First isolation of Bunyamwera virus (Bunyaviridae family) from horses with neurological disease and an abortion in Argentina

• Published in: The veterinary journal (1997) 2015-10, Vol.206 (1), p.111-114
• Main Authors: Tauro, Laura B., Rivarola, Maria E., Lucca, Eduardo, Mariño, Betina, Mazzini, Rubén, Cardoso, Jedson Ferreira, Barrandeguy, María Edith, Teixeira Nunes, Marcio Roberto, Contigiani, Marta S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aborted Fetus - virology; Abortion; Animals; Argentina - epidemiology; Bunyamwera virus; Bunyamwera virus - genetics; Bunyamwera virus - isolation & purification; Bunyaviridae Infections - epidemiology; Bunyaviridae Infections - veterinary; Bunyaviridae Infections - virology; Central nervous system disease; Encephalitis, Viral - epidemiology; Encephalitis, Viral - veterinary; Encephalitis, Viral - virology; Horse Diseases - epidemiology; Horse Diseases - virology; Horses; Phylogeny
• ISSN: 1090-0233; 1532-2971
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2015.06.013

•We report the first isolation in domestic animals in Argentina of Bunyamwera virus.•The first association between Bunyamwera serogroup virus and equine neurological disease and abortion is reported.•Three new isolation of Bunyamwera virus are circulating in Argentina.•This paper highlights the potential veterinary importance of Bunyamwera viruses. Bunyamwera virus (BUNV) is the prototype virus for both the Orthobunyavirus genus and the Bunyaviridae family. Different strains of BUNV have been associated with clinical diseases in domestic animals, mainly ruminants. During 2013, in Argentina's Santa Fe Province, three new isolates of BUNV were recovered from the brain and spleen of two horses with encephalitis, and from the brain of an aborted equine fetus. This isolation of BUNV from domestic animals provided the first association of BUNV infection with disease of the central nervous system and abortion in equines in Argentina.