Epizootic congenital abnormalities, encephalomyelitis and febrile illnesses in 
cattle caused by arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) are prevalent in Japan. 
Causative viruses including orthobunyaviruses, orbiviruses and rhabdovirus are 
thought to be transmitted by Culicoides biting midges. Recently, the incursions 
of several arboviruses, potentially Culicoides-borne, were newly confirmed in 
Japan. However, their spread pattern and exact vector species are currently 
uncertain. Attempts to isolate arboviruses from Culicoides biting midges and 
sentinel cattle were conducted in Kagoshima, located at the southernmost end of 
the main islands of Japan, a potentially high-risk area for incursion of 
arboviral diseases and outbreak of endemic ones. Seventy-eight isolates 
comprising Akabane, Peaton and Sathuperi viruses of the genus Orthobunyavirus of 
the family Bunyaviridae, bluetongue virus serotype 16, D'Aguilar virus, Bunyip 
Creek virus and epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus serotype 1 of the genus 
Orbivirus of the family Reoviridae, a potentially novel rhabdovirus of the genus 
Ephemerovirus and unidentified orbivirus-like viruses were obtained from 
Culicoides biting midges and sentinel cattle between 2003 and 2013. Akabane, 
Sathuperi, D'Aguilar and Bunyip Creek viruses were selectively isolated from 
Culicoides oxystoma, suggesting this vector's responsibility for these arbovirus 
outbreaks. The results of virus isolation also implied that C. tainanus, 
C. jacobsoni and C. punctatus are competent for the transmission of bluetongue 
virus serotype 16, Peaton virus and epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus 
serotype 1, respectively. Our monitoring in Culicoides biting midges and 
sentinel cattle detected the circulation of Akabane virus just prior to the 
accumulations of bovine congenital abnormalities and encephalomyelitis by it 
around study sites in 2003, 2006, 2008 and 2013. Silent circulations of the 
other arboviruses, including potentially new viruses, were also detected during 
the study period.