Zika Virus in Salivary Glands of Five Different Species of Wild-Caught Mosquitoes from Mexico

Abstract

Abstract Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne virus and Aedes agypti has been mentioned as the main vector of the disease. Other mosquito species in the Aedes and Culex genera have been suggested to have the potential for being competent vectors, based on experimental exposition of mosquitoes to an infectious blood meal containing ZIKV. Here, we report the isolation in cell culture of ZIKV from different body parts of wild-caught female mosquitoes ( Ae. aegypti , Ae. vexans, Culex quinquefasciatus , Cx. coronator , and Cx. tarsalis ) and whole male mosquitoes ( Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus ) in Mexico. Importantly, the virus was isolated from the salivary glands of all of these mosquitoes, strongly suggesting that these species are potential vectors for ZIKV.