Biomaterial Database

Experimental transmission of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus by a strain of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) from New Orleans, Louisiana. 1992

M J Turell, and J R Beaman

Disease Assessment Division, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland 21702.

Experimental studies were undertaken to ascertain the vector competence of a strain of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) collected in New Orleans, LA, (Gentilly strain) for an epizootic (Trinidad donkey) strain of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE) virus. This strain of Ae. albopictus was significantly more susceptible to infection with VEE virus than were any of the four strains tested previously, including two from North America and two from South America. Likewise, dissemination (148 of 180) (82%) and transmission (40 of 88) (45%) rates were significantly higher in the Gentilly strain than in any of the strains previously tested. Analysis of the results of the present study along with those of a previous study with a second alphavirus, chikungunya (CHIK) virus, indicated that, although all three strains of Ae. albopictus tested were more susceptible to VEE virus than to CHIK virus, susceptibility to infection and dissemination with one alphavirus appeared to be directly related to susceptibility to infection and dissemination with the other virus and may indicate shared receptor sites for these two alphaviruses in Ae. albopictus.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007303	Insect Vectors	Insects that transmit infective organisms from one host to another or from an inanimate reservoir to an animate host.	Insect Vector,Vector, Insect,Vectors, Insect
D004685	Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan Equine	A form of arboviral encephalitis endemic to Central America and the northern latitudes of South America. The causative organism (ENCEPHALITIS VIRUS, VENEZUELAN EQUINE) is transmitted to humans and horses via the bite of several mosquito species. Human viral infection may be asymptomatic or remain restricted to a mild influenza-like illness. Encephalitis, usually not severe, occurs in a small percentage of cases and may rarely feature SEIZURES and COMA. (From Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1996, Ch26, pp9-10)	Encephalitis, Venezuelan Equine,Encephalomyelitides, Venezuelan Equine,Equine Encephalitis, Venezuelan,Equine Encephalomyelitides, Venezuelan,Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis,Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitides,Equine Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan,Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis
D000330	Aedes	A genus of mosquitoes (CULICIDAE) frequently found in tropical and subtropical regions. YELLOW FEVER and DENGUE are two of the diseases that can be transmitted by species of this genus.	Aede
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013045	Species Specificity	The restriction of a characteristic behavior, anatomical structure or physical system, such as immune response; metabolic response, or gene or gene variant to the members of one species. It refers to that property which differentiates one species from another but it is also used for phylogenetic levels higher or lower than the species.	Species Specificities,Specificities, Species,Specificity, Species
D014481	United States	A country in NORTH AMERICA between CANADA and MEXICO.