Scientists find new virus behind mysterious tick illness
Scientists in China have identified a new tick-borne virus, the Asian longhorned tick nairovirus (ALTNV), which causes flu-like symptoms similar to other hemorrhagic fevers. The discovery highlights the need for better diagnostic tools to distinguish between co-circulating tick-borne pathogens.
Why it matters
Identifying new pathogens is critical for public health preparedness and improving clinical outcomes for patients with unexplained tick-borne illnesses.
Scientists in China have discovered a previously unknown tick-borne virus that can cause a flu-like illness involving fever, fatigue, gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, and unusual laboratory results.
Researchers led by the State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity in Beijing have named the newly identified orthonairovirus Asian longhorned tick nairovirus (ALTNV).
The discovery, reported in the New England Journal of Medicine , grew out of efforts to understand why about 30% of patients with symptoms suggestive of Dabie bandavirus (DBV) infection test negative for the tick-borne hemorrhagic fever.
A Search for the Cause of Unexplained Tick Illness
DBV causes severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), a potentially deadly disease found across Asia. The infection has a case-fatality rate of 10% to 30%. Thrombocytopenia refers to an abnormally low level of platelets, the blood cells involved in clotting. The World Health Organization has identified DBV as a priority pathogen for research.
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