Midgut and salivary gland barriers to La Crosse virus dissemination in mosquitoes of the Aedes triseriatus group

Abstract

Vector competence for La Crosse virus (LACV) was compared for four species in the Aedes (Protomacleaya) triseriatus group: Ae. triseriatus (Say), Ae. hendersoni Cockerell, Ae. zoosophus Dyar and Knab and Ae. brelandi Zavortink (Diptera: Culicidae). Rates of replication and dissemination of virus in the mosquito hosts were compared and rates of oral transmission of virus to suckling mice were determined. Barriers to virus dissemination which limited the ability of each species to transmit virus were identified. Ae. zoosophus displayed the highest vector competence for LACV. Both infection and transmission rates were high: 99% and 85% respectively; no significant barriers to LACV were found. Disseminated infection of Ae. triseriatus with LACV was controlled primarily be a midgut escape barrier. When virus was introduced directly into the haemocoel, transmission rates were significantly increased (37% v. 79%). Ae. hendersoni showed high susceptibility to LACV infection but a very low rate of oral transmission (7%). Ae. brelandi was also highly susceptible to infection by LACV and transmitted virus at an intermediate rate (27%). Modulation of vector competence in both Ae. hendersoni and Ae. brelandi resulted from a salivary gland escape barrier. As these four species of mosquitoes comprise a closely related monophyletic series, their differences of vector competence for LACV provide an excellent model for studying the genetic basis of the barriers involved.