Tracing more than two decades of Japanese encephalitis virus circulation in mainland China.

Abstract

Japanese encephalitis is a viral disease caused by the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), primarily affecting rural areas of Asia and western Pacific region. China remains one of the main epicenters, experiencing a significant burden of human and animal cases despite vaccination efforts. The ecology of this arbovirus is complex, involving Culex mosquitoes as primary vectors, wading birds as natural reservoirs, and pigs as amplifying hosts. Given the virus's epidemiological importance in China, combined with the country's expanding pig farming industry and diverse climates, investigating the virus spread and its environmental drivers is needed to address its persistent burden. In this study, we conducted phylogeographic analyses by combining publicly available JEV envelope gene sequences from China and other regions. Our reconstructions revealed multiple introduction events leading to various circulating JEV clades in China, with one predominant clade. Additionally, our analyses showed a diffusion capacity of JEV exceeding previous estimates for co-circulating arboviruses. These differences could be attributed to pig trade or bird migration, calling for further investigations into the drivers of JEV spread.

Importance: Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is the cause of Japanese encephalitis, a significant health concern in China. Despite being one of the most studied mosquito-borne viruses, no previous studies have combined genomic and geographic data to investigate the spatial epidemiology and dispersal capacity of the virus. In this study, we analyzed genomic, geographic, and environmental data to trace the dispersal history of JEV in China and explore the environmental factors influencing its distribution. Our findings show that JEV circulates predominantly in areas with higher temperatures, dense human and pig populations, and favorable conditions for Culex mosquitoes. Notably, our analyses showed a higher diffusion capacity of JEV compared to co-circulating viruses, possibly driven by factors like pig trade and bird migration. Our analysis calls for improved genomic surveillance and establishes a baseline for future studies on the effects of climate change, agricultural practices, and bird migration on JEV circulation.