Virome Analysis and Detection of Ticks and Tick-borne Viruses in Shanghai, China

Wenbo Zeng¹Yang Limin²Lei Cui²Chuhan Liang¹Dan Zhu²Yuan Fang²Yi Zhang^2*Hongxia Liu^3*

• ¹Fudan University School of Life Sciences, Shanghai, China
• ²Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Shanghai, China
• ³Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China

Ticks are significant ectoparasites and vectors responsible for the transmission of a diverse array of pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and protozoa, many of which pose substantial risks to public health and livestock. In recent decades, the incidence and diversity of tick-borne diseases have been increasing, with several novel tick-borne viruses (TBVs) being discovered globally. This study aimed to characterize the virome of ticks collected from various locations in Shanghai, China, using next-generation sequencing (NGS) to identify potential viral threats. A total of 2,568 ticks belonging to three dominant species Haemaphysalis flava, Haemaphysalis longicornis, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato were collected and analyzed. The metagenomic sequencing approach identified 214 viral contigs classified into 32 viral families, including Chrysoviridae, Phenuiviridae, Partitiviridae, Nairoviridae, Dicistroviridae, Reoviridae, Botourmiaviridae, and Flaviviridae. Several TBVs with potential relevance to human and animal health, such as the Cheeloo Jingmen-like virus (CJLV), Songling virus (SGLV), Brown dog tick phlebovirus 1(BDTPV1), Brown dog tick phlebovirus 2(BDTPV2) and Wuhan mosquito virus 1(WMV1), were detected. The study also revealed significant differences in the virome composition between tick species and geographical This is a provisional file, not the final typeset article locations, emphasizing the role of environmental factors in shaping viral diversity. While most identified viruses require further validation, these findings underscore the need for ongoing surveillance of tick-borne viruses to mitigate emerging infectious disease threats. Implementation of longitudinal virome surveillance across tick developmental stages in Shanghai,China will provide crucial insights for early warning systems, disease prevention strategies, and public health interventions.