Molecular detection and genetic characterization of Dabieshan tick virus (Uukuvirus dabieshanense) in ticks collected from wildlife in the Republic of Korea.

Dabieshan tick virus (DTV, Uukuvirus dabieshanense), has been reported in China and Japan, but its presence and genetic characteristics in the Republic of Korea (ROK) remain poorly understood. This study investigated the occurrence and genetic diversity of DTV in ticks collected from wild animals in Gangwon-do, ROK, between July and September 2022. Among 324 ticks obtained from 29 individuals of eight wildlife species, 15 partial S-segment sequences (632 bp; 4.6%) were detected by nested PCR, including 13 Haemaphysalis (H.) longicornis, one H. flava, and one unidentified Haemaphysalis sp. Phylogenetic and haplotype analyses identified three genetic clusters and seven haplotypes (Hd = 0.867; π = 0.00727), with neutrality tests (Tajima's D and Fu and Li's D*/F*) indicating no evidence of recent population expansion. One genetically divergent sequence detected in H. longicornis from a Northern Goshawk suggests potential host-associated variation. This study bridges a regional data gap by providing the first molecular evidence of DTV circulating in wildlife-associated ticks in the ROK and offers baseline information on its genetic diversity. Continued surveillance of ticks and wildlife hosts will help clarify the distribution and evolutionary dynamics of DTV in the region.