Vector competence of biting midges and mosquitoes for Shuni virus

• Published in: PLoS neglected tropical diseases 2018-12, Vol.12 (12), p.e0006993-e0006993
• Main Authors: Möhlmann, Tim W R, Oymans, Judith, Wichgers Schreur, Paul J, Koenraadt, Constantianus J M, Kortekaas, Jeroen, Vogels, Chantal B F
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aedes - virology; Amino acids; Animals; Antibiotics; Aquatic insects; Biology and Life Sciences; Biting; Bunyaviridae Infections - transmission; Bunyaviridae Infections - virology; Bunyaviruses; Ceratopogonidae; Ceratopogonidae - physiology; Ceratopogonidae - virology; Congenital defects; Culex - virology; Culicidae; CVI Virologie; CVI Virology; Diptera; Disease transmission; Domestic animals; Entomology; Epidemics; Epidemiology; Epizootics; Female; Humans; Infections; Insect Vectors - physiology; Insect Vectors - virology; Laboratories; Laboratorium voor Entomologie; Laboratorium voor Virologie; Laboratory of Entomology; Laboratory of Virology; Medicine and Health Sciences; Mosquito Vectors - physiology; Mosquito Vectors - virology; Mosquitoes; Neurological diseases; Nigeria; Orthobunyavirus - growth & development; Orthobunyavirus - physiology; Outbreaks; Pathogenicity; Pathogens; PE&RC; Penicillin; Serology; South Africa; Species; Transmission; Tropical diseases; Tropism; Tropisms; Vectors; Veterinarians; Veterinary surgeons; Viral research; Virologie; Virology; Virus-vector relationships; Viruses; West Nile virus; Wildlife; Zika virus; Zoonoses
• ISSN: 1935-2735; 1935-2727; 1935-2735
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006993

Shuni virus (SHUV) is an orthobunyavirus that belongs to the Simbu serogroup. SHUV was isolated from diverse species of domesticated animals and wildlife, and is associated with neurological disease, abortions, and congenital malformations. Recently, SHUV caused outbreaks among ruminants in Israel, representing the first incursions outside the African continent. The isolation of SHUV from a febrile child in Nigeria and seroprevalence among veterinarians in South Africa suggests that the virus may have zoonotic potential as well. The high pathogenicity, extremely broad tropism, potential transmission via both biting midges and mosquitoes, and zoonotic features warrants prioritization of SHUV for further research. Additional knowledge is essential to accurately determine the risk for animal and human health, and to assess the risk of future epizootics and epidemics. To gain first insights into the potential involvement of arthropod vectors in SHUV transmission, we have investigated the ability of SHUV to infect and disseminate in laboratory-reared biting midges and mosquitoes. Culicoides nubeculosus, C. sonorensis, Culex pipiens pipiens, and Aedes aegypti were orally exposed to SHUV by providing an infectious blood meal. Biting midges showed high infection rates of approximately 40-60%, whereas infection rates of mosquitoes were lower than 2%. SHUV successfully disseminated in both species of biting midges, but no evidence of transmission in orally exposed mosquitoes was found. The results of this study show that different species of Culicoides biting midges are susceptible to infection and dissemination of SHUV, whereas the two mosquito species tested were found not to be susceptible.