Shamonda virus: The Hidden world of an emerging orthobunyavirus

Introduction Shamonda virus (SHAV) is an enveloped, negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the genus Orthobunyavirus within the family Peribunyaviridae and the Simbu serogroup. Its genome consists of three segments—large (L), medium (M), and small (S)—a feature of significant epidemiological importance because co-infecting viruses can exchange genome segments through reassortment, potentially altering antigenicity, host range, or pathogenicity. Primarily a midge-borne pathogen, SHAV affects ruminants and livestock such as cattle, sheep, goats, horses, and alpacas. In dairy cattle, clinical manifestations include fever, diarrhea, and marked reductions in milk production.