SFTSV infection in rodents and their ectoparasitic chiggers

PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2022 Aug 29;16(8):e0010698. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010698. eCollection 2022 Aug.

Abstract

SFTSV, a tick-borne bunyavirus causing a severe hemorrhagic fever termed as severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS). To evaluate the potential role of rodents and its ectoparasitic chiggers in the transmission of SFTSV, we collected wild rodents and chiggers on their bodies from a rural area in Qingdao City, Shandong Province, China in September 2020. PCR amplification of the M and L segments of SFTSV showed that 32.3% (10/31) of rodents and 0.2% (1/564) of chiggers (Leptotrombidium deliense) from the rodents were positive to SFTSV. Our results suggested that rodents and chiggers may play an important role in the transmission of SFTSV, although the efficiency of chiggers to transmit SFTSV needs to be further investigated experimentally.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bunyaviridae Infections*
  • China / epidemiology
  • Fever
  • Mite Infestations*
  • Phlebovirus* / genetics
  • Rodentia
  • Ticks*
  • Trombiculidae*

Grants and funding

This study was supported by National Natural Science Funds of China [grant number 81971939] (Xue-Jie Yu). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.