
Jilin Agricultural University
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L. Zhang
Changchun Veterinary Research Institute Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Changchun 130122 Jilin People’s Republic of China
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Zhengkai Wei
Foshan University School of Life Science and Engineering
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Liyan Sui
Bethune First Hospital of Jilin University
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Yinghua Zhao
Bethune First Hospital of Jilin University
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Yanyan Cui
Tonghua Normal University
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Qing Yin
Bethune First Hospital of Jilin University
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Dajun Li
Jilin Agricultural University
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Qianxue Li
Changchun Veterinary Research Institute Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Changchun 130122 Jilin People’s Republic of China
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Zhijun Hou
Northeast Forestry University
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Feng Wei
Jilin Agricultural University
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Quan Liu
Bethune First Hospital of Jilin University
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Zedong Wang
Bethune First Hospital of Jilin University
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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.