title: Geographic distribution suggests that Solenopsis invicta is the host of predilection for Solenopsis invicta virus 1.
abstract: Solenopsis invicta virus 1 (SINV-1) was found regularly and prevalently in S. invicta. In sampled locations where S. invicta and S. geminata are sympatric (specifically, Gainesville, FL and Travis, TX), SINV-1 was detected in S. geminata. Conversely, in areas in which S. geminata and S. invicta are allopatric, SINV-1 was not detected in S. geminata; these locations included north Australia (n=12), southern Mexico (n=107), Hawaii (n=48), Taiwan (n=12), and the Johnston Atoll (n=6). A similar relationship was observed for S. richteri. In areas in which S. invicta and S. richteri were sympatric, SINV-1 was detected in the S. richteri population, but in areas in which S. invicta and S. richteri were allopatric, SINV-1 was not detected. These occurrences suggest that S. invicta is the host of predilection, or preferred host for SINV-1, and that the congenerics, S. geminata and S. richteri serve as either accidental, reservoir, or transfer hosts. The minus genome strand of SINV-1 was detected in S. geminata and S. richteri indicating that these species may serve as functional hosts capable of supporting SINV-1 replication. SINV-1 was not detected in S. xyloni regardless of its proximity to S. invicta. These results suggest that SINV-1 may be an example of pathogen spillover or pollution.
authors.affiliation: USDA - ARS, Imported Fire Ant and Household Insects Research Unit, 1600 SW 23rd Drive, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA. steven.valles@ars.usda.gov
authors.forename: Steven M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Valles
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Oi
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Plowes
authors.forename: Hussein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sanchez-Arroyo
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Varone
authors.forename: Pat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Conant
authors.forename: Garry
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Webb
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001000:Ants / Q000821:virology*; D005843:Geography; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D007304:Insect Viruses / Q000502:physiology*; D014779:Virus Replication