Seasonal dynamics of hedgehog-borne ticks and severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus in Beijing's urban parks

Chunzheng Li; Hongyue Li; Yuanchi Ye; Lianglong Zhu; Aihua Zheng; Xing Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.virs.2025.10.005

October 2025

Citation: Chunzheng Li, Hongyue Li, Yuanchi Ye, Lianglong Zhu, Aihua Zheng, Xing Zhang. Seasonal dynamics of hedgehog-borne ticks and severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus in Beijing's urban parks .VIROLOGICA SINICA, 2025, 40(5) : 748-754. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.virs.2025.10.005

Seasonal dynamics of hedgehog-borne ticks and severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus in Beijing's urban parks

Chunzheng Li ^a,b ,
Hongyue Li ^b ,
Yuanchi Ye ^b,d ,
Lianglong Zhu ^b,c ,
Aihua Zheng ^{b,c
,,} ,
Xing Zhang ^{b,c
,,}

a. College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, 453003, China;
b. State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China;
c. CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China;
d. Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China

Corresponding author: Aihua Zheng, zhengaihua@ioz.ac.cn
Xing Zhang, zhangxing@ucas.ac.cn
Received Date: 17 March 2025
Accepted Date: 15 October 2025
Available online: 18 October 2025

Abstract

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV), an emerging tick-borne pathogen, has caused a rising number of human cases in the urban-rural fringe of Beijing since 2021. This study explores the seasonal dynamics of hedgehog-associated ticks and SFTSV transmission in urban parks of Beijing. Surveys across six parks revealed distinct activity patterns: adult Haemaphysalis longicornis peaked in summer, while nymphs dominated spring and autumn. All collected H. longicornis belonged to parthenogenetic populations. A near-complete SFTSV genome (C4 strain) was identified in a tick collected from Taoranting Park, suggesting multiple viral introductions into Beijing. Serological analysis showed that > 50% of hedgehogs carried SFTSV-neutralizing antibodies in spring; yet seropositivity declined markedly in summer and autumn, indicating recurrent infections and implicating hedgehogs as potential reservoirs. These findings reveal an urban SFTSV transmission cycle maintained by hedgehogs and parthenogenetic H. longicornis, emphasizing the urgency of enhanced surveillance and public health interventions to curb urban zoonotic risks.
- Severe fever with thrombocytopenia virus (SFTSV)
- , Hedgehog
- , Haemaphysalis longicornis
- , Urban
- , Parthenogenetic

Electronic Supplementary Material

10.1016j.virs.2025.10.005-ESM1.docx
References
1. Damas J, Munting A, Fellay J, Haerry D, Marzolini C, Tarr PE, Steffen A, Braun DL, Stoeckle M, Bernasconi E, Nawej Tshikung O, Fux CA, Darling KEA, Beguelin C, Wandeler G, Cavassini M, Surial B. 2024. Weight, anthropometric and metabolic changes after discontinuing antiretroviral therapy containing tenofovir alafenamide in people with HIV. Clin Infect Dis, 79: 990-998.
2. Deeks ED. 2018. Bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide: A review in hiv-1 infection. Drugs, 78: 1817-1828.
3. Eron JJ, Young B, Cooper DA, Youle M, Dejesus E, Andrade-Villanueva J, Workman C, Zajdenverg R, Fatkenheuer G, Berger DS, Kumar PN, Rodgers AJ, Shaughnessy MA, Walker ML, Barnard RJ, Miller MD, Dinubile MJ, Nguyen BY, Leavitt R, Xu X, Sklar P. 2010. Switch to a raltegravir-based regimen versus continuation of a lopinavir-ritonavir-based regimen in stable HIV-infected patients with suppressed viraemia (switchmrk 1 and 2): Two multicentre, double-blind, randomised controlled trials. Lancet, 375: 396-407.
4. Gatell JM, Assoumou L, Moyle G, Waters L, Johnson M, Domingo P, Fox J, Martinez E, Stellbrink HJ, Guaraldi G, Masia M, Gompels M, De Wit S, Florence E, Esser S, Raffi F, Pozniak AL. 2017. Switching from a ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor to a dolutegravir-based regimen for maintenance of HIV viral suppression in patients with high cardiovascular risk. Aids, 31: 2503-2514.
5. Hakim JG, Thompson J, Kityo C, Hoppe A, Kambugu A, van Oosterhout JJ, Lugemwa A, Siika A, Mwebaze R, Mweemba A, Abongomera G, Thomason MJ, Easterbrook P, Mugyenyi P, Walker AS, Paton NI. 2018. Lopinavir plus nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors, lopinavir plus raltegravir, or lopinavir monotherapy for second-line treatment of HIV (EARNEST): 144-week follow-up results from a randomised controlled trial. Lancet Infect Dis, 18: 47-57.
6. Hosseinipour MC, Gupta RK, Van Zyl G, Eron JJ, Nachega JB. 2013. Emergence of hiv drug resistance during first- and second-line antiretroviral therapy in resource-limited settings. J Infect Dis, 207 Suppl 2: S49-56.
7. Hulgan T, Haubrich R, Riddler SA, Tebas P, Ritchie MD, McComsey GA, Haas DW, Canter JA. 2011. European mitochondrial DNA haplogroups and metabolic changes during antiretroviral therapy in AIDS clinical trials group study A5142. AIDS, 25: 37-47.
8. Lathouwers E, De Meyer S, Dierynck I, Van de Casteele T, Lavreys L, de Bethune MP, Picchio G. 2011. Virological characterization of patients failing darunavir/ritonavir or lopinavir/ritonavir treatment in the artemis study: 96-week analysis. Antivir Ther, 16: 99-108.
9. Loos NHC, Beijnen JH, Schinkel AH. 2022. The mechanism-based inactivation of CYP3A4 by ritonavir: What mechanism? Int J Mol Sci, 23: 9866.
10. Martinez-Sanz J, Serrano-Villar S, Muriel A, Garcia Fraile LJ, Orviz E, Mena de Cea A, Campins AA, Moreno S. 2023. Metabolic-related outcomes after switching from tenofovir disoproxil fumarate to tenofovir alafenamide in adults with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV): A multicenter prospective cohort study. Clin Infect Dis, 76: e652-e660.
11. Nordestgaard BG, Varbo A. 2014. Triglycerides and cardiovascular disease. Lancet, 384: 626-635.
12. Panel on Antiretroviral Guidelines for Adults and Adolescents. Guidelines for the use of antiretroviral agents in adults and adolescents with HIV. Available at https://clinicalinfo.hiv.gov/en/guidelines/hiv-clinical-guidelines-adult-and-adolescent-arv/whats-new (Accessed 1 October 2025).
13. Park HB, Arsanjani R, Hong SJ, Yi JJ, Yi SW. 2024. Impact of hypertriglyceridaemia on cardiovascular mortality according to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in a 15.6-million population. Eur J Prev Cardiol, 31: 280-290.
14. Paton NI, Kityo C, Thompson J, Nankya I, Bagenda L, Hoppe A, Hakim J, Kambugu A, van Oosterhout JJ, Kiconco M, Bertagnolio S, Easterbrook PJ, Mugyenyi P, Walker AS. 2017. Nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor cross-resistance and outcomes from second-line antiretroviral therapy in the public health approach: An observational analysis within the randomised, open-label, earnest trial. Lancet HIV, 4: e341-e348.
15. Paton NI, Musaazi J, Kityo C, Walimbwa S, Hoppe A, Balyegisawa A, Asienzo J, Kaimal A, Mirembe G, Lugemwa A, Ategeka G, Borok M, Mugerwa H, Siika A, Odongpiny ELA, Castelnuovo B, Kiragga A, Kambugu A. 2022. Efficacy and safety of dolutegravir or darunavir in combination with lamivudine plus either zidovudine or tenofovir for second-line treatment of hiv infection (NADIA): Week 96 results from a prospective, multicentre, open-label, factorial, randomised, non-inferiority trial. Lancet HIV, 9: e381-e393.
