Aedes albopictus (Diptera:Culicidae) is incompetent as a vector of hepatitis C virus.
In laboratory experiments, Aedes albopictus females were fed hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected human blood with a unit-feeding apparatus. Pools of engorged females were tested at various time intervals after their blood meal for the presence of HCV RNA using two methods in parallel: reverse transcription-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and PCR with the Amplicor HCV system. Comparable results were obtained with both methods. Mosquitoes were found to be positive only immediately and 24 h after feeding. Moreover, female progeny produced negative results. Our results indicate that the Ae.albopictus strain used is incompetent as a vector of HCV.
Bellini
R
R
Centro Agricoltura Ambiente, Crevalcore, Italy.
Casali
B
B
Carrieri
M
M
Zambonelli
C
C
Rivasi
P
P
Rivasi
F
F
D000330:Aedes / Q000821:virology*; D000818:Animals; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D013997:Time Factors
D012367:RNA, Viral