Journal of Medical Entomology (2012) 49, 175-182

Keita Hoshino, Azusa Takahashi-Nakaguchi, Haruhiko Isawa, Toshinori Sasaki, Yukiko Higa, Shinji Kasai, Yoshio Tsuda, Kyoko Sawabe and Mutsuo Kobayashi (2012)
Entomological surveillance for flaviviruses at migratory bird stopover sites in Hokkaido, Japan, and a new insect flavivirus detected in Aedes galloisi (Diptera: Culicidae)
Journal of Medical Entomology 49 (1), 175-182
Abstract: To investigate the possible spread of West Nile virus (WNV) into Japan, we carried out entomological surveillance for flaviviruses at migratory bird stopover sites in Hokkaido, Japan, during 2003-2006. A total of 3,826 mosquitoes, identified as 15 species in five genera, were collected and 2,465 of these were grouped into 123 pools that were assayed for cytopathic effects on mosquito and mammalian cell cultures and for flavivirus RNA by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction using flavivirus universal primer sets for fragments of the NS3 and NS5 genes. Neither WNV nor other mosquito-vertebrate transmitted flaviviruses were detected in mosquitoes collected at any of the sites in Hokkaido, but five Culex flaviviruses and one novel Aedes galloisi flavivirus were identified from Culex pipiens L. s. l. and Aedes galloisi Yamada, respectively. Genetic and phylogenetic analyses based on the partial NS5 nucleotide sequences classified Aedes galloisi flavivirus with the insect flavivirus, but distant from Cell fusing agent, Kamiti river virus, and Culex flaviviruses, showing <74% sequence identities. Polymerase chain reaction-based bloodmeal analysis of 79 females showed that all of the Aedes and Ochlerotatus mosquitoes fed on mammals (deer and humans), whereas, Cx. pipiens s. 1. mosquitoes fed on both of avian (ducks and sparrows, 85.7%) and mammalian hosts (dog, 14.3%). We suggest that to date WNV has not become established in Japan.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Shinji Kasai, Yoshio Tsuda

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Culex pipiens		Japan
	Aedes vexans		Japan
	Aedes punctor		Japan
	Aedes dorsalis		Japan
	Aedes japonicus		Japan
	Aedes excrucians		Japan
	Culex orientalis		Japan
	Aedes esoensis		Japan
	Aedes yamadai		Japan
	Aedes galloisi		Japan