The viruses were isolated from the blood of cattle and Culicoides biting midges in the Kyushu district and identified by serological tests as Peaton (PEA) viruses. The nuclocapsid gene of the Japanese strains differed from that of the Australian strain by approximately 8 percent. A phylogenetic analysis of the nucleocapsid gene revealed that the PEA virus strains are closely related to Aino virus. (Clinical Virology Section, Kyushu Research Station TEL +81-99-268-2078)
Reference:
Matsumori et al. (2002) Arch. Virol. 147:401-410.
