Do bed bugs transmit human viruses, or do humans spread bed bugs and their viruses? A worldwide survey of the bed bug

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Experimental Viral Infection in Adult Mosquitoes by Oral Feeding and Microinjection

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Hunter K Walt1, Jonas G King1, Johnathan M Sheele2

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, USA.

Virus Research
|March 2, 2024
PubMed

Insights

This study surveyed bed bug viruses globally, identifying known and three novel virus types. Results show no evidence of bed bugs transmitting human pathogens, despite their diverse viral landscape.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Entomology
  • Global Health

Background:

  • Bed bugs (Cimicidae) are global pests that feed on human blood.
  • Despite interest in their vector potential, the viruses naturally harbored by bed bugs are largely unknown.
  • No natural pathogen transmission by bed bugs has been documented.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To conduct a global survey of the bed bug RNA virosphere.
  • To identify known and novel viruses within bed bug populations worldwide.
  • To investigate the relationship between bed bug viruses, their geographical distribution, and endosymbiont infections.

Main Methods:

  • Metatranscriptomic sequencing of 22 individual bed bugs (Cimex lectularius and Cimex hemipterus) from 8 global locations.
  • Bioinformatic analysis to detect and characterize viral RNA sequences.
  • Analysis of viral diversity in relation to host collection location and Wolbachia endosymbiont presence.

Main Results:

  • Detected sequences from two known bed bug viruses, expanding their known geographical range.
  • Identified three novel virus sequences: a tenui-like virus (Bunyavirales), a toti-like virus (Ghabrivirales), and a luteo-like virus (Tolivirales).
  • Observed geographical patterns in viral diversity and found Wolbachia does not affect viral abundance.
  • Found some bed bug viruses cluster with insect-borne plant viruses, suggesting evolutionary links.

Conclusions:

  • This research expands the known diversity of viruses within bed bugs.
  • Bed bug viral communities exhibit geographical diversity potentially influenced by human dispersal.
  • No evidence was found supporting the transmission of human pathogenic viruses by bed bugs.
Keywords:
Bioinformatic surveillanceCimexInsect viromicsMetatranscriptomicsVirome

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