Natural enzootic vectors of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, Magdalena Valley, Colombia

To characterize the transmission cycle of enzootic Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) strains believed to represent an epizootic progenitor, we identified natural vectors in a sylvatic focus in the middle Magdalena Valley of Colombia. Hamster-baited traps were placed into an active forest f...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Emerging infectious diseases 2003-01, Vol.9 (1), p.49-54
Main Authors: Ferro, Cristina, Boshell, Jorge, Moncayo, Abelardo C, Gonzalez, Marta, Ahumada, Marta L, Kang, Wenli, Weaver, Scott C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
alphavirus
Animals
arboviruses
arthropod vector
Colombia
Cricetinae
Culex
Culex - classification
Culex - virology
Culicidae
encephalitis virus
Encephalitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine - physiology
Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan Equine - transmission
Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan Equine - virology
Insect Vectors - classification
Insect Vectors - virology
Venezuelan equine
Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus
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Summary:To characterize the transmission cycle of enzootic Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) strains believed to represent an epizootic progenitor, we identified natural vectors in a sylvatic focus in the middle Magdalena Valley of Colombia. Hamster-baited traps were placed into an active forest focus, and mosquitoes collected from each trap in which a hamster became infected were sorted by species and assayed for virus. In 18 cases, a single, initial, high-titered mosquito pool representing the vector species was identified. These vectors included Culex (Melanoconion) vomerifer (11 transmission events), Cx. (Mel.) pedroi (5 transmissions) and Cx. (Mel.) adamesi (2 transmissions). These results extend the number of proven enzootic VEEV vectors to 7, all of which are members of the Spissipes section of the subgenus Melanoconion. Our findings contrast with previous studies, which have indicated that a single species usually serves as the principal enzootic VEEV vector at a given location.
ISSN:1080-6040
1080-6059
DOI:10.3201/eid0901.020136