Vector competence of Aedes notoscriptus (Diptera : Culicidae) for Barmah Forest virus and of this species and Aedes aegypti (Diptera : Culicidae) fordengue 1-4 viruses in Queensland, Australia

Aedes notoscriptus (Skuse) mosquitoes colonized from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, were fed on blood suspensions containing either Barmah Forest (B F) virus, dengue virus type 1 (DEN-1), dengue virus type 2 (DEN-2), dengue virus type 3 (DEN-3), or dengue virus type 1 (DEN-4). Ae notoscriptus was s hown to be moderately susceptible to oral infection with BF virus, ID50 = 1 0(3.3) CCID50 per mosquito, with titers in infected mosquitoes peaking 10 d after infection. BF virus transmission occurred between days 5 and 12, wit h an average rate of 45% (range, 40-50%). For DEN 1-4, Ae. notoscriptus sho wed low level susceptibility to oral infection, with maximum head and thora x squash infection rates of 8, 5, 13, and 3%, respectively. Rates of infect ion were notably higher in a north Queensland strain of Aedes aegypti (L.) used as a positive control, with maximum thorax squash infection rates of 5 8, 68, 78, and 60% for DEN 1-4, respectively. On the basis of these ;data, it is concluded that Ae. notoscriptus could act as an efficient vector of B F in urban environments, but it is unlikely to be an important vector of DE N.