Jansen, Cassie C., Webb, Cameron, Northill, Judith A., Ritchie, Scott A., Russell, Richard C., and Van Den Hurk, Andrew F. (2008) Vector competence of Australian mosquito species for a North American strain of West Nile virus. Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 8 (6). pp. 805-811.

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Abstract

Since the establishment of West Nile virus (WNV) into the United States, concern has arisen that this virus may also pose a serious threat to Australian biosecurity. The vector competence of 19 Australian mosquito species for a North American strain of WNV was evaluated. Mosquitoes collected from Cairns, Brisbane, and Sydney were exposed to blood containing 104.0±0.3 cell culture infectious dose50/mosquito WNV that was isolated from a crow during the 1999 New York outbreak. Mosquitoes were tested 12–15 days later to determine their infection, dissemination, and transmission rates. A number of Culex spp. demonstrated a high vector competence for this virus, with some populations of Culex annulirostris, the primary Australian Kunjin virus vector, displaying transmission rates up to 84%. Similarly, Cx. quinquefasciatus and Cx. gelidus were highly competent, with infection and transmission rates of >80% and >50%, respectively. Common Aedes spp., including Aedes notoscriptus, Ae. vigilax, and Ae. procax, were moderately susceptible, and some Verrallina spp. and Coquillettidia spp. were relatively refractory to infection. Thus, Australia possesses a number of competent mosquito species that could facilitate local transmission of WNV, should it be introduced.

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