Aedes triseriatus females transovarially infected with La Crosse virus mate more efficiently than uninfected mosquitoes

J Med Entomol. 2009 Sep;46(5):1152-8. doi: 10.1603/033.046.0524.

Abstract

The mating efficiencies (the percentage of females inseminated by males) of field-collected and laboratory-colonized Aedes triseriatus (Say) (Diptera: Culicidae) female mosquitoes transovarially infected or uninfected with La Crosse virus (LACV) were compared. The females were placed in cages with age-matched males, and the insemination rates (number of inseminated females of the total number of females examined) were determined daily by detection of sperm in the spermathecae. LACV-infected mosquitoes typically mated earlier than uninfected mosquitoes, i.e., insemination occurred earlier after the mixing of males and females. LACV load was not correlated with increased insemination.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Aedes / virology*
  • Animals
  • Female
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions*
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical
  • La Crosse virus / physiology*
  • Male
  • Sexual Behavior, Animal*