A New Tick-Borne Virus Discovered in China

The research conducted on thousands of people who applied to the hospital with high fever and various complaints after tick contact brought a new virus to the agenda in the scientific world.

While a previously unknown virus was detected in the study conducted in China, researchers pointed out that the simultaneous occurrence of two different viruses in some patients may aggravate the disease.

MORE THAN 3 THOUSAND PATIENTS WERE EXAMINED

Scientists examined 3,163 patients who had tick contact and applied to health institutions with fever complaints. In the examinations, RNA or IgM antibodies indicating Asian longhorned tick nairovirus (ALTNV) infection, defined as a new virus, were detected in 10.4 percent of the patients.

One of the remarkable results of the research was revealed in patients who were negative for the previously known Dabie bandavirus (DBV). ALTNV positivity was determined as 15.1 percent in this group.

The findings revealed that the new virus can cause fatigue and gastrointestinal problems, as well as fever. However, the critical point that the researchers drew attention to was the difference between cases in which the virus was seen alone and cases in which it was seen together with another virus.

WEAKNESS AND GASTROINTESTINAL COMPLAINTS FEATURED

Among patients with ALTNV infection alone, 84 percent experienced fatigue and 80 percent experienced gastrointestinal problems.

While a decrease in platelet count was detected in 38 percent of the patients, it was determined that aminotransferase levels increased in 36 percent. An increase in these values ​​is considered one of the indicators of damage that may occur in the liver or other tissues.

One of the most striking findings of the study was that all patients with ALTNV infection recovered.

TWO VIRUSES WERE OBSERVED AT THE SAME TIME, 7 PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES

Scientists determined that the presence of the new virus in the same person with the previously known Dabie bandavirus could aggravate the course of the disease.

Respiratory problems and deterioration in kidney functions were observed at a higher rate in 38 patients in whom both viruses were detected. 7 of these patients died.

But the researchers made an important distinction here: The deaths in question are not considered proof that ALTNV alone is fatal. It is especially emphasized that the deaths occurred in patients with two viruses at the same time.

MORE THAN 47 THOUSAND TICKS WERE EXAMINED IN THE LABORATORY

The research was not limited to patients only. Scientists traced the new virus by examining 47 thousand 428 ticks collected from 15 provinces of China.

Genetic material belonging to ALTNV was found in 1.29 percent of the ticks examined. The highest rate was detected in the species known as the "Asian longhorn tick", whose scientific name is Haemaphysalis longicornis.

In laboratory studies, it was determined that this tick species not only carries the virus to different stages of its life cycle, but also can transmit it to its eggs. Experiments also revealed that the virus could be transmitted to mice.

This finding provided an important clue for researchers in terms of how the virus is transmitted through ticks and how it circulates in nature.

THEY TRAVEL IN THE SAME AREAS

Another issue that scientists focused on was the similarity between the new virus and Dabie bandavirus.

Researchers stated that the fact that the two viruses can circulate in the same regions and through the same tick species makes accurate diagnosis more important. It was emphasized that, especially in regions where tick-borne diseases are common, distinguishing between the two infections is critical for the correct evaluation of the patient's condition.

The results of the study were published on September 2 in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), one of the world's leading medical publications.

More research is needed to better understand the disease state of the new virus in humans and its spread through ticks.