Title
Experimental transmission of Karshi and Langat (tick-borne encephalitis virus complex) viruses by Ornithodoros ticks (Acari: Argasidae)
Date Issued
01 January 2004
Access level
metadata only access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Turell M.
Lee J.
Paragas J.
Shermuhemedova D.
Endy T.
Khodjaev S.
U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases
Publisher(s)
Entomological Society of America
Abstract
Selected species of mosquitoes and Ornithodoros ticks were evaluated for their potential to transmit Karshi and Langat (tick-borne encephalitis virus complex) viruses in the laboratory. Although there was no evidence of replication of Karshi virus in either of the two mosquito species tested [Ochlerotatus taeniorhynchus (Wiedemann) or Culex pipiens (L.)], Karshi virus replicated in and was transmitted by all three species of Ornithodoros ticks tested (Ornithodoros parkeri Cooley, Ornithodoros sonrai Sautet & Witkowski, and Ornithodoros tartakovskyi Olenev). When inoculated with Karshi virus, 90% of Ornithodoros ticks (44/49) transmitted this virus by bite to suckling mice, and transmission continued to occur for at least 1 yr, the longest extrinsic incubation tested. After feeding on a suckling mouse with a viremia of ≈105 suckling mouse subcutaneous lethal dose50 units of Karshi virus per milliliter of blood, all three species of Ornithodoros tested became infected with and transmitted Karshi virus both trans-stadially and horizontally by bite to suckling mice. In addition, female O. tartakovskyi transmitted Karshi virus vertically to their progeny. In a continuation of a previous study, O. sonrai, orally exposed to Langat virus, were able to transmit this virus after >3 yr, the longest interval tested. Therefore, Ornithodoros spp. should be considered as potential vectors and as possible long-term maintenance hosts for Karshi virus and other members of the tick-borne encephalitis virus complex.
Start page
973
End page
977
Volume
41
Issue
5
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Virología Zoología, Ornitología, Entomología, ciencias biológicas del comportamiento
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-6444224763
PubMed ID
Source
Journal of Medical Entomology
ISSN of the container
00222585
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus