The First Molecular Detection of from on Orchid Island, Taiwan, with No Evidence of SFTSV.

Theileriosis is considered an economically important disease that may decrease productivity and cause a high mortality rate in livestock. Only a few studies have reported spp., such as and , in recent decades in Taiwan. In the present study, 401 ticks have been collected on Orchid Island in June 2022 and April 2023. Our environmental investigation for SFTSV unintentionally discovered in on Orchid Island via PCR. The PCR products were sequenced, and the detected 18S rRNA gene sequences shared a 99.65-99.93% identity with sequences from ticks and ruminants in Myanmar and China. Despite the difficulty in clarifying the source of within neighboring regions, our findings provide an updated distribution of in Asia. This is not only the first time that was found in but also the first report of on Orchid Island, Taiwan. Our study indicates that ruminants may be at risk of infection. Therefore, further investigations are needed to determine the distribution of among ruminants on Orchid Island and in Taiwan.