Vector Competence of Peruvian Mosquitoes for Two Orthobunyaviruses Isolated From Mosquitoes Captured in Peru

Abstract

We evaluated the potential for mosquitoes collected in the Amazon Basin, near Iquitos, Peru, to become infected with and transmit Murutucu (MURV) and Itaqui viruses (ITQV) (Order Bunyavirales, Family: Peribunyaviridae, Genus: Orthobunyavirus). Viremia levels in Syrian hamsters peaked 2 d after infection with either virus, and both viruses were highly lethal in hamsters with virtually all hamsters dying prior to 3-d postinfection. For almost all of the mosquito species tested some individuals were susceptible to infection and some developed a disseminated infection after oral exposure to either MURV or ITQV. However, only the Culex species (Culex (Culex) coronator Dyar and Knab [Diptera, Culicidae], Culex (Melanoconian) gnomatos Sallum, Huchings, and Ferreira [Diptera, Culicidae], Culex (Mel.) pedroi Sirivanakarn and Belkin [Diptera, Culicidae], and Culex (Mel.) vomerifer Komp [Diptera, Culicidae]) successfully transmitted virus by bite. However, even among these species, only about 37% of the individuals with a disseminated infection successfully transmitted these viruses, indicating a significant salivary gland barrier. Although little is known about the medical or veterinary importance of many members of the genus Orthobunyavirus, we have demonstrated that Culex spp. (Diptera, Culicidae) could be potential vectors.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Nov 19, 2020
Source ID
10.1093/jme/tjaa252

Entities

People

  • D. J. Dohm
  • Michael J. Turell
  • R. Fernandez
  • T. A. Klein

Organizations

  • National Institutes of Health
  • Naval Medical Research Center
  • United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases
  • United States Navy

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Vector-Borne Disease and Entomology
  • Virology (or Medical Virology).