Venereal Transmission of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus by <i>Culicoides sonorensis</i> Midges
<i>Culicoides sonorensis</i> biting midges are well-known agricultural pests and transmission vectors of arboviruses such as vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). The epidemiology of VSV is complex and encompasses a broad range of vertebrate hosts, multiple routes of transmission, and divers...
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doaj-552dc1bfd5744bcf8e4f880d2d665f792020-11-25T02:32:38ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172020-04-01931631610.3390/pathogens9040316Venereal Transmission of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus by <i>Culicoides sonorensis</i> MidgesPaula Rozo-Lopez0Berlin Londono-Renteria1Barbara S. Drolet2Department of Entomology, Vector Biology Laboratory, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USADepartment of Entomology, Vector Biology Laboratory, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USAUnited States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Arthropod-Borne Animal Diseases Research Unit, Manhattan, KS 66502, USA<i>Culicoides sonorensis</i> biting midges are well-known agricultural pests and transmission vectors of arboviruses such as vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). The epidemiology of VSV is complex and encompasses a broad range of vertebrate hosts, multiple routes of transmission, and diverse vector species. In temperate regions, viruses can overwinter in the absence of infected animals through unknown mechanisms, to reoccur the next year. Non-conventional routes for VSV vector transmission may help explain viral maintenance in midge populations during inter-epidemic periods and times of adverse conditions for bite transmission. In this study, we examined whether VSV could be transmitted venereally between male and female midges. Our results showed that VSV-infected females could venereally transmit virus to uninfected naïve males at a rate as high as 76.3% (RT-qPCR), 31.6% (virus isolation) during the third gonotrophic cycle. Additionally, VSV-infected males could venereally transmit virus to uninfected naïve females at a rate as high as 76.6% (RT-qPCR), 49.2% (virus isolation). Immunofluorescent staining of micro-dissected reproductive organs, immunochemical staining of midge histological sections, examination of internal reproductive organ morphology, and observations of mating behaviors were used to determine relevant anatomical sites for virus location and to hypothesize the potential mechanism for VSV transmission in <i>C. sonorensis</i> midges through copulation.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/9/4/316vesicular stomatitis virus<i>Culicoides</i> midgesnon-conventional transmissionvenereal transmissionreproductive anatomymating behavior |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Paula Rozo-Lopez Berlin Londono-Renteria Barbara S. Drolet |
spellingShingle |
Paula Rozo-Lopez Berlin Londono-Renteria Barbara S. Drolet Venereal Transmission of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus by <i>Culicoides sonorensis</i> Midges Pathogens vesicular stomatitis virus <i>Culicoides</i> midges non-conventional transmission venereal transmission reproductive anatomy mating behavior |
author_facet |
Paula Rozo-Lopez Berlin Londono-Renteria Barbara S. Drolet |
author_sort |
Paula Rozo-Lopez |
title |
Venereal Transmission of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus by <i>Culicoides sonorensis</i> Midges |
title_short |
Venereal Transmission of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus by <i>Culicoides sonorensis</i> Midges |
title_full |
Venereal Transmission of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus by <i>Culicoides sonorensis</i> Midges |
title_fullStr |
Venereal Transmission of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus by <i>Culicoides sonorensis</i> Midges |
title_full_unstemmed |
Venereal Transmission of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus by <i>Culicoides sonorensis</i> Midges |
title_sort |
venereal transmission of vesicular stomatitis virus by <i>culicoides sonorensis</i> midges |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Pathogens |
issn |
2076-0817 |
publishDate |
2020-04-01 |
description |
<i>Culicoides sonorensis</i> biting midges are well-known agricultural pests and transmission vectors of arboviruses such as vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). The epidemiology of VSV is complex and encompasses a broad range of vertebrate hosts, multiple routes of transmission, and diverse vector species. In temperate regions, viruses can overwinter in the absence of infected animals through unknown mechanisms, to reoccur the next year. Non-conventional routes for VSV vector transmission may help explain viral maintenance in midge populations during inter-epidemic periods and times of adverse conditions for bite transmission. In this study, we examined whether VSV could be transmitted venereally between male and female midges. Our results showed that VSV-infected females could venereally transmit virus to uninfected naïve males at a rate as high as 76.3% (RT-qPCR), 31.6% (virus isolation) during the third gonotrophic cycle. Additionally, VSV-infected males could venereally transmit virus to uninfected naïve females at a rate as high as 76.6% (RT-qPCR), 49.2% (virus isolation). Immunofluorescent staining of micro-dissected reproductive organs, immunochemical staining of midge histological sections, examination of internal reproductive organ morphology, and observations of mating behaviors were used to determine relevant anatomical sites for virus location and to hypothesize the potential mechanism for VSV transmission in <i>C. sonorensis</i> midges through copulation. |
topic |
vesicular stomatitis virus <i>Culicoides</i> midges non-conventional transmission venereal transmission reproductive anatomy mating behavior |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/9/4/316 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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