Characterizing the Viral Diversity of Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l in Colombia. Characterizing the Viral Diversity of Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l in Colombia: Insights into Tick-Borne Viral Ecology

Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l), commonly known as the brown dog tick, serves as a vector for numerous pathogens globally. Of particular concern are the tick-borne viruses, the majority been RNA viruses, have garnered increased attention in recent times due to their potential for high transmission rates, the expanding geographic range of ticks, and the emergence and resurgence of associated diseases in human populations. Our primary objective was to characterize the RNA virus composition in R. sanguineus s.l ticks from the Santander and Casanare departments in eastern Colombia. To achieve this, we employed the Oxford Nanopore sequencing technique, preceded by a viral enrichment process, on a total of 39 adult ticks collected from dogs. We conducted two distinct analyses: one based on sequencing reads, involving direct assignment using Centrifuge, and the other involving assembly using the Genome Detective Tool program. As a result of our investigation, we identified six distinct viruses comprising the virome of this tick species: Rhipicephalus-associated flavi-like virus, Mogiana tick, Iflaviridae sp., Jingmen tick virus, Bole tick virus 4 and Mivirus sp. Among these viruses, the final two species were successfully assembled, enabling us to conduct phylogenetic and comparative analyses, drawing upon genomes available from various regions worldwide. Furthermore, it is worth noting that we did not observe significant differences based on either gender or geographical location. This observation allowed us to identify potentially pathogenic viruses, some of which may be linked to febrile cases, as well as endosymbionts. The latter group holds promising research potential for developing biotechnological tools that could facilitate future vector control strategies for ticks. Additionally, our research yielded valuable insights into the primary viruses present in R. sanguineus s.l. ticks in two previously unexplored regions within the country.