Isolation of Bunyamwera serogroup viruses (Bunyaviridae, Orthobunyavirus) in New York state.

During routine arbovirus surveillance from 2000 to 2004 in New York state (NYS), 14,788 mosquito pools making up 36 species and nine genera were inoculated onto Vero cell cultures to test for abroad spectrum of viruses. Forty-six percent of viruses isolated in cell culture from species, excluding Culex pipiens L. and Culex restuans Theobald, were identified as Bunyamwera serogroup viruses. Here, we report the distribution and level of Bunyamwera activity in NYS detected during this period. We developed specific primers for Cache Valley virus (family Bunyaviridae, genus Orthobunyavirus, CVV) and Potosi virus (family Bunyaviridae, genus Orthobunyavirus, POTV), to facilitate rapid molecular identification of these viruses. Viral RNA was detected in 12 mosquito species by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, with the majority isolated from Aedes trivittatus (Coquillet). We report the first POTV isolation in NYS and describe the development of specific primers to identify both POTV and CVV.