Discovery of a novel iflavirus sequence in the eastern paralysis tick Ixodes holocyclus

Arch Virol. 2018 Sep;163(9):2451-2457. doi: 10.1007/s00705-018-3868-9. Epub 2018 May 11.

Abstract

Ixodes holocyclus, the eastern paralysis tick, is a significant parasite in Australia in terms of animal and human health. However, very little is known about its virome. In this study, next-generation sequencing of I. holocyclus salivary glands yielded a full-length genome sequence which phylogenetically groups with viruses classified in the Iflaviridae family and shares 45% amino acid similarity with its closest relative Bole hyalomma asiaticum virus 1. The sequence of this virus, provisionally named Ixodes holocyclus iflavirus (IhIV) has been identified in tick populations from northern New South Wales and Queensland, Australia and represents the first virus sequence reported from I. holocyclus.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Australia
  • Cats / parasitology
  • Dogs / parasitology
  • Ixodes / genetics
  • Ixodes / physiology
  • Ixodes / virology*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phylogeny
  • RNA Viruses / chemistry
  • RNA Viruses / classification
  • RNA Viruses / genetics
  • RNA Viruses / isolation & purification*
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Viral Proteins / chemistry
  • Viral Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • Viral Proteins