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Seasonal variation in the vector competence of Culex tarsalis (Diptera:Culicidae) from the Coachella Valley of California for western equine encephalomyelitis and St. Louis encephalitis viruses.
Abstract: The vector competence of Culex tarsalis Coquillett from the Coachella Valley of California for western equine encephalomyelitis (WEE) and St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) viruses was monitored monthly from February to November 1993. The concentration of WEE virus required to infect 50% of the females increased during summer coincidentally with ambient temperature and was highest during July. Transmission rates of WEE virus were high during March, low during May-June, and high again during July-September. Females expressed both mesenteronal escape and salivary gland barriers limiting WEE virus dissemination and transmission rates, respectively. SLE virus infection and dissemination rates did not vary among months, but transmission rates, were highest during July-September. Although infection rates with SLE virus were moderate, most infected females developed disseminated infections. Salivary gland infection or escape barriers prevented SLE virus transmission in 16-100% of infected females.
Publication Date: 1996-05-01 PubMed ID: 8667391DOI: 10.1093/jmedent/33.3.433Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- P.H.S.
Summary
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This research paper examines how the vector competence, or ability to transmit diseases, of Culex tarsalis mosquitoes in Coachella Valley, California for Western equine encephalomyelitis (WEE) and St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) viruses changes across different seasons.
Research Background
- The study focuses on understanding changes in the ability of the mosquito species Culex tarsalis to transmit the Western equine encephalomyelitis (WEE) and St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) viruses over different seasons within a year. Both WEE and SLE are viral diseases that affect the central nervous system of humans and animals.
- The implications of such a study lie in the broader scope of disease control and prevention, where understanding seasonal changes in vector competence could potentially aid in formulating measures to control the spread of these diseases.
- Researchers observed the mosquitoes monthly from February to November 1993 in the Coachella Valley region of California, testing the concentrations of WEE and SLE viruses and tracking infection and transmission rates across seasons.
- The concentration of the WEE virus necessary to infect 50% of females was measured and was found to increase during summer, correlating with rising ambient temperatures, and peaking in July.
- Transmission rates of the WEE virus were found to be high during March, lower during May-June, and high again from July-September. This suggests a pattern of seasonal variation in virus transmission.
- In the case of WEE, the mosquitoes exhibited internal barriers, impeding virus dissemination and lowering transmission rates. These barriers exist in the mosquito’s midgut (mesenteronal escape barrier) and salivary glands.
- Contrarily, SLE virus infection and dissemination rates did not exhibit such monthly variation. Even though the SLE infection rates were moderate, most infected female mosquitoes developed disseminated infections, indicating no internal limitations.
- Nevertheless, barriers in the salivary gland did have an impact on SLE virus transmission, preventing disease transmission in 16-100% of infected females.
- The research highlighted the importance of understanding seasonal variations in mosquito vector competence as a crucial piece of managing and preventing the spread of virus-based diseases.
- Findings from the study could have practical applications in formulating time-bound disease intervention and mosquito control strategies.
Methodology
Findings
Conclusion
Cite This Article
APA
Reisen WK, Hardy JL, Presser SB, Chiles RE.
(1996).
Seasonal variation in the vector competence of Culex tarsalis (Diptera:Culicidae) from the Coachella Valley of California for western equine encephalomyelitis and St. Louis encephalitis viruses.
J Med Entomol, 33(3), 433-437.
https://doi.org/10.1093/jmedent/33.3.433 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Arbovirus Research Program, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley 94720, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- California
- Cell Line
- Chlorocebus aethiops
- Cricetinae
- Culex / virology
- Encephalitis Virus, St. Louis / isolation & purification
- Encephalitis Virus, Western Equine / isolation & purification
- Female
- Insect Vectors / virology
- Seasons
- Vero Cells
Grant Funding
- 1-RO1-AI32939 / NIAID NIH HHS
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Field EN, Smith RC. Seasonality influences key physiological components contributing to Culex pipiens vector competence. Front Insect Sci 2023;3:1144072.
- Danforth ME, Reisen WK, Barker CM. The Impact of Cycling Temperature on the Transmission of West Nile Virus. J Med Entomol 2016 May;53(3):681-686.
- Reisen WK, Wheeler SS. Surveys for Antibodies Against Mosquitoborne Encephalitis Viruses in California Birds, 1996-2013. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2016 Apr;16(4):264-82.
- Tabachnick WJ. Nature, nurture and evolution of intra-species variation in mosquito arbovirus transmission competence. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2013 Jan 11;10(1):249-77.
- Dodson BL, Kramer LD, Rasgon JL. Effects of larval rearing temperature on immature development and West Nile virus vector competence of Culex tarsalis. Parasit Vectors 2012 Sep 11;5:199.
- Oviedo MV, Romoser WS, James CB, Mahmood F, Reisen WK. Infection dynamics of western equine encephalomyelitis virus (Togaviridae: Alphavirus) in four strains of Culex tarsalis (Diptera: Culicidae): an immunocytochemical study. Res Rep Trop Med 2011 Apr 18;2011(2):65-77.
- Kilpatrick AM, Fonseca DM, Ebel GD, Reddy MR, Kramer LD. Spatial and temporal variation in vector competence of Culex pipiens and Cx. restuans mosquitoes for West Nile virus. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2010 Sep;83(3):607-13.
- Barker CM, Johnson WO, Eldridge BF, Park BK, Melton F, Reisen WK. Temporal connections between Culex tarsalis abundance and transmission of western equine encephalomyelitis virus in California. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2010 Jun;82(6):1185-93.
- Venkatesan M, Hauer MC, Rasgon JL. Using fluorescently labelled M13-tailed primers to isolate 45 novel microsatellite loci from the arboviral vector Culex tarsalis. Med Vet Entomol 2007 Jun;21(2):204-8.
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