Emerging Tick-Borne Dabie bandavirus: Virology, Epidemiology, and Prevention

Abstract

Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS), caused by Dabie bandavirus (SFTSV), is an emerging infectious disease first identified in China. Since its discovery, infections have spread throughout East Asian countries primarily through tick bites but also via transmission between animals and humans. The expanding range of ticks, the primary vectors for SFTSV, combined with migration patterns of tick-carrying birds, sets the stage for the global spread of this virus. SFTSV rapidly evolves due to continuous mutation and reassortment; currently, no approved vaccines or antiviral drugs are available. Thus, the threat this virus poses to global health is unmistakable. This review consolidates the most recent research on SFTSV, including its molecular characteristics, transmission pathways through ticks and other animals, as well as the progress in antiviral drug and vaccine development, encompassing animal models and clinical trials.

Global epidemiology of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus in human and animals: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“… 14 At present, the spread of SFTS continues to expand, and there is no vaccine available for prevention or specific drugs available for treating infections. 3 , 15 , 16 , 17 A deep understanding of the human infection status and potential hosts of SFTSV is crucial for drug developers, vaccine manufacturers, clinicians, and policy makers. This understanding can not only provide key information for early monitoring and prevention of the epidemic, but also guide the formulation of public health policies, in order to establish a more sensitive disease monitoring system and emergency response mechanisms on a global scale.…”

Adenosine Deaminase as a Potential Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker for Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome

“…Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a severe infectious disease caused by the SFTS virus (SFTSV), renamed Dabie bandavirus in 2019 by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses . First isolated in China in 2010, the Dabie bandavirus is a single-stranded negative-sense RNA virus. , It is widely distributed in East and Southeast Asian countries. Ticks act as the primary reservoir host and transmission vector for this virus, and domesticated animals, such as cattle, sheep, and dogs, may also be reservoir hosts.…”

“… 1 First isolated in China in 2010, the Dabie bandavirus is a single-stranded negative-sense RNA virus. 1 , 2 It is widely distributed in East and Southeast Asian countries. Ticks act as the primary reservoir host and transmission vector for this virus, and domesticated animals, such as cattle, sheep, and dogs, may also be reservoir hosts.…”

IFITM3 inhibits severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus entry and interacts with viral Gc protein

“…Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a tick-borne disease caused by Dabie bandavirus, initially known as SFTS virus (SFTSV), classified into the order Bunyavirales, family Phenuiviridae. [1][2][3] There are no effective vaccines or specific therapeutic drugs against SFTSV infection, which effort is partially hindered by the scarce knowledge of the pathogenesis and immune mechanism of lethal SFTSV infection. Understanding the virus-host interaction is critical to clarify these issues.…”