Zhao CZhang XSi XYe LLawrence KLu YDu CXu HYang QXia QYu GXu WYuan FHao JJiang J-FZheng A2022-122022-12Emerg Infect Dis, 2022, 28 (12), pp. 2491 - 2499https://hdl.handle.net/10179/18054Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) is a tickborne bandavirus mainly transmitted by Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks in East Asia, mostly in rural areas. As of April 2022, the amplifying host involved in the natural transmission of SFTSV remained unidentified. Our epidemiologic field survey conducted in endemic areas in China showed that hedgehogs were widely distributed, had heavy tick infestations, and had high SFTSV seroprevalence and RNA prevalence. After experimental infection of Erinaceus amurensis and Atelerix albiventris hedgehogs with SFTSV, we detected robust but transitory viremias that lasted for 9-11 days. We completed the SFTSV transmission cycle between hedgehogs and nymph and adult H. longicornis ticks under laboratory conditions with 100% efficiency. Furthermore, naive H. longicornis ticks could be infected by SFTSV-positive ticks co-feeding on naive hedgehogs; we confirmed transstadial transmission of SFTSV. Our study suggests that the hedgehogs are a notable wildlife amplifying host of SFTSV in China.2491 - 2499ChinaHaemaphysalis longicornisSFTSVamplifying hostbandavirushedgehogsevere fever with thrombocytopenia syndromesevere fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virusticktransmissionvector-borne infectionsviruseszoonosesAnimalsSevere Fever with Thrombocytopenia SyndromeHedgehogsSeroepidemiologic StudiesPhylogenyPhlebovirusTicksChinaJournal article10.3201/eid2812.2206684585201080-6059Massey_Dark1103 Clinical Sciences1108 Medical Microbiology1117 Public Health and Health Services