Survey and Characterization of Jingmen Tick Virus Variants

Abstract

We obtained a Jingmen tick virus (JMTV) isolate, following inoculation of a tick pool with detectable Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) RNA. We subsequently screened 7223 ticks, representing 15 species in five genera, collected from various regions in Anatolia and eastern Thrace, Turkey. Moreover, we tested specimens from various patient cohorts (n = 103), and canine (n = 60), bovine (n = 20) and avian specimens (n = 65). JMTV nucleic acids were detected in 3.9% of the tick pools, including those from several tick species from the genera Rhipicephalus and Haemaphysalis, and Hyalomma marginatum, the main vector of CCHFV in Turkey. Phylogenetic analysis supported two separate clades, independent of host or location, suggesting ubiquitous distribution in ticks. JMTV was not recovered from any human, animal or bird specimens tested. Near-complete viral genomes were sequenced from the prototype isolate and from three infected tick pools. Genome topology and functional organization were identical to the members of Jingmen group viruses. Phylogenetic reconstruction of individual viral genome segments and functional elements further supported the close relationship of the strains from Kosovo. We further identified probable recombination events in the JMTV genome, involving closely-related strains from Anatolia or China.

Isolation and Characterisation of Alongshan Virus in Russia

“…The geographic distribution of the JMV group is very wide, encompassing Asia [1,4,9,10], Europe [8,[10][11][12], Central and South America [2,3,8,13,14] and Africa [2,8]. Virus RNAs of this group have been detected not only in different species of insects, e.g., mosquitoes [5] and Drosophila melanogaster [15], but also in the nematode Toxocara canis [16,17] and ticks [1,4,10] including Rhipicephalus microplus [8,14], Ixodes ricinus [8,12] and I. persulcatus [5,9]. Jingmen tick virus (JMTV) has been isolated from R. microplus ticks with restricted in vitro multiplication in tick and mammalian cells [3,4], and from Amblyomma javanense ticks with continuous cultivation in a tick cell line [9].…”

Proteomics Computational Analyses Suggest that the Envelope Glycoproteins of Segmented Jingmen Flavi-Like Viruses Are Class II Viral Fusion Proteins (β-Penetrenes) with Mucin-Like Domains

“…JMTV-related flavi-like viruses are now known to be widespread in ticks worldwide and some have been associated with febrile illness in humans [11][12][13][14]. A retrospective study reported the identification of JMTV in Amblyomma javanense and skin biopsies and the blood of febrile patients in China [15].…”

“…A retrospective study reported the identification of JMTV in Amblyomma javanense and skin biopsies and the blood of febrile patients in China [15]. JMTV has also been isolated from ticks, animals or humans in Kosovo [16], Trinidad and Tobago [17], Turkey [11] and the French Antilles, France, Lao People's Democratic Republic, and Cambodia [13]. Isolations of other JMTV-related viruses include Mogiana tick virus (MGTV) from R. microplus and cattle in Brazil [18,19], Kindia tick virus (KNTV) from R. geigyi in Guinea [20] and Yanggou tick virus (YGTV) from Dermacentor nuttalli in China [21].…”

First isolation and characterisation of Alongshan virus in Russia

“…The geographic distribution of the JMTV group is very wide, encompassing Asia (1, 4,8,9), Europe (9)(10)(11)(12), Central and South America (2,3,(12)(13)(14) and Africa (2,12). Virus RNAs of this group were detected not only in different species of insects, e.g.…”

“…Drosophila melanogaster (15), but also in the nematode Toxocara canis (16,17) and ticks (1,4,9) including Rhipicephalus microplus (12,13), Ixodes ricinus (11,12) and Ixodes persulcatus (5,8). JMTV were isolated from Rhipicephalus microplus ticks with restricted in vitro multiplication in tick and mammalian cells (3,4), and from Amblyomma javanense ticks with continuous cultivation in a tick cell line (8).…”