New Tick-Borne Virus Identified in China

Molecular and antibody assays identified ALTNV in patients with fever after tick exposure

October 7, 2026
3 min

The Analytical Scientist

Overview

Researchers identified Asian longhorned tick nairovirus (ALTNV), a distinct orthonairovirus, in febrile patients in China, including patients who tested negative for Dabie bandavirus (DBV), the cause of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS). In a screening cohort of 3,163 patients with fever and recent tick exposure, 10.4% had ALTNV RNA or immunoglobulin M evidence of infection; among those testing negative for DBV, 15.1% had evidence of ALTNV infection. Patients with ALTNV alone recovered without reported lasting complications, while the study could not establish whether ALTNV contributed to greater severity in coinfected patients.

Background

SFTS, caused by DBV, can present with fever, thrombocytopenia, and other laboratory abnormalities. More than 30% of patients given a clinical diagnosis of SFTS test negative for DBV, indicating that other pathogens may produce similar findings. ALTNV was identified through hospital surveillance of febrile patients with tick exposure in regions where tick-borne diseases are common. The virus was also detected in ticks collected across multiple Chinese provinces, including Haemaphysalis longicornis, the Asian longhorned tick.

Data Highlights

Measure	Finding
Patients screened with fever and recent tick exposure	3,163
Patients with ALTNV RNA or IgM evidence	10.4%
DBV-negative patients with ALTNV evidence	15.1%
ALTNV-only patients	56; all recovered without reported lasting complications
ALTNV-only clinical findings	Fatigue, 84%; gastrointestinal symptoms, 80%; thrombocytopenia, 38%; elevated aminotransferases, 36%
Patients coinfected with ALTNV and DBV	38; seven died
Respiratory symptoms in coinfection vs DBV alone	61% vs 38%
Kidney impairment in coinfection vs DBV alone	84% vs 66%
Ticks tested across 15 provinces	47,428; ALTNV RNA detected in 1.29%
ALTNV RNA detection in H. longicornis	1.75%

Key Findings

RNA sequencing identified ALTNV in patients with suspected SFTS who tested negative for DBV; genomic analysis classified it as a distinct orthonairovirus.
Researchers isolated the virus from RNA-positive patient serum in cultured cells and confirmed its identity using immunofluorescence; electron microscopy showed orthonairovirus structural features.
Laboratory confirmation used two RT-qPCR assays targeting different genomic regions, followed by additional PCR testing and Sanger sequencing; an ELISA was used to detect ALTNV IgM.
Among 56 patients infected only with ALTNV, fatigue and gastrointestinal symptoms were common, and all recovered without reported lasting complications.
Among 38 patients coinfected with ALTNV and DBV, respiratory symptoms and kidney impairment were more frequent than in patients with DBV alone; seven coinfected patients died. The study could not determine whether ALTNV contributed to greater severity.
ALTNV RNA was detected in 1.29% of 47,428 ticks sampled across 15 provinces, with the highest reported rate in H. longicornis; laboratory experiments showed this tick could transmit the virus to mice.

Conclusion

ALTNV was identified in febrile patients and ticks in China and can produce clinical findings that overlap with SFTS. Its contribution to disease severity in coinfected patients and its broader distribution remain undetermined.