title: Evidence of JEV inCulex tritaeniorhynchusand pigs from high altitude regions of Tibet, China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Culex tritaeniorhynchus is the primary vector of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) which is a major threat to animals and humans health. This virus has been reported earlier from low altitude regions of Tibet, in mosquitoes, Tibetan pigs and local Tibetans, but no reports are available for the probable propagation of JE to high altitude regions (3100 m) of Tibet. This study aimed to find the evidence of JEV in Cx. tritaeniorhynchus and pigs from high altitude regions of Tibet, China.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 102 porcine serum samples and eight pools of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus were subjected to real-time PCR (RT-PCR) for the amplification of a fragment (~ 420 bp) of the NS1 gene. The resultant amplicons of the genes were subsequently analyzed and sequenced.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall seroprevalence of JE in Tibetan pigs was 6.86%, while five pools of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus were found positive for JEV. Results showed genotype III as the most prevalent (100%) among JEV positive isolates. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis of the JEV positive strains showed 98.8-99% similarity to four reference strains from China (JEV-Hubei, Whe, HYZ and CQ11-66).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study revealed that JEV has extended its geographic range to high altitude regions of Tibet. The factors like increased tourism and transportation might play key role in the transmission of JE that comprises a potential health risk for humans and animals.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Houqiang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Mujeeb
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ur Rehman
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Fazul
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nabi
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Yanfang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Shucheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Lihong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan; China; College of Veterinary and AnimalSciences, Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mehmood
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan; China; College of Veterinary and AnimalSciences, Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shahzad
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan; Laboratory of Detection and Monitoring of Highland Animal Disease, Tibet Agriculture and Animal Husbandry College, Linzhi, China.
authors.forename: Jiakui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003465:Culex / Q000821:virology*; D004664:Encephalitis Virus, Japanese / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D058974:Phylogeography; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013552:Swine / Q000821:virology*; D018609:Tibet; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C100315:NS1 protein, Flavivirus; D012367:RNA, Viral; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins