Screening for tick‑borne and tick‑associated viruses in ticks collected in Ghana
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Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Springer
Abstract
Ticks are blood-sucking arthropods that transmit many pathogens, including arboviruses. Arboviruses transmitted by ticks
are generally referred to as tick-borne viruses (TBVs). TBVs are known to cause diseases in humans, pets, and livestock.
There is, however, very limited information on the occurrence and distribution of TBVs in sub-Saharan Africa. This study
was designed to determine the presence and distribution of ticks infesting dogs and cattle in Ghana, as well as to identify the
tick-borne or tick-associated viruses they harbour. A more diverse population of ticks was found to infest cattle (three genera)
relative to those infesting dogs (one genus). Six phleboviruses and an orthonairovirus were detected in tick pools screened
by RT-PCR. Subsequent sequence analysis revealed two distinct phleboviruses and the previously reported Odaw virus in
ticks collected from dogs and a virus (16GH-T27) most closely related to four unclassifed phleboviruses in ticks collected
from cattle. The virus 16GH-T27 was considered a strain of Balambala tick virus (BTV) and named BTV strain 16GH-T27.
Next-generation sequencing analysis of the BTV-positive tick pool detected only the L and S segments. Phylogenetic analysis
revealed that BTV clustered with viruses previously defined as M-segment-deficient phleboviruses. The orthonairovirus
detected in ticks collected from cattle was confirmed to be the medically important Dugbe virus. Furthermore, we discuss
the importance of understanding the presence and distribution of ticks and TBVs in disease prevention and mitigation and
the implications for public health. Our findings contribute to the knowledge pool on TBVs and tick-associated viruses.
Description
Research Article