Vector competence is strongly affected by a small deletion or point mutations in bluetongue virus.
René G P van GennipBarbara S DroletPaula Rozo LopezAshley J C RoostJan BoonstraPiet A van RijnPublished in: Parasites & vectors (2019)
Small changes in NS3/NS3a or in the outer shell protein VP2 strongly affect virus propagation in midges and thus vector competence. Therefore, spread of disease by competent Culicoides midges can strongly differ for very closely related viruses.