Virome characterization of field-collected rodents in suburban city

Abstract

Rodents serve as natural reservoirs and vectors for a multitude of zoonotic viruses. Analyzing the viral diversity in rodents is crucial for predicting the emergence of infectious diseases. Through high-throughput sequencing, we characterized the RNA virome of nine rodent species from the families Cricetidae and Muridae, collected from suburban Beijing (n = 432). The composition of the virome exhibited significant variation at the virus family level across the nine rodent species and three types of natural habitats. A total of 142 viral species were identified, including 133 associated with vertebrates and 9 associated with invertebrates, spanning 26 families. Notably, 75 of these viruses were novel while 67 were known viruses. Twenty-five viruses were classified as high-risk, including eight zoonotic viruses and 17 spillover-risk viruses. Additionally, nine known viruses were identified for the first time in China. Thirty-three viruses demonstrated potential for cross-species transmission. Understanding the virome characterization of field-collected rodent might provide valuable insights into the potential risk of zoonotic spillover to humans.