16. Sax PE, Arribas JR, Orkin C, Lazzarin A, Pozniak A, DeJesus E, Maggiolo F, Stellbrink HJ, Yazdanpanah Y, Acosta R, Huang H, Hindman JT, Martin H, Baeten JM, Wohl D. 2023. Bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide as initial treatment for HIV-1: Five-year follow-up from two randomized trials. EClinicalMedicine, 59: 101991.
17. Stebbing J, Nathan B, Jones R, McKenna A, Powles T, Bower M, Holmes P, Gazzard B, Nelson M. 2007. Virological failure and subsequent resistance profiles in individuals exposed to atazanavir. AIDS, 21: 1826-1828.
18. Surial B, Mugglin C, Calmy A, Cavassini M, Gunthard HF, Stockle M, Bernasconi E, Schmid P, Tarr PE, Furrer H, Ledergerber B, Wandeler G, Rauch A. 2021. Weight and metabolic changes after switching from tenofovir disoproxil fumarate to tenofovir alafenamide in people living with HIV: A cohort study. Ann Intern Med, 174: 758-767.
19. Tsai MS, Sun HY, Chen CP, Lee CH, Lee CY, Liu CE, Tang HJ, Hung TC, Li CW, Lee YT, Liou BH, Yang CJ, Hung CC. 2023. Switching to coformulated bictegravir, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide maintained viral suppression in adults with historical virological failures and K65N/R mutation. Int J Infect Dis, 126: 39-47.
20. van Zyl GU, van der Merwe L, Claassen M, Zeier M, Preiser W. 2011. Antiretroviral resistance patterns and factors associated with resistance in adult patients failing NNRTI-based regimens in the Western Cape, South Africa. J Med Virol, 83: 1764-1769.
21. Wang R, Sun L, Wang X, Zhai Y, Wang L, Ma P, Wu C, Zhou Y, Chen R, Wang R, Zhang F, Hua W, Li A, Xia W, Gao Y, Li R, Lv S, Shao Y, Cao Y, Zhang T, Wu H, Cai C, Dai L. 2024. Rapid initiation of antiretroviral therapy with coformulated bictegravir, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide versus efavirenz, lamivudine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate in hiv-positive men who have sex with men in China: Week 48 results of the multicenter, randomized clinical trial. Clin Infect Dis, 79: 169-176.
22. Yuan J, Deng C, Li Q, Sun Y, Huang W, Zhang W, Liu M. 2024. Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome antiretroviral therapy initiated on the same day in treatment-naive people with human immunodeficiency virus: A comparative study of efficacy and regimen. Chin Med J (Engl), 137: 2720-2725.
23. Zhao Y, Han MJ, Gan XM, Ma Y, Zhao DC. 2020. Characteristics and viral suppression among people living with HIV from the national free antiretroviral therapy programme, 2019. HIV Med, 21: 701-707.
24. Zheng Y, Hughes MD, Lockman S, Benson CA, Hosseinipour MC, Campbell TB, Gulick RM, Daar ES, Sax PE, Riddler SA, Haubrich R, Salata RA, Currier JS. 2014. Antiretroviral therapy and efficacy after virologic failure on first-line boosted protease inhibitor regimens. Clin Infect Dis, 59: 888-896.
25. Zhang, Y. Z., Zhou, D. J., Qin, X. C., Tian, J. H., Xiong, Y., Wang, J. B., Chen, X. P., Gao, D. Y., He, Y. W., Jin, D., Sun, Q., Guo, W. P., Wang, W., Yu, B., Li, J., Dai, Y. A., Li, W., Peng, J. S., Zhang, G. B., Zhang, S., Chen, X. M., Wang, Y., Li, M. H., Lu, X., Ye, C., De Jong, M. D. & Xu, J. 2012. The ecology, genetic diversity, and phylogeny of Huaiyangshan virus in China. J. Virol., 86, 2864-2868.
26. Zhao, L., Li, J., Cui, X., Jia, N., Wei, J., Xia, L., Wang, H., Zhou, Y., Wang, Q., Liu, X., Yin, C., Pan, Y., Wen, H., Wang, Q., Xue, F., Sun, Y., Jiang, J., Li, S. & Cao, W. 2020. Distribution of Haemaphysalis longicornis and associated pathogens: analysis of pooled data from a China field survey and global published data. Lancet Planet. Health, 4, e320-e329.
27. Zhao, C., Zhang, X., Si, X., Ye, L., Lawrence, K., Lu, Y., Du, C., Xu, H., Yang, Q., Xia, Q., Yu, G., Xu, W., Yuan, F., Hao, J., Jiang, J.-F. & Zheng, A. 2022. Hedgehogs as amplifying hosts of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus, China. Emerg. Infect. Dis., 28, 2491-2499.
28. Zhu, L., Yin, F., Moming, A., Zhang, J., Wang, B., Gao, L., Ruan, J., Wu, Q., Wu, N., Wang, H., Deng, F., Lu, G. & Shen, S. 2019. First case of laboratory-confirmed severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome disease revealed the risk of SFTSV infection in Xinjiang, China. Emerg. Microb. Infect., 8, 1122-1125.
29. Zhuang, L., Sun, Y., Cui, X. M., Tang, F., Hu, J. G., Wang, L. Y., Cui, N., Yang, Z. D., Huang, D. D., Zhang, X. A., Liu, W. & Cao, W. C. 2018. Transmission of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus by Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks, China. Emerg. Infect. Dis., 24.
30. Zohaib, A., Zhang, J., Saqib, M., Athar, M. A., Hussain, M. H., Chen, J., Sial, A. U., Tayyab, M. H., Batool, M., Khan, S., Luo, Y., Waruhiu, C., Taj, Z., Hayder, Z., Ahmed, R., Siddique, A. B., Yang, X., Qureshi, M. A., Ujjan, I. U., Lail, A., Khan, I., Sajjad Ur, R., Zhang, T., Deng, F., Shi, Z. & Shen, S. 2020. Serologic evidence of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus and related viruses in Pakistan. Emerg. Infect. Dis., 26, 1513-1516.
Proportional views