Isolation of arboviruses from mosquitoes, biting midges, sandflies and vertebrates collected in Queensland, 1969 and 1970☆

Abstract 30 virus strains were isolated from arthropods or vertebrates taken at 3 centres in Queensland in 1969 and 1970. They included representatives of 6 virus types distinct from any previously isolated in Australia. Prototype strains, suggested names and sources of first or repeatable isolations of the 6 viruses were: Ch9824, Charleville virus, from Phlebotomus spp. and the reptile Gehyra australis; Ch9935, Warrego virus, from Culicoides spp.; MRM10434, Mitchell River virus, from Culicoides spp.; Ch12048, Wallal virus, from Culicoides spp.; MRM13443, Wongorr virus, from Aedes lineatopennis; MRM14556, Ngaingan virus, from Culicoides brevitarsis . Mouse neutralization tests on sera from vertebrates of various species detected serum inhibitors to Warrego, Wallal and Ngaingan viruses in wallabies and kangaroos, and to Warrego, Mitchell River, Wongorr and Ngaingan viruses in cattle. These findings increase to 30 the number of viruses isolated in Australia and tentatively viewed as arboviruses, and underline the importance of biting midges and sandflies as virus vectors.