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Simultaneous coinfections with West Nile virus and Usutu virus in Culex pipiens and Aedes vexans mosquitoes

Research Authors
Christin Körsten, Amira A Al-Hosary, Cora M Holicki, Mandy Schäfer, Birke A Tews, Ana Vasić, Ute Ziegler, Martin H Groschup, Cornelia Silaghi
Research Abstract

The mosquito-borne zoonotic flaviviruses West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) are endemic in many European countries and emerged in Germany in recent years. Due to the increasing overlap of their distribution areas and their similar epidemiology, coinfections of WNV and USUV are possible. Indeed, coinfections in vertebrate hosts as a rare event have already been reported from some countries including Germany. However, it is largely unknown whether and to what extent coinfections could affect the vector competence of mosquitoes for WNV and USUV. For this purpose, the mosquito species Culex pipiens biotype pipiens, Culex pipiens biotype molestus, and Aedes vexans were orally infected in mono- and simultaneous coinfections with German strains of WNV and USUV. Mosquitoes were incubated for 14 days at 26°C, 85% relative humidity, and a 16 : 8 light-dark photocycle, before they were dissected and forced to salivate. The results showed a decrease in USUV susceptibility in Culex pipiens biotype pipiens, an increase in USUV susceptibility in Aedes vexans, and no obvious interaction between both viruses in Culex pipiens biotype molestus. Vector competence for WNV appeared to be unaffected by a simultaneous occurrence of USUV in all tested mosquito species. Coinfections with both viruses were only found in Culex mosquitoes, and cotransmission of WNV and USUV was observed in Culex pipiens biotype molestus. Overall, our results show that viral interactions between WNV and USUV vary between mosquito species, and that the interaction mainly occurs during infection and replication in the mosquito midgut …

Research Date
Research Department
Research Journal
Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
Research Publisher
Hindawi Limited
Research Vol
2023
Research Website
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?oi=bibs&cluster=6379575977355473056&btnI=1&hl=ar
Research Year
2023
Research Pages
1-13