scholarly journals Impacts of Infectious Dose, Feeding Behavior, and Age of Culicoides sonorensis Biting Midges on Infection Dynamics of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 816
Author(s):  
Paula Rozo-Lopez ◽  
Berlin Londono-Renteria ◽  
Barbara S. Drolet
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Behavior ◽  
Vesicular Stomatitis Virus ◽  
Vector Competence ◽  
Blood Feeding ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Biting Midges ◽  
Infectious Dose ◽  
Infection Dynamics ◽  
Culicoides Sonorensis ◽  
Vesicular Stomatitis

Culicoides sonorensis biting midges are biological vectors of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) in the U.S. Yet, little is known regarding the amount of ingested virus required to infect midges, nor how their feeding behavior or age affects viral replication and vector competence. We determined the minimum infectious dose of VSV-New Jersey for C. sonorensis midges and examined the effects of multiple blood-feeding cycles and age at the time of virus acquisition on infection dynamics. A minimum dose of 3.2 logs of virus/mL of blood resulted in midgut infections, and 5.2 logs/mL resulted in a disseminated infection to salivary glands. For blood-feeding behavior studies, ingestion of one or two non-infectious blood meals (BM) after a VSV infectious blood meal (VSV-BM) resulted in higher whole-body virus titers than midges receiving only the single infectious VSV-BM. Interestingly, this infection enhancement was not seen when a non-infectious BM preceded the infectious VSV-BM. Lastly, increased midge age at the time of infection correlated to increased whole-body virus titers. This research highlights the epidemiological implications of infectious doses, vector feeding behaviors, and vector age on VSV infection dynamics to estimate the risk of transmission by Culicoides midges more precisely.

scholarly journals Blood-Feeding Behavior of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Infected Culicoides sonorensis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

2008 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 921-926 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristine E. Bennett ◽  
Jessica E. Hopper ◽  
Melissa A. Stuart ◽  
Mark West ◽  
Barbara S. Drolet
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Behavior ◽  
Vesicular Stomatitis Virus ◽  
Blood Feeding ◽  
Culicoides Sonorensis ◽  
Vesicular Stomatitis

Blood-Feeding Behavior of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Infected Culicoides sonorensis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

2008 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 921-926 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristine E. Bennett ◽  
Jessica E. Hopper ◽  
Melissa A. Stuart ◽  
Mark West ◽  
Barbara S. Drolet
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Behavior ◽  
Vesicular Stomatitis Virus ◽  
Blood Feeding ◽  
Culicoides Sonorensis ◽  
Vesicular Stomatitis

scholarly journals Venereal Transmission of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus by Culicoides sonorensis Midges

Pathogens ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula Rozo-Lopez ◽  
Berlin Londono-Renteria ◽  
Barbara S. Drolet
Keyword(s):  
Vesicular Stomatitis Virus ◽  
Virus Isolation ◽  
Reproductive Organs ◽  
Reproductive Organ ◽  
Immunofluorescent Staining ◽  
Agricultural Pests ◽  
Biting Midges ◽  
Culicoides Sonorensis ◽  
Multiple Routes ◽  
Vesicular Stomatitis

Culicoides sonorensis biting midges are well-known agricultural pests and transmission vectors of arboviruses such as vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). The epidemiology of VSV is complex and encompasses a broad range of vertebrate hosts, multiple routes of transmission, and diverse vector species. In temperate regions, viruses can overwinter in the absence of infected animals through unknown mechanisms, to reoccur the next year. Non-conventional routes for VSV vector transmission may help explain viral maintenance in midge populations during inter-epidemic periods and times of adverse conditions for bite transmission. In this study, we examined whether VSV could be transmitted venereally between male and female midges. Our results showed that VSV-infected females could venereally transmit virus to uninfected naïve males at a rate as high as 76.3% (RT-qPCR), 31.6% (virus isolation) during the third gonotrophic cycle. Additionally, VSV-infected males could venereally transmit virus to uninfected naïve females at a rate as high as 76.6% (RT-qPCR), 49.2% (virus isolation). Immunofluorescent staining of micro-dissected reproductive organs, immunochemical staining of midge histological sections, examination of internal reproductive organ morphology, and observations of mating behaviors were used to determine relevant anatomical sites for virus location and to hypothesize the potential mechanism for VSV transmission in C. sonorensis midges through copulation.

