ETIDIOH - NEW

  Summary Kyasanur Forest disease is a neglected tick-borne viral haemorrhagic fever endemic to India's Western Ghats , caused by the Kyasanur Forest disease virus , a flavivirus transmitted by Haemaphysalis spinigera ticks . The virus circulates in a sylvatic cycle among monkeys, rodents, shrews, birds, and ixodid ticks , and is transmitted to humans incidentally via tick bites . Since its discovery in 1957 in Karnataka , Kyasanur Forest disease has spread to other Indian states, driven by deforestation , forest fragmentation , and increased human incursion into wildlife habitats . Clinically, the disease manifests in a biphasic pattern , with haemorrhagic and neurotropic presentations . Although a formalin-inactivated vaccine is available , its efficacy is not promising, and no antivirals have been approved to date. Field reports indicate that mortality in monkeys might serve as an early indicator of forthcoming human outbreaks. The transmission dynamics of Kyasanur Forest diseas...

Highlights •  The present analysis addresses the paucity of genetic information available for the recently emerged KFDV strains. •  As the virus is classified as a highly dangerous pathogen, it is essential to expand the existing genetic information. •  Continuous surveillance of the virus is essential for the development of a vaccine. •  The present study presents new findings on the KFD virus strains that were introduced into circulation in the period 2018-2020. •  The nanopore sequencing technology is presented as a proof of concept for the provision of early warnings in the field. Abstract The future of infectious agent detection and molecular characterization lies in field-forward, on-site strategies . The lack of genomic information for recently circulating Kyasanur Forest Disease virus strains is critical. Kyasanur Forest Virus Disease virus PCR-positive samples from 2018 to 2020 were selected for sequencing. Detailed molecular phylogenetic analyses were ...