Vector competence of three North American strains of Aedes albopictus for West Nile virus

Michael R. Sardelis, Michael J. Turell*, Monica L. O'Guinn, Richard G. Andre, Donald R. Roberts

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

98 Scopus citations

Abstract

To evaluate the potential for North American (NA) Aedes albopictus to transmit West Nile virus (WN), mosquito strains derived from 3 NA sources (Frederick County, Maryland, FRED strain; Cheverly, MD, CHEV strain; Chambers and Liberty counties, Texas, TAMU strain) were tested. These strains were tested along with a previously tested strain from a Hawaiian source (OAHU strain). Mosquitoes were fed on 2- to 3-day-old chickens previously inoculated with a New York strain (Crow 397-99) of WN. All of the NA strains were competent laboratory vectors of WN, with transmission rates of 36, 50, 83, and 92% for the FRED, CHEV, OAHU, and TAMU strains, respectively. The extrinsic incubation period for WN in Ae. albopictus held at 26°C was estimated to be 10 days. Based on efficiency of viral transmission, evidence of natural infection, bionomics, and distribution, Ac. albopictus could be an important bridge vector of WN in the southeastern USA.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)284-289
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of the American Mosquito Control Association
Volume18
Issue number4
StatePublished - Dec 2002
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Aedes albopictus
  • Extrinsic incubation
  • Vector competence
  • West Nile virus

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