Researchers identify new tick-borne orthonairovirus linked to flu-like illness in China
Scientists in China have discovered a previously unknown tick-borne virus, named Asian longhorned tick nairovirus (ALTNV), that causes fever, fatigue, gastrointestinal symptoms and occasional low platelet counts.
A team from the State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity in Beijing isolated a novel orthonairovirus, Asian longhorned tick nairovirus (ALTNV), from patients with unexplained tick-bite illness. Among 3,163 individuals tested, 10.4% showed evidence of ALTNV infection, rising to 15.1% in those who were negative for Dabie bandavirus. ALTNV infection alone produced symptoms such as fatigue, gastrointestinal upset and occasional thrombocytopenia, and all such patients recovered.
However, 38 patients co-infected with Dabie bandavirus experienced higher rates of respiratory distress, kidney impairment and an 18.4% mortality. Testing of 47,428 ticks revealed ALTNV RNA in 1.3% of specimens, with the Asian longhorned tick showing the highest prevalence and the ability to transmit the virus to mice in laboratory experiments. The findings highlight the need for better diagnostic differentiation in regions where both viruses circulate.
Why it matters
The discovery of ALTNV adds a new cause of tick-borne disease, affecting diagnosis and treatment in endemic areas.
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