Chikungunya virus transmission between Aedes albopictus and laboratory mice
Open Access
- 19 October 2016
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Parasites & Vectors
- Vol. 9 (1), 1-7
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-016-1838-1
Abstract
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-borne alphavirus associated with epidemics of acute and chronic arthritic disease in humans. Aedes albopictus has emerged as an important new natural vector for CHIKV transmission; however, mouse models for studying transmission have not been developed. Aedes albopictus mosquitoes were infected with CHIKV via membrane feeding and by using infected adult wild-type C57BL/6 mice. Paraffin sections of infected mosquitoes were analysed by immunofluorescent antibody staining using an anti-CHIKV antibody. CHIKV-infected mosquitoes were used to infect adult C57BL/6 and interferon response factor 3 and 7 deficient (IRF3/7-/-) mice. Feeding mosquitoes on blood meals with CHIKV titres > 5 log10CCID50/ml, either by membrane feeding or feeding on infected mice, resulted in ≥ 50 % of mosquitoes becoming infected. However, CHIKV titres in blood meals ≥ 7 log10CCID50/ml were required before salivary glands showed significant levels of immunofluorescent staining with an anti-CHIKV antibody. Mosquitoes fed on blood meals of 7.5 (but not 5.9) log10CCID50/ml were able efficiently to transmit virus to adult C57BL/6 and IRF3/7-/- mice, with the latter mice showing overt signs of arthritis post-infection. The results provide a simple in vivo model for studying transmission of CHIKV from mosquitoes to mammals and also argue against a resistance barrier to CHIKV infection in adult mice.Keywords
Funding Information
- National Health and Medical Research Council (APP1078468)
- Perpetual JT Wilson Fellow
- John and Elizabeth Hunter
- Ed Westaway, Royal Australian Air Force Association
This publication has 43 references indexed in Scilit:
- Membrane feeding of dengue patient's blood as a substitute for direct skin feeding in studying Aedes-dengue virus interaction.Parasites & Vectors, 2016
- Emergence and potential for spread of Chikungunya virus in BrazilBMC Medicine, 2015
- Aging-dependent alterations in gene expression and a mitochondrial signature of responsiveness to human influenza vaccinationAging, 2015
- The Role of the Mosquito in a Dengue Human Infection ModelThe Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2014
- A complex adenovirus vaccine against chikungunya virus provides complete protection against viraemia and arthritisVaccine, 2011
- Mosquito Saliva Causes Enhancement of West Nile Virus Infection in MiceJournal of Virology, 2011
- Vector Competence of Australian Mosquitoes for Chikungunya VirusVector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 2010
- Two Chikungunya Isolates from the Outbreak of La Reunion (Indian Ocean) Exhibit Different Patterns of Infection in the Mosquito, Aedes albopictusPLOS ONE, 2007
- Mosquitoes Inoculate High Doses of West Nile Virus as They Probe and Feed on Live HostsPLoS Pathogens, 2007
- Biological Transmission of Arboviruses: Reexamination of and New Insights into Components, Mechanisms, and Unique Traits as Well as Their Evolutionary TrendsClinical Microbiology Reviews, 2005