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The growth of African horse-sickness virus in embryonated hen eggs and the transmission of virus by Culicoides variipennis Coquillett (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae).
Abstract: Seven-day-old embryonated hen eggs were infected with African Horse Sickness virus by the yolk sac and intravenous routes. Virus reached a high titre in the blood of infected embryos. Culicoides variipennis midges which took a blood meal from infected eggs became infected with virus, and after 7 days at 26 degrees - 27 degrees C transmitted African Horse Sickness virus to uninfected eggs. C. variipennis may therefore be considered a biological vector of African Horse Sickness virus in the laboratory.
Publication Date: 1975-01-01 PubMed ID: 1169930DOI: 10.1007/BF01347975Google 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
Summary
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The study investigates the growth of African Horse Sickness virus in 7-day-old embryonated hen eggs and the subsequent transmission of the virus by Culicoides variipennis midges, establishing their potential role as biological vectors of the virus in laboratory conditions.
Methodology
- 7-day-old embryonated hen eggs were deliberately infected with African Horse Sickness virus using two methods: yolk sac and intravenous route.
- The growth and severity of the virus were examined and quantified by determining the viral titre in the blood of the infected embryos.
Findings
- The African Horse Sickness virus was able to grow and reach a high titre in the blood of the infected embryos, suggesting successful infection and replication of the virus in this model.
- Culicoides variipennis midges, that fed on the blood of these infected eggs, contracted the virus.
- After a period of 7 days at temperatures of 26 – 27 degrees Celsius, these infected midges were able to transmit the virus to uninfected eggs. This demonstrated that not only could the midges pick up the virus, but they could also subsequently transfer it, thus playing the role of a vector.
Conclusion
- Based on these findings, it was concluded that Culicoides variipennis can be considered a biological vector of the African Horse Sickness virus under laboratory conditions.
- This study provided a groundwork for understanding the transmission cycle of the African Horse Sickness virus, offering insights into potential intervention strategies to minimize the spread of the disease.
Cite This Article
APA
Boorman J, Mellor PS, Penn M, Jennings M.
(1975).
The growth of African horse-sickness virus in embryonated hen eggs and the transmission of virus by Culicoides variipennis Coquillett (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae).
Arch Virol, 47(4), 343-349.
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01347975 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- African Horse Sickness / transmission
- African Horse Sickness Virus / growth & development
- African Horse Sickness Virus / isolation & purification
- Animal Feed
- Animals
- Blood / microbiology
- Body Fluids / microbiology
- Ceratopogonidae / microbiology
- Chick Embryo / microbiology
- Extraembryonic Membranes
- Female
- Horses
- Insect Vectors
- Mice
- Reoviridae / growth & development
- Vitelline Membrane / microbiology
References
This article includes 5 references
- Am J Vet Res. 1965 May;26:744-8
- Arch Gesamte Virusforsch. 1974;46(1-2):105-10
- Onderstepoort J Vet Res. 1970 Sep;37(3):165-8
- J Med Entomol. 1973 Dec 30;10(6):529-32
- Arch Gesamte Virusforsch. 1973;41(3):259-66
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Blitvich BJ. The Role of Hematophagous Arthropods, Other than Mosquitoes and Ticks, in Arbovirus Transmission. Viruses 2025 Jun 30;17(7).
- Punyadarsaniya D, Taesuji M, Rattanamas K, Ruenphet S. Establishment of an In-House Indirect Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay to Detect Antibodies Against African Horse Sickness Based on Monovalent and Polyvalent Live Attenuated Vaccines During the First Outbreak in Thailand. Animals (Basel) 2025 May 15;15(10).
- Pitchers KG, Boakye OD, Campeotto I, Daly JM. The Potential of Plant-Produced Virus-like Particle Vaccines for African Horse Sickness and Other Equine Orbiviruses. Pathogens 2024 May 28;13(6).
- Taesuji M, Rattanamas K, Yim PB, Ruenphet S. Stability and Detection Limit of Avian Influenza, Newcastle Disease Virus, and African Horse Sickness Virus on Flinders Technology Associates Card by Conventional Polymerase Chain Reaction. Animals (Basel) 2024 Apr 21;14(8).
- Kampen H, Werner D. Biting Midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) as Vectors of Viruses. Microorganisms 2023 Nov 4;11(11).
- Dennis SJ, Meyers AE, Hitzeroth II, Rybicki EP. African Horse Sickness: A Review of Current Understanding and Vaccine Development. Viruses 2019 Sep 11;11(9).
- Mellor PS, Boned J, Hamblin C, Graham S. Isolations of African horse sickness virus from vector insects made during the 1988 epizootic in Spain. Epidemiol Infect 1990 Oct;105(2):447-54.
- Elamin MA, Spradbrow PB. Isolation and cultivation of bovine ephemeral fever virus in chickens and chicken embryos. J Hyg (Lond) 1978 Aug;81(1):1-7.
- Pedgley DE, Tucker MR. Possible spread of African horse sickness on the wind. J Hyg (Lond) 1977 Oct;79(2):279-98.
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