Effect of blood source on vector competence of Culex pipiens biotypes for Usutu virus.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Infectious blood meal experiments have been frequently performed with different virus-vector combinations to assess the transmission potential of arthropod-borne (arbo)viruses. A wide variety of host blood sources have been used to deliver arboviruses to their arthropod vectors in laboratory studies. The type of blood used during vector competence experiments does not always reflect the blood from the viremic vertebrate hosts in the field, but little is known about the effect of blood source on the experimental outcome of vector competence studies. Here we investigated the effect of avian versus human blood on the infection and transmission rates of the zoonotic Usutu virus (USUV) in its primary mosquito vector Culex pipiens.

Methods

Cx. pipiens biotypes (pipiens

SUBMITTER: Abbo SR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8028107 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature