Detection of the RNA for new multicomponent virus in patients with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in southern Russia

Background. Recently, a new multicomponent RNA-containing virus was described and called as Jingmen tick virus (JMTV) supposedly belonging to flaviviruses. A virus contains of four viral particles and JMTV was firstly isolated from ticks in China.

Aims. Detection viral RNA specific for JMTV complex, sequencing genome fragments and taxonomy identification novel virus from JMTV complex in patients with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) from southern European part of Russia.

Methods. Panel of 20 randomly selected sera from patients with confirmed Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever was collected in 2016 and was used for detection JMTV and CCHF viral RNA by PCR with experimental primers. Subsequent sequencing of isolated fragments of viral genomes was used for identification JMTV and CCHF virus genetic materials and phylogenetic analyses.

Results. The RNA of the CCHF virus and JMTV were detected in sera of four patients. Sequencing of the PCR fragments from S segment CCHF virus were identifying these isolates as members of Europa 1 clade. The nucleotide sequences of segment 2 (GP glycoprotein) of novel JMTV isolates clustered together by phylogenetic analysis. The level nucleotide identity for discovered JMTV isolates was only about 81−82% with comparison to the previously described European variants (Kosovo) of JMTV.

Conclusions. The results allow us to conclude that in CCHF patients the RNA of the CCHF virus and RNA of the novel multicomponent JMTV flavivirus were detected in serum.