Transmission of tick-borne bunyaviruses by cofeeding ixodid ticks.

Palma and Bhanja bunyaviruses replicated in Dermacentor marginatus, D. reticulatus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, R. appendiculatus and Ixodes ricinus ticks after parenteral inoculation and appropriate incubation and feeding. Palma virus was transmitted to D. marginatus and D. reticulatus males, D. reticulatus and R. sanguineus females, and R. appendiculatus nymphs while cofeeding with infected ticks on laboratory mice. Bhanja virus was transmitted to D. marginatus males and R. appendiculatus nymphs. Laboratory mice developed low levels of viraemia detectable only by intracranial (i.c.) inoculation of newborne laboratory mice.