Evaluation of a temperate climate mosquito,Ochlerotatus detritus (=Aedes detritus), as a potential vector of Japanese encephalitis virus |
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| Authors: | L MACKENZIE‐IMPOINVIL D E IMPOINVIL S E GALBRAITH R J DILLON H RANSON N JOHNSON A R FOOKS T SOLOMON M BAYLIS |
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| Institution: | 1. Brain Infections Group, Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, U.K.;2. Climate and Infectious Diseases of Animals Group, Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, U.K.;3. Department of Biomedical Science, Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds, U.K.;4. Biomedical and Life Sciences, School of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, U.K.;5. Vector Group, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, U.K.;6. Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector‐Borne Diseases Research Group, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Addlestone, U.K.;7. Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, U.K.;8. National Institute of Health Research, Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Liverpool, U.K. |
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| Abstract: | The U.K. has not yet experienced a confirmed outbreak of mosquito‐borne virus transmission to people or livestock despite numerous autochthonous epizootic and human outbreaks of mosquito‐borne diseases on the European mainland. Indeed, whether or not British mosquitoes are competent to transmit arboviruses has not been established. Therefore, the competence of a local (temperate) British mosquito species, Ochlerotatus detritus (=Aedes detritus) (Diptera: Culicidae) for transmission of a member of the genus Flavivirus, Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) as a model for mosquito‐borne virus transmission was assessed. The JEV competence in a laboratory strain of Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae), a previously incriminated JEV vector, was also evaluated as a positive control. Ochlerotatus detritus adults were reared from field‐collected juvenile stages. In oral infection bioassays, adult females developed disseminated infections and were able to transmit virus as determined by the isolation of virus in saliva secretions. When pooled at 7–21 days post‐infection, 13% and 25% of O. detritus were able to transmit JEV when held at 23 °C and 28 °C, respectively. Similar results were obtained for C. quinquefasciatus. To our knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate that a British mosquito species, O. detritus, is a potential vector of an exotic flavivirus. |
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| Keywords: | Ochlerotatus detritus British mosquito Japanese encephalitis virus vector competence |
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