Sequencing of the complete genome of a new virus Rio Preto Tick Virus belonging to the Jingmenvirus group

This work aimed to investigate viral nucleic acids in tick samples from wild animals using a metagenomic approach. The analyzes showed important molecular evidence of a potential new virus belonging to the Jingmenvirus group in ticks collected from wild animals. It is important to emphasize that there are no studies on the virome of ticks in the region studied, and the focus on wild animals is rare due to the difficulty of handling them. In addition, this study reveals the importance of characterizing the viruses that circulate in wild animal ticks to understand potential risks of emergence of zoonoses, which may impact human health, in addition to potential impacts on wildlife in the region, providing information to contribute to epidemiological surveillance in the region.