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Estimation of the Amount of Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis Virus Transmitted by a Single Infected Aedes Aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

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1982

Year

Abstract

The transmission of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE) virus by Aedes aegypti to mice was studied in relation to the course of the biting process. The amounts of virus transmitted increased with the duration of the penetration period. Mosquitoes averaged 14 s of undisturbed skin penetration to transmit 1 mouse-infective dose. Prolonged blood feeding considerably reduced transmission efficiency. This effect was probably related to the length of the feeding period. Only a small fraction of the virus material introduced during the infective bite appears to contribute to the establishment of an infection in mice.