RNA Virome landscape of shrews in Hainan Island, China

Shrews are significant reservoirs of diverse zoonotic viruses and constitute an impotant source of human infectious desease. However, the evolution and transmission of viruses among them in hainan island remain largely unexplored. In this study, we collected 249 Asian house shrews (Suncus murinus) across all 18 counties of hainan island (excluding Sansha) and performed high-throughput sequencing on gut, spleen, and lung, generating 69 high-quality transcriptome libraries. Multidimensional integration of sampling sites, seasonal changes, and tissue tropism factors revealed impacts of ecological parameters on viral community structure. Our analysis provides the first comprehensive virome profile of Hainan Su. murinus populations, identifying 192 mammalian-associated RNA viruses (120 known viral species and 72 new viruses). Strikingly, 87 viruses of known viruses displayed cross-species transmission potential (77 with spillover-risk potential viruses and 10 human pathogens viruses), human pathogens include, Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), Henipavirus (HeV), Wenzhou virus (WENV), Influenza A virus (H1N1), Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV), Langat virus (LGTV), Aomen rabies virus (AMRV), Rotavirus (RVA/RVB) and Borna disease virus (BDV). Moreover, Borna disease virus (BDV) was newly discovered in Su. murinus. Notably, Borna disease virus exhibited a particularly high prevalence, suggesting that may potentially serve as natural reservoir hosts for this virus. Subsequent RT-PCR validation confirmed the presence of 9 human pathogens viruses. These findings significantly enhance our understanding of the viral diversity carried by Su. murinus and establish an important framework for the early warning and control of zoonotic diseases in tropical regions.