title: Experimental transmission of Mayaro virus by Aedes aegypti.
abstract: Outbreaks of Mayaro fever have been associated with a sylvatic cycle of Mayaro virus (MAYV) transmission in South America. To evaluate the potential for a common urban mosquito to transmit MAYV, laboratory vector competence studies were performed with Aedes aegypti from Iquitos, Peru. Oral infection in Ae. aegypti ranged from 0% (0/31) to 84% (31/37), with blood meal virus titers between 3.4 log(10) and 7.3 log(10) plaque-forming units (PFU)/mL. Transmission of MAYV by 70% (21/30) of infected mosquitoes was shown by saliva collection and exposure to suckling mice. Amount of viral RNA in febrile humans, determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction, ranged from 2.7 to 5.3 log(10) PFU equivalents/mL. Oral susceptibility of Ae. aegypti to MAYV at titers encountered in viremic humans may limit opportunities to initiate an urban cycle; however, transmission of MAYV by Ae. aegypti shows the vector competence of this species and suggests potential for urban transmission.
authors: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, USA. kclong@ucdavis.edu
authors: Kanya C
authors: KC
authors: Long
authors: Sarah A
authors: SA
authors: Ziegler
authors: Saravanan
authors: S
authors: Thangamani
authors: Nicole L
authors: NL
authors: Hausser
authors: Tadeusz J
authors: TJ
authors: Kochel
authors: Stephen
authors: S
authors: Higgs
authors: Robert B
authors: RB
authors: Tesh
mesh_terms: D000330:Aedes / Q000821:virology*; D000524:Alphavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D018354:Alphavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D000818:Animals; D003588:Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D007303:Insect Vectors; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral