We demonstrate maintenance and transmission of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus by Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks in the larva, nymph, and adult stages with dissemination in salivary gland, midgut, and ovarian tissues. The H. longicornis tick is a competent vector to transmit this virus in both transovarial and transstadial modes.
Keywords: China; Haemaphysalis longicornis; SFTSV; microinjection; severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome; severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus; ticks; transovarial transmission; transstadial transmission; vectorborne infections; viruses.