scholarly journals Vector Competence of Florida Culicoides insignis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) for Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Serotype-2

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 410
Author(s):  
Bethany L. McGregor ◽  
Dinesh Erram ◽  
Barry W. Alto ◽  
John A. Lednicky ◽  
Samantha M. Wisely ◽  
...  

Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV; family Reoviridae, genus Orbivirus) is an arthropod-borne virus of ungulates, primarily white-tailed deer in North America. Culicoides sonorensis, the only confirmed North American vector of EHDV, is rarely collected from Florida despite annual virus outbreaks. Culicoides insignis is an abundant species in Florida and is also a confirmed vector of the closely related Bluetongue virus. In this study, oral challenge of C. insignis was performed to determine vector competence for EHDV serotype-2. Field-collected female midges were provided bovine blood spiked with three different titers of EHDV-2 (5.05, 4.00, or 2.94 log10PFUe/mL). After an incubation period of 10 days or after death, bodies and legs were collected. Saliva was collected daily from all females from 3 days post feeding until their death using honey card assays. All samples were tested for EHDV RNA using RT-qPCR. Our results suggest that C. insignis is a weakly competent vector of EHDV-2 that can support a transmissible infection when it ingests a high virus titer (29% of midges had virus positive saliva when infected at 5.05 log10PFUe/mL), but not lower virus titers. Nevertheless, due to the high density of this species, particularly in peninsular Florida, it is likely that C. insignis plays a role in the transmission of EHDV-2.

Viruses ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bethany L. McGregor ◽  
Dinesh Erram ◽  
Carolina Acevedo ◽  
Barry W. Alto ◽  
Nathan D. Burkett-Cadena

Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV), an Orbivirus transmitted by Culicoides spp. vectors, is represented by seven serotypes and numerous strains worldwide. While studies comparing vector competence between serotypes exist, studies between viral strains are lacking. In this study, we examined the rates of infection, dissemination, and transmission of two strains of EHDV-2 orally fed to the known vector, Culicoides sonorensis Wirth & Jones. Culicoides sonorensis cohorts were fed an infectious blood meal containing EHDV-2 strains from either Alberta, Canada (Can-Alberta) or Florida (5.5 log10 PFUe/mL) and tested for the vector’s susceptibility to infection and dissemination. In addition, transmission rates of the virus were assessed and compared using capillary tube and honey card methods. Our results show that the Florida strain had higher infection and dissemination rates than the Can-Alberta strain in spite of the Florida strain having significantly lower viral titers in C. sonorensis bodies, legs, and saliva than the Can-Alberta strain. Overall transmission rates were not significantly different between the two strains but varied significantly between the methods used. These findings suggest that the consequences of EHDV infection in C. sonorensis vary between virus strains and have huge implications in future vector competence studies involving Culicoides species and Orbiviruses.


2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 902-905 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuka Kamomae ◽  
Masahiro Kamomae ◽  
Yasuyuki Ohta ◽  
Mikoto Nabe ◽  
Yuichi Kagawa ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (14) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Shamim Ahasan ◽  
Kuttichantran Subramaniam ◽  
John A. Lednicky ◽  
Julia C. Loeb ◽  
Katherine A. Sayler ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Here, we report the complete genome sequence of Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) serotype 6 (EHDV-6), isolated from a Florida white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ) in 2016. To our knowledge, this is the first full genome sequence determined for an EHDV-6 isolate from Florida.


2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 363 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jo A. Crum ◽  
Daniel G. Mead ◽  
Mark W. Jackwood ◽  
Jamie E. Phillips ◽  
David E. Stallknecht

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