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<p>Orbiviruses are emerging pathogens of public and veterinary health concern. This study reports the discovery and genomic characterization of a novel orbivirus in adult ticks collected from African savanna elephants (<i>Loxodonta africana</i>) in Kafue National Park, Zambia. Six ticks were identified through genetic analyses; one <i>Rhipicephalus maculatus</i> and five <i>Amblyomma&#xa0;tholloni</i>. Salivary gland and blood meal samples were dissected for virus characterization. Total nucleic acids were extracted and reverse-transcribed, and libraries were prepared for deep sequencing. De novo assembly of trimmed sequences recovered four novel viruses designated “zaloxo” to indicate their association with <Emphasis Type="BoldUnderline">Za</Emphasis>mbian elephants (genus <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Loxodonta</Emphasis>), abbreviated ZXLV-1 to ZXLV-4. ZXLV-1, a member of the genus <i>Orbivirus</i>, belongs to the same subclade of dsRNA orbiviruses as bluetongue virus, epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus, and African horse sickness virus. ZXLV-2 and ZXLV-3 are most closely related to dsRNA <i>Totiviridae</i> and ssDNA <i>Circoviridae</i> viruses, respectively<b>.</b> ZXLV-4 belongs to the genus <i>Alphapolyomavirus</i>, dsDNA viruses which are ubiquitous in mammals but have unclear associations with disease. While the pathogenicity of these viruses remains unclear, these results suggest that a hidden diversity of viruses likely exists in elephant ectoparasites, warranting attention from the perspective of both health and conservation.</p>

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Novel orbivirus in Amblyomma tholloni ticks parasitizing African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) in Zambia

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年9月22日

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  • Daniella E. Chusyd,
  • Lisa Olivier,
  • Moses Kasongo,
  • Webster Mwaanga,
  • Tony L. Goldberg

摘要

Orbiviruses are emerging pathogens of public and veterinary health concern. This study reports the discovery and genomic characterization of a novel orbivirus in adult ticks collected from African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) in Kafue National Park, Zambia. Six ticks were identified through genetic analyses; one Rhipicephalus maculatus and five Amblyomma tholloni. Salivary gland and blood meal samples were dissected for virus characterization. Total nucleic acids were extracted and reverse-transcribed, and libraries were prepared for deep sequencing. De novo assembly of trimmed sequences recovered four novel viruses designated “zaloxo” to indicate their association with Zambian elephants (genus Loxodonta), abbreviated ZXLV-1 to ZXLV-4. ZXLV-1, a member of the genus Orbivirus, belongs to the same subclade of dsRNA orbiviruses as bluetongue virus, epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus, and African horse sickness virus. ZXLV-2 and ZXLV-3 are most closely related to dsRNA Totiviridae and ssDNA Circoviridae viruses, respectively. ZXLV-4 belongs to the genus Alphapolyomavirus, dsDNA viruses which are ubiquitous in mammals but have unclear associations with disease. While the pathogenicity of these viruses remains unclear, these results suggest that a hidden diversity of viruses likely exists in elephant ectoparasites, warranting attention from the perspective of both health and conservation.