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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Gen Virol / Isolation and genetic characterization of a novel Kevo orbiv...
The Journal of general virology2025; 106(6); 002101; doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.002101

Isolation and genetic characterization of a novel Kevo orbivirus and a strain of Mobuck virus from Ochlerotatus communis mosquitoes in Finland.

Abstract: The genus (, ) comprises several globally important vector-borne animal viruses, such as borne bluetongue virus, African horse sickness virus and epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV). Orbiviruses that are associated with mosquitoes are a diverse group including established mosquito-borne animal pathogens such as the Peruvian horse sickness virus and phylogenetically related less well-characterized viruses isolated mostly from mammals. Although reported from various geographic regions, these viruses have not previously been detected in northern Europe. Using next-generation sequencing and bioinformatic tools, we identified two orbivirus strains from virus isolation trials of Finnish specimens performed in mosquito C6/36 cells. Phylogenetic analysis of the obtained sequence data suggested one of the isolates to represent a strain of Mobuck virus (MBV), previously described in the USA from a diseased white-tailed deer coinfected with EHDV. The second isolate, which originated from Kevo in northern Finland, was found divergent from all publicly available orbivirus sequences and was tentatively named as Kevo orbivirus (KEVOOV). Further studies are required to investigate the potential animal disease associations of the newly detected orbiviruses KEVOOV and MBV in Finland and possibly wider in Northern Europe.
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Publication Date: 2025-06-06 PubMed ID: 40476604PubMed Central: PMC12144319DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.002101Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research discusses the discovery of two strains of orbivirus, including a new variant, found in Finnish mosquitoes. This is significant as these types of viruses have not previously been identified in Northern Europe.

Objective and Methodology

  • The goal was to identify and categorize possible orbivirus strains originating from Finnish Ochlerotatus communis mosquitoes.
  • The researchers utilized next-generation sequencing and bioinformatic tools to analyze material from virus isolation trials performed on mosquito cells.

Findings

  • Two orbivirus strains were detected during the trial. Phylogenetic analysis, where genetic relationships and differences are explored, helped clarify the nature of these strains.
  • One of these strains resembled Mobuck Virus (MBV), a virus initially discovered in a sick white-tailed deer in the USA. This deer was also infected with epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV). The two diseases are considered vector-borne, meaning they are transmitted to hosts through another organism, in both cases mosquitoes.
  • The second strain, discoved in Kevo, northern Finland, was unique compared to available orbivirus sequences. It was named Kevo orbivirus (KEVOOV).

Implications

  • The detection of these orbiviruses in Finland, and by extension possibly Northern Europe, warrants further research. Their presence indicates a potential new area of concern for animal health, as both viruses are associated with diseases in animals.
  • Detailed understanding of these orbiviruses, their characteristics, prevalence, and potential animal disease associations, is needed.
  • These findings contribute to a growing body of research on vector-borne diseases and their geographic distribution, giving researchers and medical practitioners crucial information to combat their spread.

Cite This Article

APA
Suvanto MT, Truong Nguyen PT, Vauhkonen H, Olander V, Joensuu R, Culverwell CL, Kaansalo K, Hepojoki J, Vapalahti O, Korhonen EM, Smura T, Huhtamo E. (2025). Isolation and genetic characterization of a novel Kevo orbivirus and a strain of Mobuck virus from Ochlerotatus communis mosquitoes in Finland. J Gen Virol, 106(6), 002101. https://doi.org/10.1099/jgv.0.002101

Publication

The Journal of general virology
ISSN: 1465-2099
NlmUniqueID: 0077340
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 106
Issue: 6
PII: 002101

Researcher Affiliations

Suvanto, Maija T
  • Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
  • Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Truong Nguyen, Phuoc T
  • Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Vauhkonen, Hanna
  • Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Olander, Viktor
  • Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
  • Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Joensuu, Ruut
  • Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
  • Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
  • Department of Geosciences and Geography, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Culverwell, C Lorna
  • Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
  • Lammi Biological Station, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Kaansalo, Katariina
  • Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
  • Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Hepojoki, Jussi
  • Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
  • Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Vapalahti, Olli
  • Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
  • Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
  • HUS Diagnostic Center, Virology and Immunology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
Korhonen, Essi M
  • Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
  • Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Smura, Teemu
  • Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Huhtamo, Eili
  • Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
  • Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Finland
  • Orbivirus / genetics
  • Orbivirus / isolation & purification
  • Orbivirus / classification
  • Phylogeny
  • Genome, Viral
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
  • Reoviridae Infections / virology
  • Reoviridae Infections / veterinary
  • Culicidae / virology
  • Cell Line
  • Deer / virology

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

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