Natural vertical transmission of western equine encephalomyelitis virus in mosquitoes.
Abstract: The mechanism by which western equine encephalomyelitis (WEE) virus and other mosquito-borne alphaviruses (Togaviridae) survive during periods of vector inactivity is unknown. Recently, three strains of WEE virus were isolated from adult Aedes dorsalis collected as larvae from a salt marsh in a coastal region of California. This provides evidence of vertical transmission of WEE virus in mosquitoes in nature. Vertical transmission in Ae. dorsalis and closely related mosquito species may be an important mechanism for the maintenance of WEE virus in temperate regions in North America where horizontal transmission of the virus is seasonal.
Publication Date: 1994-02-04 PubMed ID: 8303276DOI: 10.1126/science.8303276Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- P.H.S.
Summary
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The research paper investigates how the Western Equine Encephalomyelitis virus, a mosquito-borne disease, survives during periods of low mosquito activity by considering its possible vertical transmission in mosquito populations.
Understanding the Research
In this study, the researchers delve deeper into how the Western Equine Encephalomyelitis (WEE) virus, a type of mosquito-borne Alphavirus, is sustained during periods when vectors (mosquitoes in this case) are inactive. The method through which this happens has been largely unknown.
- The research was prompted by the isolation of three strains of WEE virus from adult Aedes dorsalis mosquitoes. These mosquitoes were collected as larvae from a salt marsh in a coastal region of California, providing the first clue about natural vertical transmission.
- The term “vertical transmission” here refers to the transmission of the virus from an infected mother mosquito to its offspring, as opposed to “horizontal transmission” which is from one infected individual to another within the same generation.
Findings of the Study
Upon investigating, the researchers found evidence supporting the theory of vertical transmission of the WEE virus in mosquitoes in nature. The importance of this finding includes:
- This is significant as the identification of vertical transmission in Aedes dorsalis and closely related mosquito species may explain why the WEE virus continues to persist in regions where horizontal activity of the virus is seasonal.
- In the temperate regions of North America, for instance, where the WEE virus is found, the horizontal transmission of the virus is seasonal. In less active periods, the mosquitoes aren’t transmitting the virus through bites, yet the virus doesn’t disappear.
- The study posits that vertical transmission could serve as the key survival and maintenance mechanism for the virus during these seasons of vector inactivity.
Implications of the Research
The findings of this research have several broad implications:
- If the vertical transmission theory in mosquitoes is correct, it could deeply impact the strategies employed in controlling the spread of the WEE virus, as well as potentially other mosquito-borne diseases.
- Further investigations are needed, building on this evidence, to confirm the hypothesis and to assess the frequency of vertical transmission, its rate of survival and its overall impact on the persistence of the virus.
- This could provide crucial breakthroughs that could help in developing more effective disease control and prevention measures.
Cite This Article
APA
Fulhorst CF, Hardy JL, Eldridge BF, Presser SB, Reeves WC.
(1994).
Natural vertical transmission of western equine encephalomyelitis virus in mosquitoes.
Science, 263(5147), 676-678.
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.8303276 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley 94720.
MeSH Terms
- Aedes / microbiology
- Animals
- California
- Encephalitis Virus, Western Equine / isolation & purification
- Encephalitis Virus, Western Equine / physiology
- Encephalomyelitis, Equine / transmission
- Female
- Insect Vectors / microbiology
- Larva / microbiology
- Male
- Seasons
Grant Funding
- AI-03028 / NIAID NIH HHS
- AI-26154 / NIAID NIH HHS
Citations
This article has been cited 16 times.- Dahl E, Öborn L, Sjöberg V, Lundkvist Å, Hesson JC. Vertical Transmission of Sindbis Virus in Culex Mosquitoes. Viruses 2022 Aug 30;14(9).
- Azar SR, Campos RK, Bergren NA, Camargos VN, Rossi SL. Epidemic Alphaviruses: Ecology, Emergence and Outbreaks. Microorganisms 2020 Aug 1;8(8).
