title: The evolutionary history and spatiotemporal dynamics of the fever, thrombocytopenia and leukocytopenia syndrome virus (FTLSV) in China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In 2007, a novel bunyavirus was found in Henan Province, China and named fever, thrombocytopenia and leukocytopenia syndrome virus (FTLSV); since then, FTLSV has been found in ticks and animals in many Chinese provinces. Human-to-human transmission has been documented, indicating that FTLSV should be considered a potential public health threat. Determining the historical spread of FTLSV could help curtail its spread and prevent future movement of this virus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  To examine the pattern of FTLSV evolution and the origin of outbreak strains, as well to examine the rate of evolution, the genome of 12 FTLSV strains were sequenced and a phylogenetic and Bayesian phylogeographic analysis of all available FTLSV sequences in China were performed. Analysis based on the FTLSV L segment suggests that the virus likely originated somewhere in Huaiyangshan circa 1790 (95% highest probability density interval: 1756-1817) and began spreading around 1806 (95% highest probability density interval: 1773-1834). Analysis also indicates that when FTLSV arrived in Jiangsu province from Huaiyangshan, Jiangsu Province became another source for the spread of the disease. Bayesian factor test analysis identified three major transmission routes: Huaiyangshan to Jiangsu, Jiangsu to Liaoning, and Jiangsu to Shandong. The speed of FTLSV movement has increased in recent decades, likely facilitated by modern human activity and ecosystem changes. In addition, evidence of RNA segment reassortment was found in FTLSV; purifying selection appears to have been the dominant force in the evolution of this virus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results presented in the manuscript suggest that the Huaiyangshan area is likely be the origin of FTLSV in China and identified probable viral migration routes. These results provide new insights into the origin and spread of FTLSV in China, and provide a foundation for future virological surveillance and control.
authors.affiliation: Center for disease control and prevention of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xueyong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Licheng
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Center for disease control and prevention of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yanhua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Weili
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Center for disease control and prevention of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Haifeng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Center for disease control and prevention of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: Center for disease control and prevention of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yinhui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yongqiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Weijun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Center for disease control and prevention of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Bianli
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002044:Bunyaviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005334:Fever / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D016851:Orthobunyavirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010802:Phylogeny; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*