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. 2011 Oct;85(4):750-7.
doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2011.11-0359.

Experimental transmission of Mayaro virus by Aedes aegypti

Kanya C Long  1 , Sarah A Ziegler, Saravanan Thangamani, Nicole L Hausser, Tadeusz J Kochel, Stephen Higgs, Robert B Tesh
Affiliations

Experimental transmission of Mayaro virus by Aedes aegypti

Kanya C Long et al. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2011 Oct.

Abstract

Outbreaks of Mayaro fever have been associated with a sylvatic cycle of Mayaro virus (MAYV) transmission in South America. To evaluate the potential for a common urban mosquito to transmit MAYV, laboratory vector competence studies were performed with Aedes aegypti from Iquitos, Peru. Oral infection in Ae. aegypti ranged from 0% (0/31) to 84% (31/37), with blood meal virus titers between 3.4 log(10) and 7.3 log(10) plaque-forming units (PFU)/mL. Transmission of MAYV by 70% (21/30) of infected mosquitoes was shown by saliva collection and exposure to suckling mice. Amount of viral RNA in febrile humans, determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction, ranged from 2.7 to 5.3 log(10) PFU equivalents/mL. Oral susceptibility of Ae. aegypti to MAYV at titers encountered in viremic humans may limit opportunities to initiate an urban cycle; however, transmission of MAYV by Ae. aegypti shows the vector competence of this species and suggests potential for urban transmission.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Comparison of OID50 in Ae. aegypti by feeding method. The MAYV titer at which 50% of Ae. aegypti were infected was 6.65 log10 PFU/mL when mosquitoes were fed by artificial blood meal and 6.08 log10 PFU/mL when fed on a viremic mouse. The difference in OID50s was significant by unpaired t test (P value = 0.0044).
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Replication of MAYV in bodies and legs/wings of orally infected Ae. aegypti. Bodies and legs/wings of mosquitoes that fed on 7.3 log10 PFU/mL MAYV were screened for the presence of virus by cytopathic effect assay, and positive specimens were virus-titered by plaque assay.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Number of PFUs of MAYV expressed per Ae. aegypti saliva sample. MAYV was detected in 19 saliva samples from 27 MAYV-infected mosquitoes. Titers of virus in saliva were not associated with blood meal titers or method of feeding (a = artificial feeding; m = viremic mouse feeding).
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