Cases of tick-borne encephalitis identified by metagenomic next-generation sequencing, China

ABSTRACT Background Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is an infection of the central nervous system caused by the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). In the past decade, no Far Eastern TBEV subtype genome has been reported from patients, leaving its pathogenicity and genetic characteristics unknown. Case Summary We report two cases of TBE identified through metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) of acute-phase serum samples, one of which was fatal. Both patients exhibited pronounced neurological symptoms and marked muscle weakness. The fatal case additionally developed respiratory paralysis, leading to pulmonary dysfunction and secondary lung infection. Furthermore, we performed genomic characterization of the TBE virus isolated from both patients. The results showed that both strains belong to the Fe-TBEV subtype with 40 mutations. Conclusion The Fe-TBEV subtype remains a public health threat. mNGS is a useful complement to serology and PCR detection methods for TBE.

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Publication Details

Journal
ASM Case Reports
Published
2026-11-04
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1128/asmcr.00015-26
Primary Topic
Vector-borne infectious diseases
Type
article
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article

Cases of tick-borne encephalitis identified by metagenomic next-generation sequencing, China

Shi-Jing Shen, Dai-Yun Zhu, Run‐Ze Ye, Wu‐Chun Cao et al.
ASM Case Reports
Vector-borne infectious diseases
article

Cases of tick-borne encephalitis identified by metagenomic next-generation sequencing, China

Shi-Jing Shen, Dai-Yun Zhu, Run‐Ze Ye, Wu‐Chun Cao, Zheng Yuan-chun, Cai Bian, Xiaoping Kang, Nan-Nan Yao, Wenqiang Shi, Na Jia, Yan-Li Chu, Jinling Ye, Xiaomin Zheng, Tao Jiang, Yating Liu, Ya-Fei Wu, Ming-Zhu Zhang, Bing Bai, Jia-Fu Jiang, Lin Zhao, Ji-Hu Yang, Xiao-Ming Cui, Xiao-Wei Xu
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is an infection of the central nervous system caused by the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). In the past decade, no Far Eastern TBEV subtype genome has been reported from patients, leaving its pathogenicity and genetic characteristics unknown. Case Summary We report two cases of TBE identified through metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) of acute-phase serum samples, one of which was fatal. Both patients exhibited pronounced neurological symptoms and marked muscle weakness. The fatal case additionally developed respiratory paralysis, leading to pulmonary dysfunction and secondary lung infection. Furthermore, we performed genomic characterization of the TBE virus isolated from both patients. The results showed that both strains belong to the Fe-TBEV subtype with 40 mutations. Conclusion The Fe-TBEV subtype remains a public health threat. mNGS is a useful complement to serology and PCR detection methods for TBE.

ASM Case Reports
Shandong University (CN), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College (CN), Academy of Military Medical Sciences (CN), Qilu Hospital of Shandong University (CN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 13%
Vector-borne infectious diseases
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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