Infection, dissemination, and transmission of lumpy skin disease virus in Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus), Culex tritaeniorhynchus (Giles), and Culex quinquefasciatus (Say) mosquitoes

• Published in: Acta tropica 2024-06, Vol.254, p.107205-107205, Article 107205
• Main Authors: Riana, Elizabeth, Sri-In, Chalida, Songkasupa, Tapanut, Bartholomay, Lyric C., Thontiravong, Aunyaratana, Tiawsirisup, Sonthaya
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aedes aegypti; Culex quinquefasciatus; Culex tritaeniorhynchus; Lumpy skin disease virus; Transmission
• ISSN: 0001-706X; 1873-6254
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107205

•First report on the detection of LSDV in the saliva of mosquitoes.•LSDV was detected in the saliva of Ae. aegypti as early as 2 dpi.•LSDV remained detectable in the mosquitoes until 14 dpi.•EIP of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus and Cx. quinquefasciatus was 8 and 14 dpi respectively.•All three mosquito species may serve as biological vectors of LSDV. Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) is a transboundary viral disease in cattle and water buffaloes. Although this Poxvirus is supposedly transmitted by mechanical vectors, only a few studies have investigated the role of local vectors in the transmission of LSDV. This study examined the infection, dissemination, and transmission rates of LSDV in Aedes aegypti, Culex tritaeniorhynchus, and Culex quinquefasciatus following artificial membrane feeding of 102.7, 103.7, 104.7 TCID50/mL LSDV in sheep blood. The results demonstrated that these mosquito species were susceptible to LSDV, with Cx tritaeniorhynchus exhibiting significantly different characteristics from Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus. These three mosquito species were susceptible to LSDV. Ae. aegypti showed it as early as 2 days post-infection (dpi), indicating swift dissemination in this particular species. The extrinsic incubation period (EIP) of LSDV in Cx. tritaeniorhynchus and Cx. quinquefasciatus was 8 and 14 dpi, respectively. Ingestion of different viral titers in blood did not affect the infection, dissemination, or transmission rates of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus and Cx. quinquefasciatus. All rates remained consistently high at 8–14 dpi for Cx. tritaeniorhynchus. In all three species, LSDV remained detectable until 14 dpi. The present findings indicate that, Ae. aegypti, Cx. tritaeniorhynchus, and Cx. quinquefasciatus may act as vectors during the LSDV outbreak; their involvement may extend beyond being solely mechanical vectors. [Display omitted]