Eilat virus isolated from Culex univittatus mosquitoes from the Namibian Zambezi Region influences in vitro superinfection with alpha- and flaviviruses in a virus-species-dependent manner.

ABSTRACT: The genus Alphavirus harbors arboviruses of great concern, such as the Chikungunya virus and the equine encephalitis viruses. Transmission of pathogenic alphaviruses by mosquitoes could be influenced by insect-specific alphaviruses such as Eilat virus (EILV). However, insect-specific alphaviruses are rarely found in wild mosquitoes and only a few have been described in the literature. Here, we report the detection of EILV in a Culex univittatus mosquito from the north-eastern Namibian Zambezi region. Full genome analysis of MP458-NA-2018 showed 94.5% nucleotide identity to an EILV isolate from Israel. MP458-NA-2018 grouped with EILV in phylogenetic analysis and was placed within the clade of insect-specific alphaviruses. The virus was isolated in mosquito cells and shown to be restricted t

SUBMITTER: Guggemos HD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11661592 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature