solidus viruses identified here were found in geographically distant S. In addition, SsRV1 has a basal phylogenetic position relative to vertebrate rhabdoviruses suggesting that parasitic flatworms could have contributed to virus emergence. Moreover, we show that one of the viruses, named Schistocephalus solidus rhabdovirus (SsRV1), is excreted by the parasite and transmitted to parasitized hosts indicating that it may impact S. solidus, controlled experimental infections and field sampling, we demonstrate that five of these viruses are vertically transmitted, and persist throughout the S. This study sheds light for the first time into the virome of a tapeworm by describing six novel RNA virus candidate species associated with Schistocephalus solidus, including three negative-strand RNA viruses (order Jingchuvirales, Mononegavirales, and Bunyavirales) and three double-stranded RNA viruses. Parasitic flatworms (Neodermata) infect all vertebrates and represent a significant health and economic burden worldwide due to the debilitating diseases they cause.

Google worm virus