Jingmen Tick Virus in Ticks from Kenya

Area of Science:

• Arbovirology and Virology
• Vector-borne Diseases
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Jingmen tick virus (JMTV) is an arbovirus with a multisegmented genome, first identified in China and known to cause febrile illness in humans.
• The geographic distribution of JMTV has expanded globally, but its ecological role in Africa remains poorly understood.
• Previous research indicates JMTV's association with human febrile illness, necessitating investigation into its presence in African tick populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the presence and prevalence of Jingmen tick virus (JMTV) in various tick species and animal hosts in Kenya.
• To describe the ecology of JMTV in African pastoralist regions with a history of undiagnosed febrile illnesses.
• To perform phylogenetic analysis of JMTV strains detected in Kenya.

Main Methods:

• Screening of adult ticks (n=4550) from cattle, goats, sheep, and tortoises in Kenyan pastoralist areas using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
• Detection of JMTV RNA in blood samples from tortoises.
• Phylogenetic analysis of JMTV genome sequences from tortoise-associated ticks.

Main Results:

• JMTV was detected in ticks collected from goats (0.3%), sheep (1.8%), and tortoises (74.5%), but not from cattle.
• JMTV RNA was also found in the blood of tortoises (66.7%).
• Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Kenyan JMTV strains from tortoise-associated ticks formed a distinct clade, with higher intragenetic distance compared to sheep-associated strains.

Conclusions:

• This study confirms the circulation of Jingmen tick virus (JMTV) in tick populations, particularly in tortoises and sheep, in Kenya.
• The findings indicate a significant role for tortoises as hosts for JMTV in Kenya.
• Further epidemiological studies are crucial to assess the public health implications of JMTV in Kenya.