Experimental infection and transmission of Barmah Forest virus by Aedes vigilax (Diptera : Culicidae)

Aedes vigilax (Skuse) mosquitoes colonized from Townsville, Queensland, Aus tralia, were fed on blood containing Barmah Forest virus (BF) isolated from the same species. The colony was susceptible to infection, with an ID50 of 10(2.6) CCID50 per mosquito. Infection and transmission rates for mosquito es fed 10(3.5) CCID50 virus per mosquito varied fi om 58 to 100% and 36 to 100%, respectively, between days 3 and 13 after infection. Titers in infect ed mosquitoes were high by 5 d after infection and did not vary substantial ly thereafter. Virus transmission to suckling mice occurred from 3 d after infection. This work establishes that Ae. vigilax is a competent vector of BF.