title: Evaluation of the vector competence of a native UK mosquito Ochlerotatus detritus (Aedes detritus) for dengue, chikungunya and West Nile viruses.
abstract: To date there has been no evidence of mosquito-borne virus transmission of public health concern in the UK, despite the occurrence of more than 30 species of mosquito, including putative vectors of arboviruses. The saltmarsh mosquito Ochlerotatus detritus [syn. Aedes (Ochlerotatus) detritus] is locally common in parts of the UK where it can be a voracious feeder on people.
  
  
  
  Here, we assess the competence of O. detritus for three major arboviruses: dengue virus (DENV), chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and West Nile virus (WNV) using adult mosquitoes reared from wild, field-obtained immatures.
  
  
  
  We demonstrate laboratory competence for WNV at 21 °C, with viral RNA detected in the mosquito's saliva 17 days after oral inoculation. By contrast, there was no evidence of laboratory competence of O. detritus for either DENV or CHIKV.
  
  
  
  To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate competence of a UK mosquito for WNV and confirms that O. detritus may present a potential risk for arbovirus transmission in the UK and that further investigation of its vector role in the wild is required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK. marcus.blagrove@liverpool.ac.uk.|National Institute of Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK. marcus.blagrove@liverpool.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Marcus S C
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Blagrove
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sherlock
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Gail E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Impoinvil
authors.affiliation: Vector Biology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: McCall
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.|Medical Entomology group, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Salisbury, UK.
authors.forename: Jolyon M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Medlock
authors.affiliation: Vector Biology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Gareth
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lycett
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.|National Institute of Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Solomon
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.|National Institute of Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baylis
mesh_terms: D000330:Aedes / Q000821:virology*; D000818:Animals; D002646:Chikungunya virus / Q000502:physiology*; D003716:Dengue Virus / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000821:virology*; D044969:Ochlerotatus / Q000821:virology*; D006113:United Kingdom; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Aedes; Arbovirus; CHIKV; DENV; Mosquito; Ochlerotatus; Vector competence; WNV