Vector Competence of Mexican and Honduran Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) for Enzootic (IE) and Epizooti (IC) Strains of Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis Virus

Abstract

Experimental studies were undertaken to evaluate the vector competence of Ochlerotatus taeniorynchus (Wiedemann), Culex cancer Theobald, Culex pseudes (Dyar and Knab), Culex taeniopus Dyar and Knab, and a Culex (Culex) species, probably Culex quinquefasciatus Say and Culex nigripalpus Theobald from Chiapas, Mexico, and Tocoa, Honduras, for epizootic (IC) and enzootic (IE) strains of Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) virus. Culex pseudes was highly susceptible to infection with both the IC and IE strains of VEE virus (infection rates > 78%). Patterns of susceptibility to VEE were similar for the Oc. taeniorynchus collected in Mexico and Honduras. Although Oc. taeniorynchus was highly susceptible to the epizootic IC strain (infection rates ≥ 95%, n = 191), this species was less susceptible to the enzootic IE strain (infection rates ≤ 30%, n = 311). The Culex (Culex) species were refractory to both subtypes of VEE virus, and none of 166 contained evidence of a disseminated infection. Virus-exposed Cx. pseudes that refed on susceptible hamsters readily transmitted virus, confirming that this species was an efficient vector of VEE virus. Although Oc. taeniorynchus that fed on hamsters infected with the epizootic IC strain transmitted VEE virus efficiently, only one of six of those with a disseminated infection with the enzootic IE virus that fed on hamsters transmitted virus by bite. These data indicate that Cx. pseudes is an efficient laboratory vector of both epizootic and enzootic strains of VEE virus and that Oc. taeniorynchus could be an important vector of epizootic subtypes of VEE.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 2003
Accession Number
ADA428691

Entities

People

  • Guadeloupe Romero
  • José G. Estrada-franco
  • Michael J. Turell
  • Monica L. O’guinn
  • Roberto Navarro

Organizations

  • United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Arbovirus Infections
  • Central America
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Encephalitis
  • Equine Encephalitis
  • Health
  • Health Services
  • Honduras
  • Infection
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Laboratory Animals
  • North America
  • South America
  • United States
  • Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis
  • Viruses

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

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