Abstract
BackgroundTibet Orbivirus (TIBOV) is a recently discovered Orbivirus known to infect cattle, Asian buffalo and goats in south-western China. It was first isolated from mosquitoes and subsequently from biting midges (Culicoides spp.) in Yunnan, China, indicating that it is an arbovirus. Little is known of its potential to cause disease, but the economic importance of related viruses promoted an investigation of potential Culicoides spp. vectors of TIBOV.MethodsBiting midges were collected approximately once per week between May and December 2020, at a cattle farm in Wulong village, Shizong County, Yunnan Province, China. Approximately 3000 specimens of nine species were subsequently used in attempts to isolate virus, and a further 2000 specimens of six species were tested for the presence of bluetongue virus (BTV) and TIBOV using a RT-qPCR test.ResultsVirus isolation attempts resulted in the isolation of three viruses. One isolate from a pool of Culicoidesjacobsoni was identified as TIBOV, while the other two viruses from C.orientalis and C.tainanus remain unidentified but are not BTV or TIBOV. RT-qPCR analysis did not detect BTV in any specimens, but a single pool containing five specimens of C. jacobsoni and another containing five specimens of C. tainanus produced PCR quantification cycle (Cq) values of around 28 that may indicate infection with TIBOV.ConclusionsThe isolation of TIBOV from C. jacobsoni satisfies one criterion required to prove its status as a vector of this virus. This isolation is supported by a low Cq value produced from a different pool of this species in the RT-qPCR test. The low Cq value obtained from a pool of C. tainanus suggests that this species may also be able to satisfy this criterion. Both of these species are widespread throughout Asia, with C. jacobsoni extending into the Pacific region, which raises the possibility that TIBOV may be more widespread than is currently known.Graphical abstract
Highlights
Tibet Orbivirus (TIBOV) is a recently discovered Orbivirus known to infect cattle, Asian buffalo and goats in south-western China
Orbivirus, includes 22 species ratified by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (2020) [2, 3] and includes the most economically important species in the family, including bluetongue virus (BTV) and African horse sickness virus (AHSV) [4, 5]
It is notable that the economic importance of many of the other species of genus Orbivirus remains unknown
Summary
Tibet Orbivirus (TIBOV) is a recently discovered Orbivirus known to infect cattle, Asian buffalo and goats in south-western China. It was first isolated from mosquitoes and subsequently from biting midges (Culicoides spp.) in Yunnan, China, indicating that it is an arbovirus. Seven taxonomic families of double-strand (ds)RNA viruses are currently recognized, of which only species of Reoviridae are known to infect mammals [1] Viruses belonging to this family are characterized by possessing multiple dsRNA fragments and double layers of capsids and have been placed into two subfamilies and 15 genera [1, 2]. A virus had been isolated from Culex tritaeniorhynchus in 2007, it was not identified
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call