We demonstrated experimental acquisition and transmission of Heartland bandavirus by Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks. Virus was detected in tick salivary gland and midgut tissues. A total of 80% of mice exposed to 1 infected tick seroconverted, suggesting horizontal transmission. H. longicornis ticks can transmit the virus in the transovarial mode.
Keywords: Dabie bandavirus; Haemaphysalis longicornis; Heartland virus; invasive species; severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus; tick-borne diseases; ticks; vector-borne infections; zoonoses.