Oropouche virus (OROV) is an emerging zoonotic arthropod-borne virus of public health importance. The host range of OROV is largely unknown, but antibody evidence suggests that wildlife and livestock species could be susceptible hosts. To identify potential North American mammalian reservoir hosts, OROV replication curves were generated using eight cell lines derived from livestock, wildlife, and domestic animal species (cow, sheep, bison, white-tailed deer, elk, pig, horse, and dog). The virus replicated in all cell lines by 48 h post infection, except for the horse cells. OROV replication success was greatest in the bison cells followed by pig and dog cells. Moderate replication was achieved in the deer, elk, sheep, and cow cells. These results indicate that numerous animal species may be susceptible hosts for OROV, including important agricultural and wildlife species, but pathogenesis studies are required to confirm this finding. Identifying the reservoir hosts for OROV will allow livestock producers, veterinarians, and public health officials to prepare appropriate vector and disease control measures should the virus initiate an outbreak in the United States.
Reister-Hendricks et al. (2026) studied this question.