Vector competence of a Houston, Texas strain of Aedes albopictus for Rift Valley fever virus.

Abstract

Abstract : The recent introduction of Aedes albopictus into the Americas has led to concern that this mosquito might serve as a vector of both native as well as exotic viruses. Experimental and field data indicate that this species is capable of transmitting chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis, yellow fever, West Nile, Ross River, and all 4 serotypes of dengue viruses, as well as St. Louis encephalitis and western equine encephalitis viruses. We evaluated the potential of the F3 generation of a Houston, Texas strain of Ae. albopictus to transmit Rift Valley fever (RVF) virus. Female mosquitoes, 5 to 10 days old reared at 26 C with a 16:8 L:D photoperiod, were allowed to feed on an anesthetized hamster that had been inoculated with RVF virus 24 hours previously. Recovery of virus from the body, but not the legs, indicated that viral infection was limited to the midgut and had not disseminated to the hemocoel, while recovery of virus from both legs and body indicated that the mosquito had a disseminated infection. Ae. albopictus should be considered a potential vector of RVR virus, should it be introduced into the southern United States. Reprints.