Experimental evaluation of Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae) as a vector of Newcastle disease virus.
House flies, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae), were examined for their ability to harbor and transmit Newcastle disease virus (family Paramyxoviridae, genus Avulavirus, NDV) by using a mesogenic NDV strain. Laboratory-reared flies were experimentally exposed to NDV (Roakin strain) by allowing flies to imbibe an inoculum consisting of chicken embryo-propagated virus. NDV was detected in dissected crops and intestinal tissues from exposed flies for up to 96 and 24 h postexposure, respectively; no virus was detected in crops and intestines of sham-exposed flies. The potential of the house fly to directly transmit NDV to live chickens was examined by placing 14-d-old chickens in contact with NDV-exposed house flies 2 h after flies consumed NDV inoculum. NDV-exposed house flies contained approximately 10(4) 50% infectious doses (ID50) per fly, but no transmission of NDV was observed in chickens placed in contact with exposed flies at densities as high as 25 flies per bird. Subsequent dose-response studies demonstrated that oral exposure, the most likely route for fly-to-chicken transmission, required an NDV (Roakin) dose > or =10(6) ID50. These results indicate that house flies are capable of harboring NDV (Roakin) but that they are poor vectors of the virus because they carry an insufficient virus titer to cause infection.
Watson
D Wes
DW
Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA. wes_watson@ncsu.edu
Niño
Elina L
EL
Rochon
Kateryn
K
Denning
Steve
S
Smith
Lynda
L
Guy
James S
JS
D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000821:virology; D004199:Disease Vectors; D006793:Houseflies / Q000821:virology*; D009521:Newcastle Disease / Q000635:transmission*; D009522:Newcastle disease virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*
Avian Dis. 2003 Jan-Mar;47(1):149-53
12713170
J Exp Biol. 1990 May;150:257-68
2355210
J Econ Entomol. 1986 Aug;79(4):993-8
3745634
Am J Vet Res. 1983 Nov;44(11):2078-82
6316821
Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1999 Sep;61(3):500-4
10497998
Avian Dis. 2004 Sep;48(3):669-74
15529993
Vet Med Nauki. 1977;14(4):97-100
929968
J Med Entomol. 1975 Jun 30;12(2):225-7
1159747
J Med Entomol. 1977 Jan 31;13(4-5):616-21
845907