Metagenomic Detection of RNA Viruses of Hyalomma asiaticum Ticks in the Southern Regions of Kazakhstan
Sultankulova K.T. Kozhabergenov N.S. Shynybekova G.O. Chervyakova O.V. Usserbayev B.S. Alibekova D.A. Zhunushov A.T. Orynbayev M.B.
September 2025Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
Microorganisms
2025#13Issue 9
Hyalomma ticks are known for their ability to transmit a wide range of pathogens, posing a significant threat to both human and animal health. The viral communities associated with Hyalomma asiaticum ticks in Kazakhstan remain largely unexplored. Using high-throughput sequencing on the Ion Torrent platform, nine RNA viruses belonging to seven families were identified. These viruses were associated with H. asiaticum ticks collected in 2024 in southern Kazakhstan. The detected viruses—including Bole tick virus 1 (Phenuiviridae), Bole tick virus 3 (Chuviridae), Bole tick virus 4 (Flaviviridae), Hubei toti-like virus 24 (Totiviridae), Kashgar totiv tick virus 1 (Totiviridae), Lonestar tick totivirus (Totiviridae), Qingyuan parti tick virus 1 (Partitiviridae), and Taishun tick virus (Rhabdoviridae)—had previously been reported only in China. This study provides the first documented evidence of the presence of RNA viruses previously unreported in Kazakhstan within H. asiaticum tick populations. A newly isolated Kazakhstan strain of Wad Medani virus (Sedoreoviridae), identified from H. asiaticum, shares genetic similarities with Russian strains, suggesting a common epidemiological landscape across Central Eurasia. The detection of novel RNA viruses in Kazakhstan highlights the need for ongoing surveillance, as their impact on human and animal health remains insufficiently understood.
Hyalomma asiaticum , Kazakhstan , metagenomics , RNA , tick , virome , virus
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Research Institute for Biological Safety Problems, National Holding QazBioPharm, The Ministry of Health Care of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Gvardeiskiy, 080409, Kazakhstan
Institute of Biotechnology, National Academy of Science of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, 720071, Kyrgyzstan
Research Institute for Biological Safety Problems
Institute of Biotechnology
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