ABSTRACT
Most human infectious viral diseases – including COVID-19 and Ebola – originated in animals. As the largest group of mammalian species, rodents are natural reservoirs for many diverse zoonotic viruses. Better understanding the core rodent virome will reduce the risk of future emergence or re-emergence of rodent-borne pathogens. A recent study focused on viruses found in the lungs of rodents in Mainland Southeast Asia, a hotspot for zoonotic emerging infectious diseases. Lung samples were collected from 3,284 rodents and insectivores throughout Thailand, Lao PDR, and Cambodia. Using metatranscriptomics, researchers outlined unique characteristics of the rodent viruses identified. Many mammalian- or arthropod-related viruses from distinct evolutionary lineages were reported for the first time, and viruses related to known pathogens were found. These results expand our understanding of the core virome in rodent species in Mainland Southeast Asia and suggest that a highly diverse array of viruses remains to be found in these species. Viral surveillance in wildlife hosts will minimize the impact of potential wildlife-originating infectious diseases.