Characterisation of Wongorr virus, an Australian orbivirus

Sequence analyses of VP3 gene segments of Wongorr virus isolates from the Northern Territory of Australia were compared with the cognate gene segments from Picola and Paroo River viruses. Previous serological investigations had demonstrated some relationships between these viruses, however VP3 gene sequence and phylogenetic analyses placed these viruses within the same serogroup which was distinct from other described orbivirus serogroups. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was developed for the detection of this serogroup and used to identify and determine partial sequence data for other isolates of the virus. Wongorr virus and the other tick and mosquito-borne orbiviruses (Kemerovo and Corriparta), were more closely related than the Culicoides transmitted orbiviruses, such as bluetongue (BTV) and African horse sickness virus (AHSV) which were shown to be on a separate branch of the orbivirus phylogenetic tree.