Journal of Medical Entomology (1994) 31, 287-290

Michael J. Turell, Joseph R. Beaman and Gary W. Neely (1994)
Experimental transmission of eastern equine encephalitis virus by strains of Aedes albopictus and A. taeniorhynchus (Diptera: Culicidae)
Journal of Medical Entomology 31 (2), 287-290
Abstract: The vector competence of Aedes taeniorhynchus (Wiedemann) and four strains of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) was assessed for eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus isolated from Ae. albopictus collected in Polk County, Florida. Both species became infected with and transmitted EEE virus by bite after feeding on 1-d-old chicks that had been inoculated with EEE virus (viremia = 10^10.1 plaque-forming units [PFU] per ml of blood). However, when fed on an older chick with a lower viremia (viremia = 10^6.1 PFU per ml of blood), Ae. albopictus was significantly more susceptible to infection (90%, n = 61) than was Ae. taeniorhynchus (15%, n = 40). Transmission was also significantly more efficient by Ae. albopictus (36%, n = 44), than by Ae. taeniorhynchus (0%, n = 14). These data, combined with the recent isolation of EEE virus from Ae. albopictus and its opportunistic feeding behavior, indicate that Ae. albopictus could function as a bridge vector between the enzootic Culiseta melanura (Coq.)-avian cycle and susceptible mammalian hosts.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Michael J. Turell

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Aedes albopictus		U.S.A. (SE)
	Aedes taeniorhynchus