Vector competence of California mosquitoes for California encephalitis and California encephalitis-like viruses.
Mosquitoes collected from coastal, inland valley, and alpine locations in California were evaluated for their experimental vector competence for two viruses in the California serogroup (Bunyaviridae:Bunyavirus). Aedes squamiger, a coastal salt marsh mosquito, was an efficient vector of a California encephalitis (CE)-like virus isolated from its habitat (89% of the pledget-fed females became infected and 61% transmitted virus). Aedes dorsalis, a coastal mosquito, and Ae. melanimon, an inland valley mosquito, were competent vectors of prototype CE virus (98% and 100% of the pledget-fed females became infected and 56% and 30%, respectively, transmitted virus). Aedes squamiger and Ae. dorsalis transmitted both viruses vertically to one or more of 20 of their progeny. Culiseta inornata was susceptible to infection with both viruses, but 5% or less transmitted virus perorally. Alpine mosquitoes, Ae. cataphylla, Ae. increpitus, and Ae. tahoensis, became infected with both CE and CE-like viruses, but 3% or less transmitted virus. All species of mosquitoes were more efficient vectors of both viruses following intrathoracic inoculation than following pledget feeding, suggesting the presence of mesenteronal barriers.
Kramer
L D
LD
Department of Biomedical and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley.
Reeves
W C
WC
Hardy
J L
JL
Presser
S B
SB
Eldridge
B F
BF
Bowen
M D
MD
D000818:Animals; D002140:California; D009033:Culicidae / Q000382:microbiology*; D002141:Encephalitis Virus, California; D004670:Encephalitis, California / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D005260:Female; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000382:microbiology*