Isolation and characterization of Bluetongue virus from Culicoides brevitarsis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

Abstract

To estimate the vector species of arboviruses affecting cattle, Culicoides biting midges were collected by light traps in Naha and Ishigaki cities in Okinawa from 2001-2004. Four and 14 Culicoides species were captured in Naha and Ishigaki cities, respectively. One strain of Bluetongue virus (BTV) was isolated from Culicoides brevitarsis Kieffer collected in Naha city on December 2003. Genetic and phylogenetic analyses showed that the strain was closely related to the Australian and Asian BTV isolates. Our data indicate that C. brevitarsis is likely to be a vector species of BTV in Okinawa.