Tick‐borne viruses: Current trends in large‐scale viral surveillance

Abstract

Ticks are ectoparasites that transmit pathogens, such as tick‐borne viruses, to their hosts. Tick‐borne viruses are diverse: they can be categorized into two orders, nine families, and at least 12 genera. Almost 25% of these viruses are infectious to humans and some are a serious threat to public health. The global rise in tick‐borne virus diseases has been linked to climate change which has reduced tick mortality in the winter and extended their active period. The spread of tick‐borne viral diseases to humans has received significant interest due to the increased threat to human life; epidemiological monitoring of tick‐borne viruses using molecular, immunological, and environmental methods is now a priority. Nevertheless, many tick‐borne diseases remain undiagnosed, which poses a challenge to public administration and health care officials. This review discusses three major tick‐borne RNA viruses that cause serious infection in humans: severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) virus, tick‐borne encephalitis (TBE), and Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus. Specifically, we discuss the epidemiological monitoring, vector control measures, molecular diagnostics, vaccines, and environmental determinants related to these viruses. Furthermore, we review the current surveillance of these tick‐borne viruses with a specific focus on diagnostic approaches that employ molecular interventions such as viral nucleic acid isolation, PCR‐based diagnostics, and high‐throughput sequencing technologies.

Characterization of Haemaphysalis longicornis microbiome collected from different regions of Korean peninsula

“…Molecular interventions such as viral nucleic acid isolation, PCR‐based diagnostics, and genomics technologies are currently been advocated for the surveillance of tick‐borne viruses (Park et al . 2020). Besides human diseases, ticks have been reported to transmit various veterinary pathogens that causes economic losses in the livestock industry (Roy et al .…”

“…Ticks are ectoparasites that consume human or animal blood for growth and reproduction and act as a carrier for transmitting pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and protozoa (Adegoke et al 2020;Chicana et al 2019). In particular, global warming has increased the winter survival, active period and activity range of ticks, and consequently have increased their vectorial capacity (Park et al 2020). Recently public health researchers and administrators have taken note of serious complications of tick-borne viruses that cause haemorrhages and diseases of central nerve system in human for next-level of epidemiological surveillance.…”

“…Recently public health researchers and administrators have taken note of serious complications of tick-borne viruses that cause haemorrhages and diseases of central nerve system in human for next-level of epidemiological surveillance. Molecular interventions such as viral nucleic acid isolation, PCR-based diagnostics, and genomics technologies are currently been advocated for the surveillance of tick-borne viruses (Park et al 2020). Besides human diseases, ticks have been reported to transmit various veterinary pathogens that causes economic losses in the livestock industry (Roy et al 2018).…”

“…In particular, global warming has increased the winter survival, active period and activity range of ticks, and consequently have increased their vectorial capacity (Park et al . 2020). Recently public health researchers and administrators have taken note of serious complications of tick‐borne viruses that cause haemorrhages and diseases of central nerve system in human for next‐level of epidemiological surveillance.…”

Deep sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus from the tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, in Korea

“…The Asian Longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) is widely distributed in Asia, including China, Japan, and Korea. The species is considered as an important medical vector mediating various tick-borne diseases (Park et al 2014;Park et al 2020;Tateno et al 2015). Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), in particular, is an emerging tick-borne viral disease characterized by leukocytopenia, fever, and thrombocytopenia (Yu et al 2011).…”