Identification and genetic analysis of new ephemeroviruses in wild boars in China

Zhongzhong Tu; Tong Wang; Yu Xu; Heting Sun; Peng Peng; Siyuan Qin; Changchun Tu

doi:10.1016/j.virs.2025.02.002

April 2025

Citation: Zhongzhong Tu, Tong Wang, Yu Xu, Heting Sun, Peng Peng, Siyuan Qin, Changchun Tu. Identification and genetic analysis of new ephemeroviruses in wild boars in China .VIROLOGICA SINICA, 2025, 40(2) : 186-191. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.virs.2025.02.002

Identification and genetic analysis of new ephemeroviruses in wild boars in China

Zhongzhong Tu ^a ,
Tong Wang ^a,b ,
Yu Xu ^c ,
Heting Sun ^c ,
Peng Peng ^c ,
Siyuan Qin ^c ,
Changchun Tu ^{a,b
,,}

a. Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Key Laboratory of Jilin Province for Zoonosis Prevention and Control, Changchun 130122, PR China;
b. Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Disease and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, PR China;
c. Biological Disaster Control and Prevention Center, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shenyang 110034, PR China

Corresponding author: Changchun Tu, changchun_tu@hotmail.com
Received Date: 11 December 2024
Accepted Date: 13 February 2025
Available online: 15 February 2025

Abstract

Ephemeroviruses (EVs) are arthropod-borne rhabdoviruses and were isolated exclusively from cattle and haematophagous arthropods until two new ephemeroviruses were first identified from domestic pigs most recently. Here we report the identification of newer EVs in wild boar by meta-transcriptomic (MTT) sequencing. Further screening by specific RT-nPCR of tissue samples of 459 free-ranging wild boars collected between 2018 and 2023 from 26 provinces across China confirmed five positive wild boars in four provinces. Interestingly, two ticks especially collected from two positive wild boars were also EV positive. Finally, four complete genome sequences of wild boar ephemeroviruses (WbEVs) were obtained with two strains belonging to a new EV species, and the rest two falling into porcine ephemerovirus 2 (PoEV2) species identified from domestic pigs. Our study has further extended EV host range and demonstrated natural circulations of divergent EVs in wild boars, in which ticks may play roles. Biological implications of EV infection in wild boars should be interesting topics for future investigations.
- Wild boar
- , Ephemerovirus (EVs)
- , Tick
- , China
- , Genetic diversity

Electronic Supplementary Material

10.1016j.virs.2025.02.002-ESM.docx
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