Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus RNA in ticks from wild mongooses in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan

Abstract

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging zoonotic tick-borne disease caused by the SFTS virus (SFTSV). SFTSV has a wide spectrum of animal hosts and is thought to circulate in an enzootic tick-vertebrate-tick cycle. A previous seroepidemiological study demonstrated the presence of anti-SFTSV antibodies in wild mongooses (Herpestes auropunctatus) and indicated that outdoor activity is associated with an increased risk of tick bites among Okinawa residents. However, the association of SFTSV between wild mongooses and ticks remains unknown. Thus, to understand the association between ticks and mongooses regarding SFTSV circulation, we investigated the presence of SFTSV RNA in ticks collected from wild mongooses on the main island of Okinawa. A total of 638 ticks, belonging to two genera and three species (Haemaphysalis hystricis, Haemaphysalis formosensis, and Ixodes granulatus), were collected from 22 wild mongooses from 2016 to 2020. SFTSV RNA was detected in two pools of H. hystricis larvae collected from a wild mongoose in the central area of the main island of Okinawa in 2017. Although the prevalence of SFTSV in ticks from wild mongooses is low, endemic circulation of the virus in Okinawa should be carefully monitored in the area to prevent future infections.