Suceptibility to infection and transmission of West Nile Virus (Flavivirus) by local Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae)
West Nile Virus (WNV; Flavivirus; Flaviviridae) is a widely distributed arbovirus. It is maintained in an enzootic network by Culex mosquitoes and mainly passeriform birds. Despite its was first isolated in country in 2006, retrospective serological studies confirmed its circulatio...
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| Autores principales: | , , , |
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| Formato: | Artículo revista |
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Universidad Nacional Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Secretaria de Ciencia y Tecnología
2021
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| Acceso en línea: | https://revistas.unc.edu.ar/index.php/med/article/view/36072 |
| Aporte de: |
| Sumario: | West Nile Virus (WNV; Flavivirus; Flaviviridae) is a widely distributed arbovirus. It is maintained in an enzootic network by Culex mosquitoes and mainly passeriform birds. Despite its was first isolated in country in 2006, retrospective serological studies confirmed its circulation in Argentina by 2004. Since then, little has been elucidated regarding how WNV is maintained in nature and what species are involved in its amplification network. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the susceptibility to infection and transmission of a Cx. quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae) population from Córdoba, by means of a dose-response vector competence assay. A total of 110 mosquitoes were orally infected using 5 increasing viral loads (3,3; 3,7; 4,0; 6,0 y 7,0 log10 PFU/ml). After extrinsic incubation period, samples of abdomen, legs and salivary secretions were taken to evaluate infection, dissemination, and transmission rates. The evaluated population was susceptible to infection, showing infection rates ranging from 36 to 95%. Disseminated infections were detected at all viral doses, ranging from 50 to 100%. Finally, 38% (5/13) and 77% (17/22) of the mosquitoes with disseminated infections, corresponding to treatments 6 and 7 log10 PFU / ml, were capable of transmitting the virus. A linear regression was established between doses and transmission rates, and a minimum transmission threshold of 3.72 log10 PFU/ml was obtained. Taking into consideration our results in vector competence, their high abundance and even the lack of diapause of females during winter in Córdoba, we could expect this species to play a significant role in the maintenance and viral transmission throughout the year. Finally, the minimum transmission threshold suggests that Cx. quinquefasciatus could acquire WNV infection from local urban birds. |
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