Seroprevalence study in humans and molecular detection in Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus in Thailand

• Published in: Scientific reports 2024-06, Vol.14 (1), p.13397-7, Article 13397
• Main Authors: Saba Villarroel, Paola Mariela, Chaiphongpachara, Tanawat, Nurtop, Elif, Laojun, Sedthapong, Pangpoo-nga, Tassanee, Songhong, Thanaphon, Supungul, Dolruethai, Baronti, Cécile, Thirion, Laurence, Leaungwutiwong, Pornsawan, de Lamballerie, Xavier, Missé, Dorothée, Wichit, Sineewanlaya
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 631/326/2521; 631/326/596/2562; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Animals; Antibodies, Viral; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Arachnids; Child; Child, Preschool; Crimean hemorrhagic fever; Cross-reactivity; Dogs; Emerging diseases; Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Female; Human health and pathology; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Infant; Infectious diseases; Life Sciences; Male; Microbiology and Parasitology; Middle Aged; multidisciplinary; Phlebovirus; Phlebovirus - genetics; Phlebovirus - immunology; Phlebovirus - isolation & purification; Rhipicephalus sanguineus; Rhipicephalus sanguineus - virology; Santé publique et épidémiologie; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Seroepidemiologic Studies; Serology; Seroprevalence; Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome; Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome - diagnosis; Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome - epidemiology; Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome - veterinary; Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome - virology; SFTSV; Thailand; Thailand - epidemiology; Thrombocytopenia; Tick-borne diseases; Virology; Viruses; Young Adult
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64242-x

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) is an emerging tick-borne virus with a mortality rate of up to 30%. First identified in China in 2009, it was later reported in other Asian countries, including Thailand in 2020. SFTSV has been detected in several tick species, including Rhipicephalus sanguineus , known for infesting dogs. We conducted a seroprevalence study of SFTSV in Bangkok and Nong Khai, Thailand, by analyzing 1162 human samples collected between 2019 and 2023. The testing method relied on IgG detection using ELISA and confirmed though a virus seroneutralization test. The results indicated that out of the participants, 12 (1.1%) tested positive for anti-SFTSV IgG antibodies; however, none exhibited positive results in the seroneutralization assay. Additionally, molecular detection of SFTSV, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), Coxiella spp., Bartonella spp., and Rickettsia spp. was performed on 433 Rh. sanguineus ticks collected from 49 dogs in 2023 in Chachoengsao Province, Thailand. No evidence of these pathogens was found in ticks. These findings highlight the importance of exploring viral cross-reactivity. Furthermore, it is important to conduct additional studies to isolate SFTSV from animals and ticks in order to identify the potential transmission routes contributing to human and animal infections in Thailand.