belonging to the genus. THOV-like viruses Thogoto virus (THOV) THOV was first isolated from ticks gathered from cattle in the Thogoto Forest region of Kenya, near Nairobi, in 1960, it is now known to be distributed across the African continent, and has also been found in Italy and Portugal in Europe, and Iran in the Middle East. Despite this wide geographical range, the virus shows only limited variation. Its vectors include various hard-bodied ticks, including Amblyomma, Hyalomma and Rhipicephalus species. Antibodies have been found to THOV in rats and many domestic animals, including goats, sheep, donkeys, camels, cattle and buffaloes, and the virus has been isolated from the wild banded mongoose (Mongos mungo). It causes significant livestock disease, including a febrile illness and abortion in sheep. In artificial laboratory infections, it is highly pathogenic in hamsters and also infects mice. The virus is known to infect humans in natural settings. The virus particle is generally spherical with some filamentous forms; the diameter is around 100 nm. The genome has six RNA segments. Araguari virus The Araguari virus was first isolated from a Gray four-eyed opossum (Philander opossum) in Serra do Navio, Amapá, Brazil in 1969. Its method of transmission is unknown. In laboratory infections, it is pathogenic to mice. The virion is around 105 nm in diameter. The genome has six RNA segments. Based on partial sequence data the virus was found to be most closely related to THOV. Aransas Bay virus (ABV) ABV was found in the soft-bodied tick genus Ornithodoros in seabird nests in southern Texas, USA, in 1975; it was the first member of the genus to be found in North America. No natural vertebrate host has been identified, but the virus is highly pathogenic to mice in laboratory infections. The virus particle is spherical or ovoid, with a range of sizes, from 75 nm × 85 nm to 120 nm × 140 nm. The genome has six RNA segments. It is most similar to UPOV, with some similarity to THOV and JOSV. Jos virus (JOSV) JOSV was first isolated from the zebu (Bos indicus) in Jos, Nigeria in 1967. It has since been found infecting Amblyomma and Rhipicephalus hard-bodied ticks in several countries across Africa. In the laboratory it causes severe pathology in mice. The virus particle has a variable, usually ovoid, morphology with a diameter of 85–120 nm. The genome contains at least six RNA