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Viruses2019; 11(6); doi: 10.3390/v11060492

Culex torrentium: A Potent Vector for the Transmission of West Nile Virus in Central Europe.

Abstract: The continuous circulation of West Nile virus (WNV) in Central, South and East Europe and its recent detection in several dead birds and two horses in Germany highlights the need for information on WNV vector competence of mosquitoes from Central Europe. Therefore, three common Culex species (Culex pipiens biotype pipiens, Culex pipiens biotype molestus and Culex torrentium) from Germany were orally infected with WNV and kept at 18 °C, 21 °C, 24 °C or 27 °C for 14 or 21 days post infection (dpi). Thereafter viable WNV was present in the saliva in all tested taxa, but only at incubation temperatures of 24 °C or 27 °C and predominantly at the extended incubation period of 21 dpi. Highest transmission efficiency rates of 17 % (24 °C) and 24% (27 °C) were found for Cx. torrentium. Culex p. pipiens and Cx. p. molestus showed low transmission efficiencies with a maximum of only 3%. Consequently, temperatures above 21 °C support transmission of WNV, which matches the predominant distribution of human WNV cases around the Mediterranean Sea and in South-East Europe. Culex torrentium has been identified as a potent vector for WNV in Central and Northern Europe, which highlights the need for surveillance of mosquito-borne viruses north of the Alps.
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Publication Date: 2019-05-29 PubMed ID: 31146418PubMed Central: PMC6630772DOI: 10.3390/v11060492Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research reveals that the Culex torrentium mosquito species potentially carries and transmits the West Nile virus (WNV) effectively in Central Europe, mostly at temperatures above 21 °C.

Methodology and Key Findings

  • The researchers tested the vector competence of three common mosquito species found in Germany, specifically Culex torrentium, for their potential to transmit West Nile Virus.
  • These mosquitoes were orally infected with WNV and kept at varying temperatures ranging from 18 °C to 27 °C for 14 to 21 days post infection (dpi).
  • All taxa tested showed viable WNV in their saliva. The presence of the virus, however, was only prevalent when incubated at temperatures of 24 °C or 27 °C and mostly at the extended incubation period of 21 dpi.

Transmission Efficiency

  • Culex torrentium demonstrated significant transmission efficiency with rates of 17% (at 24 °C) and 24% (at 27 °C). On the contrary, the other two species showed low transmission efficiency rates, maxing out at only 3%.
  • These findings suggest that the transmission of WNV is supported at temperatures above 21 °C. This aligns with the prevalent distribution of human WNV cases around the Mediterranean Sea and in South-East Europe where such temperature conditions exist.

Implications of the Study

  • The study reveals that Culex torrentium is a competent vector of WNV in Central and Northern Europe, which implies a need for enhanced surveillance of mosquito-borne viruses in such regions.
  • Public health agencies and preventive healthcare providers can use this information to focus their efforts on mosquito control and disease prevention tactics particularly in warmer climates and seasons.
  • Further research can be conducted to study the effects of climate change on mosquito behavior and disease transmission.

Cite This Article

APA
Jansen S, Heitmann A, Lühken R, Leggewie M, Helms M, Badusche M, Rossini G, Schmidt-Chanasit J, Tannich E. (2019). Culex torrentium: A Potent Vector for the Transmission of West Nile Virus in Central Europe. Viruses, 11(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/v11060492

Publication

Viruses
ISSN: 1999-4915
NlmUniqueID: 101509722
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 11
Issue: 6

Researcher Affiliations

Jansen, Stephanie
  • Arbovirology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany. jansen@bnitm.de.
Heitmann, Anna
  • Arbovirology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany. heitmann@bnitm.de.
Lühken, Renke
  • Arbovirology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany. luehken@bnitm.de.
Leggewie, Mayke
  • Molecular Entomology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany. leggewie@bnitm.de.
  • German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Hamburg-Lk-Borstel-Riems, 20359 Hamburg, Germany. leggewie@bnitm.de.
Helms, Michelle
  • Arbovirology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany. helms@bnitm.de.
Badusche, Marlis
  • Molecular Entomology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany. badusche@bnitm.de.
Rossini, Giada
  • Unit of Microbiology, Regional Reference Centre for Microbiological Emergencies (CRREM), St. Orsola Malpighi Hospital, 40138 Bologna, Italy. giada.rossini@unibo.it.
Schmidt-Chanasit, Jonas
  • Arbovirology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany. jonassi@gmx.de.
  • Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences, University of Hamburg, 22609 Hamburg, Germany. jonassi@gmx.de.
Tannich, Egbert
  • German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Hamburg-Lk-Borstel-Riems, 20359 Hamburg, Germany. tannich@bnitm.de.
  • Infection Diagnostics Department, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany. tannich@bnitm.de.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Culex / virology
  • Europe
  • Female
  • Germany
  • Mosquito Vectors / virology
  • Saliva / virology
  • Seasons
  • Temperature
  • West Nile Fever / transmission
  • West Nile Fever / virology
  • West Nile virus / pathogenicity

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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