<
https://theconversation.com/new-virus-uncovered-in-china-is-this-a-sign-tick-borne-diseases-are-on-the-rise-240503>
"Ticks are responsible for spreading over 25 human and animal diseases. While
you may be familiar with some of these – such as Lyme disease – there are many
others you’ve probably never heard of, including some that have been discovered
only in the past few years, such as wetland virus.
In a new case study, researchers in China have published details about wetland
virus. It was first identified in 2019, after a patient bitten by a tick while
visiting a wetland park in Inner Mongolia was admitted to hospital with
symptoms of fever, headache and vomiting that progressed to multiple organ
dysfunction.
To understand the cause of the patient’s illness, the researchers sequenced the
genetic material extracted from a blood sample to find the virus responsible
for the disease. They found a previously unknown virus – a close relative of
other tick-transmitted viruses, including the dangerous Crimean–Congo
haemorrhagic fever virus, which has a 30% mortality rate. Wetland virus is a
member of the
orthonairovirus genus in the
Nairoviridae family.
The research team then screened other patients from across north-eastern China
who had developed an acute fever within one month of a tick bite. This led to
them identifying another 17 cases of wetland virus infection – confirming the
virus was well established in the region.
Next, the team carried out a large-scale ecological survey to understand the
source of wetland virus. They looked at ticks, as well as livestock and wild
animals living in the region, as animals often play an important role in the
spread of tick-borne pathogens. They found some sheep, pigs and horses were
infected, suggesting livestock could be reservoirs for wetland virus.
So far, wetland virus has only been found in north-eastern China. However, the
tick species implicated in transmitting it has a much wider distribution across
Europe and Asia, so it’s likely the virus is far more widespread. Surveys of
ticks and livestock, and even patients with unexplained fever, elsewhere in
Asia and in Europe could confirm this."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
