Australian scientist finds two new animal viruses

May 26 2009

An Australian scientist has discovered two new animal viruses, one in cattle and the other in mosquitoes - the unknown viruses were found in isolated regions of northern Australia - neither of the viruses cause disease in livestock.

Victorian scientist Dr. Chris Cowled from the CSIRO's Animal Health Laboratory in Geelong, Victoria, has also developed new tests for their detection and diagnosis.

Dr. Cowled has identified the Middle Point orbivirus, found in cattle and Stretch Lagoon orbivirus, found in mosquitoes as part of his PhD studies which are involved in the Australian Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre for Emerging Infectious Disease project.

Dr. Cowled collaborated with researchers at the Berrimah Veterinary Laboratory in the Northern Territory and the Center for Infection and Immunity in New York and by using state-of-the-art technology was able to identify and characterise new viruses that had resisted classification by traditional methods.

Dr. Cowled says the analysis of the hitherto unknown viruses involved laboratory studies, as well as fieldwork, and resulted in the development of diagnostic tests which have since been used to identify more than 150 previously unidentified Middle Point and Stretch Lagoon viruses.

The new viruses are classified as 'arboviruses', meaning they are spread by biting insects and Dr. Cowled's research revealed that Middle Point virus is closely related to a Chinese virus but Stretch Lagoon orbivirus is an entirely new virus species.

Dr. Cowled says for years, scientists have been studying well-established, 'classical' diseases but history shows that future epidemics are more likely to be caused by new viruses and by characterising novel viruses collected in the field and designing diagnostic tests, we are preparing for the diseases of the future.

The research has had an immediate impact in several laboratories, with rapid diagnostic tests for both viruses being successfully integrated into a national virus surveillance program.

Dr. Cowled's research will be a feature presentation this week at the Pathfinders: the Innovators Conference at the National Convention Centre in Canberra.