scholarly journals Detection of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Indiana from Insects Collected during the 2020 Outbreak in Kansas, USA

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1126
Author(s):  
Bethany L. McGregor ◽  
Paula Rozo-Lopez ◽  
Travis M. Davis ◽  
Barbara S. Drolet
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Vesicular Stomatitis Virus ◽  
Viral Disease ◽  
The United States ◽  
Black Flies ◽  
Vector Species ◽  
Biting Midges ◽  
First Report ◽  
Vesicular Stomatitis ◽  
Culicoides Variipennis

Vesicular stomatitis (VS) is a reportable viral disease which affects horses, cattle, and pigs in the Americas. Outbreaks of vesicular stomatitis virus New Jersey serotype (VSV-NJ) in the United States typically occur on a 5–10-year cycle, usually affecting western and southwestern states. In 2019–2020, an outbreak of VSV Indiana serotype (VSV-IN) extended eastward into the states of Kansas and Missouri for the first time in several decades, leading to 101 confirmed premises in Kansas and 37 confirmed premises in Missouri. In order to investigate which vector species contributed to the outbreak in Kansas, we conducted insect surveillance at two farms that experienced confirmed VSV-positive cases, one each in Riley County and Franklin County. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention miniature light traps were used to collect biting flies on the premises. Two genera of known VSV vectors, Culicoides biting midges and Simulium black flies, were identified to species, pooled by species, sex, reproductive status, and collection site, and tested for the presence of VSV-IN RNA by RT-qPCR. In total, eight positive pools were detected from Culicoides sonorensis (1), Culicoides stellifer (3), Culicoides variipennis (1), and Simulium meridionale (3). The C. sonorensis- and C. variipennis-positive pools were from nulliparous individuals, possibly indicating transovarial or venereal transmission as the source of virus. This is the first report of VSV-IN in field caught C. stellifer and the first report of either serotype in S. meridionale near outbreak premises. These results improve our understanding of the role midges and black flies play in VSV epidemiology in the United States and broadens the scope of vector species for targeted surveillance and control.

scholarly journals Infection, Dissemination, and Transmission Potential of North American Culex quinquefasciatus, Culex tarsalis, and Culicoides sonorensis for Oropouche Virus

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 226
Author(s):  
Bethany L. McGregor ◽  
C. Roxanne Connelly ◽  
Joan L. Kenney
Keyword(s):  
Culex Quinquefasciatus ◽  
North American ◽  
Vector Competence ◽  
Febrile Illness ◽  
Culex Tarsalis ◽  
Biting Midges ◽  
Transmission Potential ◽  
High Infection ◽  
Culicoides Sonorensis ◽  
Vector Borne

Oropouche virus (OROV), a vector-borne Orthobunyavirus circulating in South and Central America, causes a febrile illness with high rates of morbidity but with no documented fatalities. Oropouche virus is transmitted by numerous vectors, including multiple genera of mosquitoes and Culicoides biting midges in South America. This study investigated the vector competence of three North American vectors, Culex tarsalis, Culex quinquefasciatus, and Culicoides sonorensis, for OROV. Cohorts of each species were fed an infectious blood meal containing 6.5 log10 PFU/mL OROV and incubated for 10 or 14 days. Culex tarsalis demonstrated infection (3.13%) but not dissemination or transmission potential at 10 days post infection (DPI). At 10 and 14 DPI, Cx. quinquefasciatus demonstrated 9.71% and 19.3% infection, 2.91% and 1.23% dissemination, and 0.97% and 0.82% transmission potential, respectively. Culicoides sonorensis demonstrated 86.63% infection, 83.14% dissemination, and 19.77% transmission potential at 14 DPI. Based on these data, Cx. tarsalis is unlikely to be a competent vector for OROV. Culex quinquefasciatus demonstrated infection, dissemination, and transmission potential, although at relatively low rates. Culicoides sonorensis demonstrated high infection and dissemination but may have a salivary gland barrier to the virus. These data have implications for the spread of OROV in the event of a North American introduction.

