Vector competence of mosquitoes (Diptera : Culicidae) from Maroochy Shire,Australia, for Barmah Forest virus

Mosquitoes were collected in light traps from Maroochy Shire and fed on blo od containing the sympatric BF1611 strain of Barmah Forest virus (BF). Salt marsh Aedes vigilax (Skuse) and freshwater Aedes procax (Skuse) were highly susceptible to infection, with ID(50)s of 10(1.7) and 10(1.5) African gree n monkey kidney (Vero) cell culture infectious dose, 50% endpoint (CCID50) per mosquito, respectively, followed by Aedes multiplex (Theobald) and Aede s funereus (Theobald) with 10(2.5) and 10(3.2) CCID50 per mosquito, respect ively. Culex australicus Dobrotworsky & Drummond and Mansonia uniformis (Th eobald) that were fed 10(3.6) CCID50, (Vero) BF per mosquito had infection rates of 28 and 60%, respectively. Only 8% of freshwater Culex annulirostri s Skuse fed the same viral dose were infected. Evidence of virus transmissi on to mice was found with AP, vigilax and Ae. procax, with transmission rat es of 65 and 88% at 11-12 d after infection, respectively. Based on adult a bundance, susceptibility to infection, and efficiency of virus transmission , lie. vigilax would appear to be the most important vector of BF in Marooc hy Shire.