Inefficient mechanical transmission of Langat (tick-borne encephalitis virus complex) virus by blood-feeding mites (Acari) to laboratory mice.
One day after feeding on a viremic mouse, tropical rat mites, Ornithonyssus bacoti (Hirst), transmitted Langat (tick-borne encephalitis virus complex) virus to a naive suckling mouse in one of four trials. However, no transmissions to naive mice by O. bacoti were recorded either immediately after the viremic blood meal (0/4 trials) or on days 4-18 (0/20 trials). After feeding on a viremic mouse, chicken mites, Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer), failed to transmit Langat virus to naive suckling mice in any trials (0/24). Although virus failed to replicate in either species of mite, it was detectable in 20% (2/10) of O. bacoti individuals 1 d after a viremic blood meal, but only immediately after the viremic blood meal in 20% (2/10) of D. gallinae mites. Neither mite appears to be an efficient vector of Langat virus.
Applied Research Division, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702.
L A
LA
Durden
M J
MJ
Turell
D000818:Animals; D004669:Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D051379:Mice / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D008925:Mites / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology*; D014036:Togaviridae Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*