Molecular identification and cross-species transmission effects analysis of a novel Orthobunyavirus isolated from Geese in China

Orthobunyavirus is a class of RNA viruses that includes hundreds of viruses, many of which are important zoonotic pathogens causing clinical symptoms in livestock and humans. In October 2024, a novel orthobunyavirus, designated as CNG01, was isolated from goose tissue samples collected in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China. The virus induced marked cytopathic effects in Vero-81 cells, indicating robust replication capability in vitro. Genomic analysis revealed that CNG01 possesses a typical tri-segmented structure characteristic of the Peribunyaviridae family, consisting of S, M, and L segments. Phylogenetic analysis further demonstrated that CNG01 is closely related to known strains such as YG-3/P/98, VRC 713423-2, cs655, and JaNAr 28 s. Nucleotide homology analysis revealed that its L and S segments were most similar to the Kaikalur virus strain VRC 713423-2 (92.3 % and 97.5 %, respectively), while the M segment was closest to the Aino virus strain YG-3/P/98 (96.6 %). This segment mismatch suggests CNG01 arose from viral reassortment, highlighting a potential risk of cross-species transmission and underscoring the need for strengthened orthobunyavirus surveillance.