Characterization of Three Novel Viruses from the Families Nyamiviridae, Orthomyxoviridae, and Peribunyaviridae, Isolated from Dead Birds Collected during West Nile Virus Surveillance in Harris County, Texas

This research was funded by grant R24AI120942 and contracts N01-AI30027, HHS-N2722010000401, and HHSN2720004/D04 from the U.S. National Institutes of Health, and a CNPq grant 302032/2011-8 from the Brazilian National Council for Research and Development. MAC was supported by a Ph.D. scholarship from the Colombian Department of Science (Colciencias Convocatoria 567). The University of Queensland. School of Biological Sciences. Australia. University of Texas Medical Branch. Department of Pathology. Galveston, TX, USA / University of Texas Medical Branch. Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases. Galveston, TX, USA / University of Texas Medical Branch. Center for Tropical Diseases. Galveston, TX, USA / University of Texas Medical Branch. Institute for Human Infection and Immunity. Galveston, TX, USA / University of Texas Medical Branch. World Reference Center for Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, Galveston, TX, USA. University of Texas Medical Branch. Department of Pathology. Galveston, TX, USA / University of Texas Medical Branch. Institute for Human Infection and Immunity. Galveston, TX, USA / University of Texas Medical Branch. World Reference Center for Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, Galveston, TX, USA. University of Texas Medical Branch. Department of Pathology. Galveston, TX, USA / University of Texas Medical Branch. Center for Tropical Diseases. Galveston, TX, USA / University of Texas Medical Branch. Institute for Human Infection and Immunity. Galveston, TX, USA / University of Texas Medical Branch. World Reference Center for Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, Galveston, TX, USA. University of Texas Medical Branch. Department of Pathology. Galveston, TX, USA / University of Texas Medical Branch. Institute for Human Infection and Immunity. Galveston, TX, USA / University of Texas Medical Branch. World Reference Center for Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, Galveston, TX, USA. Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services. Mosquito and Vector Control Division. Houston, TX, USA. Minist?rio da Sa?de. Secretaria de Vigil?ncia em Sa?de. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil. Minist?rio da Sa?de. Secretaria de Vigil?ncia em Sa?de. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil / University of S?o Paulo. Ribeir?o Preto School of Medicine. Virology Research Center. Ribeir?o Preto, SP, Brasil. University of Antioquia and National University of Colombia. Program for Study and Control of Tropical Diseases. Medellin, Colombia. Minist?rio da Sa?de. Secretaria de Vigil?ncia em Sa?de. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil. Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services. Mosquito and Vector Control Division. Houston, TX, USA. Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services. Mosquito and Vector Control Division. Houston, TX, USA. Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services. Mosquito and Vector Control Division. Houston, TX, USA. University of Texas Medical Branch. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Galveston, TX, USA. University of Texas Medical Branch. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Galveston, TX, USA. University of Texas Medical Branch. Department of Pathology. Galveston, TX, USA / University of Texas Medical Branch. Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases. Galveston, TX, USA / University of Texas Medical Branch. Center for Tropical Diseases. Galveston, TX, USA / University of Texas Medical Branch. Institute for Human Infection and Immunity. Galveston, TX, USA / University of Texas Medical Branch. World Reference Center for Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, Galveston, TX, USA. This report describes and characterizes three novel RNA viruses isolated from dead birds collected during West Nile virus surveillance in Harris County, TX, USA (the Houston metropolitan area). The novel viruses are identified as members of the families Nyamaviridae, Orthomyxoviridae, and Peribunyaviridae and have been designated as San Jacinto virus, Mason Creek virus, and Buffalo Bayou virus, respectively. Their potential public health and/or veterinary importance are still unknown.