Transmission of a Venezuelan equine encephalitis complex Alphavirus by Culex (Melanoconion) gnomatos (Diptera: Culicidae) in northeastern Peru

J Med Entomol. 2005 May;42(3):404-8. doi: 10.1093/jmedent/42.3.404.

Abstract

Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) complex alphaviruses are serious health threats in the Americas and regularly infect humans living in or near Amazonian rain forests. As part of a larger surveillance program, we placed six hamster-baited mosquito traps in a disturbed white sand forest of northeastern Peru for 3 d. Virus isolations from hamster serum and trapped mosquito pools demonstrated that a VEE subtype IIIC alphavirus was transmitted to a hamster by the mosquito Culex (Melanoconion) gnomatos Sallum, Hutchings & Ferreira. This species, like the other seven proven VEE complex alphavirus vectors, is a member of the Spissipes section of this subgenus. The composition of mosquitoes collected at the site over the sampling period was typical for the region.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cricetinae
  • Culex / virology*
  • Encephalitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine / classification
  • Encephalitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine / isolation & purification*
  • Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan Equine / transmission*
  • Insect Vectors / virology*
  • Mesocricetus / virology
  • Peru
  • Phylogeny
  • Viremia / virology