Virome analyses of Amblyomma cajennense and Rhipicephalus microplus ticks collected in Colombia

Katterine Molina-Hoyos, Carolina Montoya-Ruíz, Patricia V. Aguilar, Alveiro Pérez-Doria, Francisco J. Díaz, Juan D. Rodas

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Tick-borne viruses (TBV) have gained public health relevance in recent years due to the recognition of human-associated fatal cases and the increase in tick-borne disease and transmission. However, many tick species have not been studied for their potential to transmit pathogenic viruses, especially those found in Latin America. To gain better understanding of the tick virome, we conducted targeted amplification using broadly-reactive consensus-degenerate pan-viral targeting viruses from the genera Flavivirus, Bandavirus, Uukuvirus, and Orthonairovirus genus. Additionally, we conducted unbiased metagenomic analyses to investigate the presence of viral RNA sequences in Amblyomma cajennense, A. patinoi and Rhipicephalus microplus ticks collected from a horse slaughter plant in Medellín, Colombia. While no viral products were detected by PCR, results of the metagenomic analyses revealed the presence of viral genomes belonging to the genera Phlebovirus, Bandavirus, and Uukuvirus, including Lihan Tick Virus (LTV), which was previously reported in Rhipicephalus microplus from Colombia. Overall, the results emphasized the enormous utility of the next-generation sequencing in identifying virus genetic diversity presents in ticks and other species of vectors and reservoirs.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number107158
JournalActa Tropica
Volume253
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2024
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Amblyomma cajennense
  • Amblyomma patinoi
  • Lihan tick virus
  • Rhipicephalus microplus
  • Tick- borne-viruses

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Parasitology
  • Infectious Diseases

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