Genetic Diversity of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus in Kyrgyzstan

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) causes tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), a severe disease of the human central nervous system. Currently, the data on the genetic variants of TBEV in Kyrgyzstan are practically absent. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze and describe the genetic diversity of TBEV in this region. The complete genome sequences of seven TBEV strains from the collection of the Scientific Centre for Family Health and Human Reproduction Problems (Irkutsk, Russia) were determined. These strains, isolated from Ixodes persulcatus ticks from Kyrgyzstan, were sequenced using the next generation sequencing approach on a MiSeq high-performance sequencer (Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA). A molecular genetic analysis of the obtained sequences, along with sequences of two previously isolated TBEV strains from Kyrgyzstan available in the GenBank database, demonstrated that the Siberian subtype of three genetic lineages (Zausaev, Vasilchenko and Bosnia) is predominantly distributed in Kyrgyzstan. The Far Eastern subtype of TBEV is also present. To date, this location probably represents the southernmost boundary of these TBEV subtypes’ ranges.