Vector competence of Anopheles and Culex mosquitoes for Zika virus
Zika virus is a newly emergent mosquito-borne flavivirus that has caused recent large outbreaks in the new world, leading to dramatic increases in serious disease pathology including Guillain-Barre syndrome, newborn microcephaly, and infant brain damage. Although Aedes mosquitoes are thought to be t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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PeerJ Inc.
2017-03-01
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| Series: | PeerJ |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/3096.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797419153755209728 |
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| author | Brittany L. Dodson Jason L. Rasgon |
| author_facet | Brittany L. Dodson Jason L. Rasgon |
| author_sort | Brittany L. Dodson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Zika virus is a newly emergent mosquito-borne flavivirus that has caused recent large outbreaks in the new world, leading to dramatic increases in serious disease pathology including Guillain-Barre syndrome, newborn microcephaly, and infant brain damage. Although Aedes mosquitoes are thought to be the primary mosquito species driving infection, the virus has been isolated from dozens of mosquito species, including Culex and Anopheles species, and we lack a thorough understanding of which mosquito species to target for vector control. We exposed Anopheles gambiae, Anopheles stephensi, and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes to blood meals supplemented with two Zika virus strains. Mosquito bodies, legs, and saliva were collected five, seven, and 14 days post blood meal and tested for infectious virus by plaque assay. Regardless of titer, virus strain, or timepoint, Anopheles gambiae, Anopheles stephensi, and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes were refractory to Zika virus infection. We conclude that Anopheles gambiae, Anopheles stephensi, and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes likely do not contribute significantly to Zika virus transmission to humans. However, future studies should continue to explore the potential for other novel potential vectors to transmit the virus. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:44:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2bde9aabf9b14ebe957225fdd491954f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:44:06Z |
| publishDate | 2017-03-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PeerJ |
| spelling | doaj.art-2bde9aabf9b14ebe957225fdd491954f2023-12-03T10:40:54ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592017-03-015e309610.7717/peerj.3096Vector competence of Anopheles and Culex mosquitoes for Zika virusBrittany L. Dodson0Jason L. Rasgon1Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United StatesDepartment of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United StatesZika virus is a newly emergent mosquito-borne flavivirus that has caused recent large outbreaks in the new world, leading to dramatic increases in serious disease pathology including Guillain-Barre syndrome, newborn microcephaly, and infant brain damage. Although Aedes mosquitoes are thought to be the primary mosquito species driving infection, the virus has been isolated from dozens of mosquito species, including Culex and Anopheles species, and we lack a thorough understanding of which mosquito species to target for vector control. We exposed Anopheles gambiae, Anopheles stephensi, and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes to blood meals supplemented with two Zika virus strains. Mosquito bodies, legs, and saliva were collected five, seven, and 14 days post blood meal and tested for infectious virus by plaque assay. Regardless of titer, virus strain, or timepoint, Anopheles gambiae, Anopheles stephensi, and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes were refractory to Zika virus infection. We conclude that Anopheles gambiae, Anopheles stephensi, and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes likely do not contribute significantly to Zika virus transmission to humans. However, future studies should continue to explore the potential for other novel potential vectors to transmit the virus.https://peerj.com/articles/3096.pdfZika virusMosquitoVector competenceEmerging pathogen |
| spellingShingle | Brittany L. Dodson Jason L. Rasgon Vector competence of Anopheles and Culex mosquitoes for Zika virus PeerJ Zika virus Mosquito Vector competence Emerging pathogen |
| title | Vector competence of Anopheles and Culex mosquitoes for Zika virus |
| title_full | Vector competence of Anopheles and Culex mosquitoes for Zika virus |
| title_fullStr | Vector competence of Anopheles and Culex mosquitoes for Zika virus |
| title_full_unstemmed | Vector competence of Anopheles and Culex mosquitoes for Zika virus |
| title_short | Vector competence of Anopheles and Culex mosquitoes for Zika virus |
| title_sort | vector competence of anopheles and culex mosquitoes for zika virus |
| topic | Zika virus Mosquito Vector competence Emerging pathogen |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/3096.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT brittanyldodson vectorcompetenceofanophelesandculexmosquitoesforzikavirus AT jasonlrasgon vectorcompetenceofanophelesandculexmosquitoesforzikavirus |