- More S, Bøtner A, Butterworth A, Calistri P, Depner K, Edwards S, Garin-Bastuji B, Good M, Gortázar Schmidt C, Michel V, Miranda MA, Nielsen SS, Raj M, Sihvonen L, Spoolder H, Stegeman JA, Thulke HH, Velarde A, Willeberg P, Winckler C, Baldinelli F, Broglia A, Dhollander S, Beltrán-Beck B, Kohnle L, Morgado J, Bicout D. Assessment of listing and categorisation of animal diseases within the framework of the Animal Health Law (Regulation (EU) No 2016/429): equine encephalomyelitis (Eastern and Western). EFSA J 2017 Jul;15(7):e04946.
- Chompoosri J, Thavara U, Tawatsin A, Boonserm R, Phumee A, Sangkitporn S, Siriyasatien P. Vertical transmission of Indian Ocean Lineage of chikungunya virus in Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. Parasit Vectors 2016 Apr 23;9:227.
- Wong HV, Vythilingam I, Sulaiman WY, Lulla A, Merits A, Chan YF, Sam IC. Detection of Persistent Chikungunya Virus RNA but not Infectious Virus in Experimental Vertical Transmission in Aedes aegypti from Malaysia. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2016 Jan;94(1):182-6.
- Nasar F, Haddow AD, Tesh RB, Weaver SC. Eilat virus displays a narrow mosquito vector range. Parasit Vectors 2014 Dec 17;7:595.
- Neira MV, Mahmood F, Reisen WK, James CB, Romoser WS. Comparative Study of the Pathological Effects of Western Equine Encephalomyelitis Virus in Four Strains of Culex tarsalis Coquillett (Diptera: Culicidae). Front Public Health 2014;2:184.
- Agarwal A, Dash PK, Singh AK, Sharma S, Gopalan N, Rao PV, Parida MM, Reiter P. Evidence of experimental vertical transmission of emerging novel ECSA genotype of Chikungunya Virus in Aedes aegypti. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014;8(7):e2990.
- Go YY, Balasuriya UB, Lee CK. Zoonotic encephalitides caused by arboviruses: transmission and epidemiology of alphaviruses and flaviviruses. Clin Exp Vaccine Res 2014 Jan;3(1):58-77.
- Lv X, Mohd Jaafar F, Sun X, Belhouchet M, Fu S, Zhang S, Tong SX, Lv Z, Mertens PP, Liang G, Attoui H. Isolates of Liao ning virus from wild-caught mosquitoes in the Xinjiang province of China in 2005. PLoS One 2012;7(5):e37732.
- Bellini R, Medici A, Calzolari M, Bonilauri P, Cavrini F, Sambri V, Angelini P, Dottori M. Impact of Chikungunya virus on Aedes albopictus females and possibility of vertical transmission using the actors of the 2007 outbreak in Italy. PLoS One 2012;7(2):e28360.
- Vo M, Linser PJ, Bowers DF. Organ-associated muscles in Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) respond differentially to Sindbis virus. J Med Entomol 2010 Mar;47(2):215-25.
- Pfeffer M, Dobler G. Emergence of zoonotic arboviruses by animal trade and migration. Parasit Vectors 2010 Apr 8;3(1):35.
- Brown CR, Moore AT, Young GR, Padhi A, Komar N. Isolation of Buggy Creek virus (Togaviridae: Alphavirus) from field-collected eggs of Oeciacus vicarius (Hemiptera: Cimicidae). J Med Entomol 2009 Mar;46(2):375-9.
- Weaver SC, Kang W, Shirako Y, Rumenapf T, Strauss EG, Strauss JH. Recombinational history and molecular evolution of western equine encephalomyelitis complex alphaviruses. J Virol 1997 Jan;71(1):613-23.
- Strauss JH, Strauss EG. The alphaviruses: gene expression, replication, and evolution. Microbiol Rev 1994 Sep;58(3):491-562.
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