scholarly journals Vector Competence ofCulicoides sonorensis(Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) for Vesicular Stomatitis Virus

2005 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 409-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara S. Drolet ◽  
Corey L. Campbell ◽  
Melissa A. Stuart ◽  
William C. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Vesicular Stomatitis Virus ◽  
Vector Competence ◽  
Vesicular Stomatitis

scholarly journals Papular Dermatitis Induced in Guinea Pigs by the Biting Midge Culicoides Sonorensis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

2003 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. O'Toole ◽  
A. A. Pérez de León ◽  
C. Hearne ◽  
L. McHolland ◽  
L. Yun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Guinea Pigs ◽  
Blood Feeding ◽  
Salivary Secretion ◽  
Ultrastructural Changes ◽  
Biting Midges ◽  
Feeding Sites ◽  
Biting Midge ◽  
Culicoides Sonorensis ◽  
Superficial Dermis ◽  
Papular Dermatitis

Histological, ultrastructural, and virological examinations were performed on abdominal skin from guinea pigs after a blood meal by colony-bred biting midges, Culicoides sonorensis. Small, superficial, cutaneous, crateriform ulcers with necrosis of superficial dermis developed at feeding sites and healed within 24–48 hours. Animals developed nonpruritic erythematous papules 5 days after feeding that persisted until the study ended at 12 days after feeding. Papules corresponded histologically to foci of epidermal hyperplasia and superficial interstitial dermatitis with intraepidermal micropustules and scattered intraepidermal polykaryons. The principal ultrastructural changes were spongiosis in germinal epithelium and neutrophilic-histiocytic exocytosis. No viral agents or broken mouthparts were identified in lesions. The dermatitis may represent a host reaction to persisting insect salivary secretion and should be considered as an additional consequence of blood feeding in future studies involving biting midges.

scholarly journals The genome of the biting midge Culicoides sonorensis and gene expression analyses of vector competence for Bluetongue virus

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramiro Morales-Hojas ◽  
Malcolm Hinsley ◽  
Irina M. Armean ◽  
Rhiannon Silk ◽  
Lara E. Harrup ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Bluetongue Virus ◽  
Reference Genome ◽  
Vector Competence ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Yield Potential ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Biting Midges ◽  
Culicoides Sonorensis ◽  
Gene Expression Analyses

AbstractBackgroundThe use of the new genomic technologies has led to major advances in control of several arboviruses of medical importance such as Dengue. However, the development of tools and resources available for vectors of non-zoonotic arboviruses remains neglected. Biting midges of the genus Culicoides transmit some of the most important arboviruses of wildlife and livestock worldwide, with a global impact on economic productivity, health and welfare. The absence of a suitable reference genome has hindered genomic analyses to date in this important genus of vectors. In the present study, the genome of Culicoides sonorensis, a vector of bluetongue virus (BTV) in the USA, has been sequenced to provide the first reference genome for these vectors. In this study, we also report the use of the reference genome to perform initial transcriptomic analyses of vector competence for BTV.ResultsOur analyses reveal that the genome is 197.4 Mb, assembled in 7,974 scaffolds. Its annotation using the transcriptomic data generated in this study and in a previous study has identified 15,629 genes. Gene expression analyses of C. sonorensis females infected with BTV performed in this study revealed 165 genes that were differentially expressed between vector competent and refractory females. Two candidate genes, glutathione S-transferase (gst) and the antiviral helicase ski2, previously recognized as involved in vector competence for BTV in C. sonorensis (gst) and repressing dsRNA virus propagation (ski2), were confirmed in this study.ConclusionsThe reference genome of C. sonorensis has enabled preliminary analyses of the gene expression profiles of vector competent and refractory individuals. The genome and transcriptomes generated in this study provide suitable tools for future research on arbovirus transmission. These provide a significant resource for these vector lineage, which diverged from other major Dipteran vector families over 200 million years ago. The genome will be a valuable source of comparative data for other important Dipteran vector families including mosquitoes (Culicidae) and sandflies (Psychodidae), and yield potential targets for transgenic modification in vector control and functional studies.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document