Persistence of hepatitis B viral antigens in Culex quinquefasciatus.
Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes were fed on or inoculated with blood or serum positive for hepatitis B viral antigens and pools of mosquitoes were tested by radioimmunoassay daily for 3 weeks after exposure to detect the viral antigens. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was detectable up to 3 weeks, while hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) persisted only for 3 days in mosquitoes after feeding on hepatitis B viral antigens-positive blood. Mosquitoes inoculated with serum were HBsAg-positive for 3 weeks and HBeAg positive for 4 days after inoculation. These results suggest that biological multiplication of hepatitis B virus did not occur in these mosquitoes. The possibility of mechanical transmission of hepatitis B antigens by mosquitoes is discussed.
Chen
C C
CC
Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Shou
L
L
Hwang
L L
LL
Tang
P
P
Tu
W C
WC
Lo
H S
HS
D000818:Animals; D003465:Culex / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000635:transmission*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000382:microbiology*; D013997:Time Factors
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens