Infectome landscape of rodents and shrews in Guangdong Province reveals diverse pathogens with zoonotic potential in wildlife

Samples were collected between 2017 and 2023 across six representative regions of Guangdong Province, China (Huizhou, Shaoguan, Shanwei, Chaozhou, Zhanjiang, and Guangzhou). Following nucleic acid extraction, tissue samples were pooled for library construction based on host species, tissue type, and sampling location, resulting in a total of 51 sequencing libraries.

Infectome analysis revealed a broad spectrum of pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and eukaryotic microorganisms, and led to the identification of 42 mammalian viruses, 12 eukaryotic species, and 2 bacterial species.