title: Insect-specific flaviviruses from Culex mosquitoes in Colorado, with evidence of vertical transmission.
abstract: Mosquitoes were collected in Colorado during 2006 and 2007 to examine spatial and seasonal patterns of risk for exposure to Culex vectors and West Nile virus. We used universal flavivirus primers to test pools of Culex mosquitoes for viral RNA. This led to the detection and subsequent isolation of two insect-specific flaviviruses: Culex flavivirus (CxFV), which was first described from Japan, and a novel insect flavivirus, designated Calbertado virus (CLBOV), which has also been detected in California and Canada. We recorded both viruses in Cx. tarsalis and Cx. pipiens from Colorado. Furthermore, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) revealed the presence of CxFV RNA in Cx. pipiens eggs and larvae from a laboratory colony established in 2005 and naturally infected with CxFV, suggesting vertical transmission as a means of viral maintenance in natural Culex populations. Finally, we present phylogenetic analyses of the relationships between insect-specific flaviviruses and other selected flaviviruses.
authors: Arthropod-Borne and Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521, USA. bbolling@cdc.gov
authors: Bethany G
authors: BG
authors: Bolling
authors: Lars
authors: L
authors: Eisen
authors: Chester G
authors: CG
authors: Moore
authors: Carol D
authors: CD
authors: Blair
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003120:Colorado; D003465:Culex / Q000821:virology*; D005416:Flavivirus / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D010802:Phylogeny; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012621:Seasons