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In vivo Reassortment of Thogoto Virus (a Tick-borne Influenza-like Virus) following Oral Infection of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus Ticks

Natural Environment Research Council, Institute of Virology, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3SR, U.K.

Arboviruses with segmented genomes have the potential to reassort in both their vertebrate hosts and arthropod vectors. Reassortment of Thogoto virus, a tick-borne orthomyxo-like virus, has been demonstrated following dual infection of hamsters by temperature-sensitive mutants. To investigate whether similar events can occur in ticks, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus larvae and nymphs were dually infected by interrupted feeding on viraemic hamsters. Wild-type reassortant virus was isolated from the ticks 12 to 15 days after engorgement. Following moulting, nymphs and adults transmitted reassortant virus to uninfected hamsters. This is the first reported evidence that a tick-borne arbovirus can reassort in vivo in a naturally infected arthropod vector. The relative roles of vector and vertebrate host in generating and perpetuating reassortant viruses in nature are discussed.

Keywords: Thogoto virus, arbovirus, reassortment in vivo

Received 18 March 1987; accepted 22 May 1987.