Potential for Psorophora columbiae and Psorophora ciliata Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) to Transmit Rift Valley Fever Virus.
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) continues to pose a threat to much of the world. Unlike many arboviruses, numerous mosquito species have been associated with RVFV in nature, and many species have been demonstrated as competent vectors in the laboratory. In this study, we evaluated two field-collected Psorophora species, Psorophora columbiae (Dyar and Knab) and Psorophora ciliata (F.) for their potential to transmit RVFV in North America. Both species were susceptible to infection after feeding on a hamster with a viremia of 10(7) plaque-forming units/ml, with infection rates of 65 and 83% for Ps. columbiae and Ps. ciliata, respectively (with nearly all specimens becoming infected when feeding on a hamster with a higher viremia). However, both species had a significant salivary gland barrier, as only 2/35 Ps. columbiae and 0/3 Ps. ciliata with a disseminated infection transmitted virus by bite. Despite the presence of the salivary gland barrier, due to the very high population that can occur and its propensity to feed on large mammals, Ps. columbiae might play a role in amplifying RVFV should that virus be introduced into an area where this species is common.
Virology Division, Department of Vector Assessment, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD 21702-5011. michael.j.turell.civ@mail.mil.
Michael J
MJ
Turell
USDA-ARS Center for Medical, Agricultural, & Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville, FL 32608.
Seth C
SC
Britch
USDA-ARS Center for Medical, Agricultural, & Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville, FL 32608.
Robert L
RL
Aldridge
Anastasia Mosquito Control District of St. John's County, St. Augustine, FL 32080.
Rui-De
RD
Xue
Anastasia Mosquito Control District of St. John's County, St. Augustine, FL 32080.
Mike L
ML
Smith
USDA-ARS Arthropod-Borne Animal Diseases Research Unit, Center for Grain and Animal Health Research, Manhattan, KS 66502.
Lee W
LW
Cohnstaedt
USDA-ARS Center for Medical, Agricultural, & Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville, FL 32608.
Kenneth J
KJ
Linthicum
D000818:Animals; D002140:California; D009033:Culicidae / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000821:virology*; D008647:Mesocricetus / Q000821:virology; D012295:Rift Valley Fever / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D012296:Rift Valley fever virus / Q000502:physiology; D014766:Viremia / Q000821:virology
North America; competence; transmission; vector