Primer registro de alfaherpesvirus bovino tipo 1.1 (BoAHV-1.1) en Rhipicephalus microplus

This work documents the presence of bovine alphaherpesvirus type 1 subtype 1(BoAHV-1.1) viral genome in Rhipicephalus microplus (R. microplus) ticks collected from cattle in Quimili, Santiago del Estero Province, in December 2019 and April 2021. PCR detection determined five (5/57) BoAHV positive ticks. These PCR products were sequenced and compared with the GenBank database. A 100% nucleotide identity of the fragments with the Argentinean isolates (BoAHV-1.1 strain 40841, 41184, FR and p898) was observed and viral species and subtype was confirmed by phylogenetic analysis. There is no information on tick-borne transmission of alphaherpesviruses from ruminants, so a first approach is a molecular detection of the viruses in ticks. This work describes the first evidence of molecular detection of ruminant alphaherpesvirus in R. microplus of Argentina. However, this finding does not imply that R. microplus is a biological vector of this virus. Instead, it demonstrates the presence of the viral genome in ticks from BoAHV-1 circulating cattle herds. To determine if R. microplus can be a vector of this virus, specific studies on vector competence and capacity need to be conducted.