German Culex pipiens biotype molestus and Culex torrentium are vector-competent for Usutu virus.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Usutu virus (USUV) is a rapidly spreading zoonotic arbovirus (arthropod-borne virus) and a considerable threat to the global avifauna and in isolated cases to human health. It is maintained in an enzootic cycle involving ornithophilic mosquitoes as vectors and birds as reservoir hosts. Despite massive die-offs in wild bird populations and the detection of severe neurological symptoms in infected humans, little is known about which mosquito species are involved in the propagation of USUV.

Methods

In the present study, the vector competence of a German (i.e. "Central European") and a Serbian (i.e. "Southern European") Culex pipiens biotype molestus laboratory colony was experimentally evaluated. For comparative purposes, Culex torrentium, a frequent species in North

SUBMITTER: Holicki CM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7774236 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature