Abstract
Background
Climate change, land development, and increased outdoor human activity have increased the prevalence and distribution of tick-borne pathogens, causing public health issues. Asia is considered a pivotal region of emerging infectious diseases caused by zoonotic disease, thus requiring active research in Asian countries. Therefore, this study aimed to conduct effective surveillance systems and establish preventive strategies against introducing novel tick-borne diseases.
Methods
Blood-fed ticks (n = 261) were collected from different animals across nine Asian countries between 2022 and 2023. Five genera of adults and nymph ticks were used, including Amblyomma, Haemphysalis, Hyalomma, Rhipicephalus, and Ixodes. Animals that collected the ticks were wild, domestic animals, birds and reptiles. Next-generation sequencing was performed to detect unknown pathogens circulating in the animals.
Results
From blood-fed ticks, clean reads of 18,382,262 − 30,460,619 of DNA viruses, 22,744,384 − 32,400,471 of RNA viruses, 134,506–286,282 16S rRNA of bacteria, and 147,154–352,826 18S rRNA of protozoa were obtained in nine Asian countries. After analysis of species, 28 RNA and 13 DNA viruses, 16 bacteria and 4 protozoa were detected. Several tick-borne pathogens including families, that cause zoonotic diseases, such as Phenuiviridae, Nairoviridae, Rickettsiaceae, and Borreliaceae were identified.
Conclusion
This study is distinctive as cooperative studies with nine Asian countries to prevent the spreading of tick-borne diseases across Asian regions. The results suggest that pathogens, which were detected from animal blood-fed ticks, can circulate in the animals and can be transmitted to humans. In addition, this study can provide a basis for effective surveillance systems to prevent novel pathogens.