Isolation of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus from the soft-shelled tick, Ornithodoros coriaceus.

Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus was isolated from the soft-shelled tick (Ornithodoros coriaceus). Serological identification of the isolated viruses was confirmed by restriction endonuclease digestion of purified virus DNA. These isolations indicate that the soft-shelled tick may be a vector for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus. This may be the first reported isolation of mammalian herpesvirus from an arthropod vector.