Viral vector‐borne pathogens in ticks from natural habitats in the European part of Russia

The aim of the work was to identify viruses transmitted by transmission in hard ticks collected in several regions of the European part of Russia.

The viral RNA of ticks of the genus Ixodes, collected from natural foci of tick‐borne encephalitis in the Astrakhan region, Karelia and Stavropol Krai, was studied by PCR and sequencing of the obtained virus‐specific DNA fragments.

Genomic markers of viruses of the Flaviviridae, Phenuiviridae and Nairoviridae families were found in ticks collected in the Astrakhan Region, Republic of Karelia and Stavropol krai.

Genetic markers of viruses previously not described for Russia were found in Ixodes ticks collected in the Astrakhan Region, Republic of Karelia and Stavropol krai. Natural foci of tick‐borne infections tend to expand their range, and, therefore, research to identify new viruses ecologically associated with ixodid ticks is becoming increasingly important.

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