Detection and phylogenetic analysis of Dabieshan tick virus and Okutama tick virus in ticks collected from Cape Toi, Japan

New technologies have led to the discovery of novel tick-borne and tick-associated viruses. Dabieshan tick virus (DaTV) and Okutama tick virus (OkTV), which belong to the family Phenuiviridae, were discovered in ticks in China and Japan, respectively, in the 2010s. Although it is unknown whether the...

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Main Authors: Hirohisa Mekata, Ikuo Kobayashi, Tamaki Okabayashi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-11-01
Series:Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877959X23001188
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author Hirohisa Mekata
Ikuo Kobayashi
Tamaki Okabayashi
author_facet Hirohisa Mekata
Ikuo Kobayashi
Tamaki Okabayashi
author_sort Hirohisa Mekata
collection DOAJ
description New technologies have led to the discovery of novel tick-borne and tick-associated viruses. Dabieshan tick virus (DaTV) and Okutama tick virus (OkTV), which belong to the family Phenuiviridae, were discovered in ticks in China and Japan, respectively, in the 2010s. Although it is unknown whether these viruses cause disease in animals or humans, all tick-associated viruses have the potential to become etiological agents of infectious diseases through gene reassortment. Therefore, it is important to elucidate the ecology of these viruses, regardless of their pathogenicity. In this study, ticks were collected year-round in Cape Toi, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan, and an epidemiological survey of tick-associated phenuiviruses was performed. A total of 516 ticks collected from the vegetation by dragging flannel sheets were used for analysis. Pan-phenuivirus reverse transcription PCR was performed on the tick samples, and DaTV and OkTV were detected. We found that 37.0% (85/230) and 23% (16/71) of nymphal and adult Haemaphysalis longicornis were infected with DaTV, respectively, and 10% (6/62) and 13% (1/8) of nymphal and adult Haemaphysalis flava were infected with OkTV, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the DaTV identified in this study formed a unique clade that was distinct from the strains identified in China. The survey revealed that DaTV is distributed not only in China, but also in Japan. We believe that this study contributes to our understanding of the prevalence of tick-associated viruses.
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spelling doaj.art-8548eaacae5f48e2a09845ae6b05178f2023-09-24T05:14:38ZengElsevierTicks and Tick-Borne Diseases1877-96032023-11-01146102237Detection and phylogenetic analysis of Dabieshan tick virus and Okutama tick virus in ticks collected from Cape Toi, JapanHirohisa Mekata0Ikuo Kobayashi1Tamaki Okabayashi2Center for Animal Disease Control, University of Miyazaki, 1-1 Gakuen-kibanadai Nishi, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan; Corresponding author.Center for Animal Disease Control, University of Miyazaki, 1-1 Gakuen-kibanadai Nishi, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan; Field Science Center, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, 10100-1 Shimanouchi, Miyazaki 880-0121, JapanCenter for Animal Disease Control, University of Miyazaki, 1-1 Gakuen-kibanadai Nishi, Miyazaki 889-2192, JapanNew technologies have led to the discovery of novel tick-borne and tick-associated viruses. Dabieshan tick virus (DaTV) and Okutama tick virus (OkTV), which belong to the family Phenuiviridae, were discovered in ticks in China and Japan, respectively, in the 2010s. Although it is unknown whether these viruses cause disease in animals or humans, all tick-associated viruses have the potential to become etiological agents of infectious diseases through gene reassortment. Therefore, it is important to elucidate the ecology of these viruses, regardless of their pathogenicity. In this study, ticks were collected year-round in Cape Toi, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan, and an epidemiological survey of tick-associated phenuiviruses was performed. A total of 516 ticks collected from the vegetation by dragging flannel sheets were used for analysis. Pan-phenuivirus reverse transcription PCR was performed on the tick samples, and DaTV and OkTV were detected. We found that 37.0% (85/230) and 23% (16/71) of nymphal and adult Haemaphysalis longicornis were infected with DaTV, respectively, and 10% (6/62) and 13% (1/8) of nymphal and adult Haemaphysalis flava were infected with OkTV, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the DaTV identified in this study formed a unique clade that was distinct from the strains identified in China. The survey revealed that DaTV is distributed not only in China, but also in Japan. We believe that this study contributes to our understanding of the prevalence of tick-associated viruses.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877959X23001188JapanPhlebovirusPhylogenySatellite virusesTicks
spellingShingle Hirohisa Mekata
Ikuo Kobayashi
Tamaki Okabayashi
Detection and phylogenetic analysis of Dabieshan tick virus and Okutama tick virus in ticks collected from Cape Toi, Japan
Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases
Japan
Phlebovirus
Phylogeny
Satellite viruses
Ticks
title Detection and phylogenetic analysis of Dabieshan tick virus and Okutama tick virus in ticks collected from Cape Toi, Japan
title_full Detection and phylogenetic analysis of Dabieshan tick virus and Okutama tick virus in ticks collected from Cape Toi, Japan
title_fullStr Detection and phylogenetic analysis of Dabieshan tick virus and Okutama tick virus in ticks collected from Cape Toi, Japan
title_full_unstemmed Detection and phylogenetic analysis of Dabieshan tick virus and Okutama tick virus in ticks collected from Cape Toi, Japan
title_short Detection and phylogenetic analysis of Dabieshan tick virus and Okutama tick virus in ticks collected from Cape Toi, Japan
title_sort detection and phylogenetic analysis of dabieshan tick virus and okutama tick virus in ticks collected from cape toi japan
topic Japan
Phlebovirus
Phylogeny
Satellite viruses
Ticks
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877959X23001188
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