Complete genome sequencing of four geographically diverse strains of Batai virus.

Batai virus (BATV) is a widely distributed but poorly studied member of the Orthobunyavirus genus in the family Bunyaviridae and is of particular interest as a known participant in natural reassortment events. Both research and surveillance efforts on this and other related viruses have been hampered by the lack of available full-length sequence data covering all three genomic segments. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of four BATV strains (MM2222, Chittoor/IG-20217, UgMP-6830, and MS50) isolated from various geographical locations. Based on these data, we have determined that strain MS50 is in fact unrelated to BATV and likely represents as a novel genotype in the genus Orthobunyavirus.