Virome characterization of plateau wetlands-collected rodents in western Guizhou Province, China

ABSTRACT Rodents carry a diverse range of infectious microorganisms and may serve as potential sources of novel infections for both livestock and humans. The complex ecological network involving humans, migratory birds, and rodents in the Caohai Wetland provides a conducive environment for viral recombination. Continuous virological surveillance of rodent populations is essential for enhancing our understanding of their viral diversity and potential ecological consequences. Although significant progress has been made in sequencing technologies, systematic studies on the viral composition carried by rodents in the wetlands of the Guizhou Plateau remain limited. In our study, viral metatranscriptomes and RT-PCR analyses were performed on the brains, livers, spleens, lungs, kidneys, and intestines of 113 rodents collected from the Caohai Wetland. A total of 144 known and putative viruses were identified in Apodemus chevrieri and Niviventer confucianus , including members of the families Coronaviridae and Hepeviridae , as well as several novel species of Picobirnaviridae and Nodaviridae . These findings substantially advance current understanding of the rodent-associated viral community in the Caohai Wetland on the Guizhou Plateau. The results provide a scientific basis for the evaluation and monitoring of existing and emerging viral threats and establish a broader virological foundation for the prevention and control of potential spillover events associated with rodent-borne infectious diseases. IMPORTANCE Rodents harbor a diverse array of infectious microorganisms and serve as potential reservoirs for emerging zoonotic pathogens affecting both livestock and humans. Through unbiased RNA sequencing and RT-PCR assays, we identified 144 known and putative viruses in indigenous rodent populations sampled from the Weining Caohai Wetland. These results significantly broaden the current characterization of the rodent-associated virome in the Caohai Wetland and provide critical insights into the host tropism of these viral agents. Moreover, our study establishes a robust, empirically grounded viral baseline, thereby strengthening the foundation for proactive surveillance and evidence-informed prevention of zoonotic spillover events.