Mj. Turell et al., Vector competence of peruvian mosquitoes (Diptera : culicidae) for epizootic and enzootic strains of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus, J MED ENT, 37(6), 2000, pp. 835-839
Mosquitoes collected in the Amazon Basin, near Iquitos, Peru, were evaluate
d for their susceptibility to epizootic (IAB and IC) and enzootic (ID and I
E) strains of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE) virus. After feedin
g on hamsters with a viremia of approximate to 10(8) plaque-forming units o
f virus per milliliter, Culex (Melanoconion) gnomatus Sallum, Huchings, & F
erreira, Culex (Melanoconion) vomerifer Komp, and Aedes fulvus (Wiedemann)
were highly susceptible to infection with all four subtypes of VEE virus (i
nfection rates greater than or equal to 87%). Likewise, Psorophora albigenu
(Peryassu) and a combination of Mansonia indubitans Dyar & Shannon and Man
sonia titillans (Walker) were moderately susceptible to all four strains of
VEE virus (infection rates greater than or equal to 50%). Although Psoroph
ora cingulata (Fabricius) and Coquillettidia venezuelensis (Theobald) were
susceptible to infection with each of the VEE strains, these two species we
re not efficient transmitters of any of the VEE strains, even after intrath
oracic inoculation, indicating the presence of a salivary gland barrier in
these species. In contrast to the other species tested, both Culex (Melanoc
onion) pedroi Sirivanakarn & Belkin and Culex (Culex) coronator Dyar & Knab
were nearly refractory to each of the strains of VEE virus tested. Althoug
h many of the mosquito species found in this region were competent laborato
ry vectors of VEE virus, additional studies on biting behavior, mosquito po
pulation densities, and vertebrate reservoir hosts of VEE virus are needed
to incriminate the principal vector species.