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. 2025:2893:85-107.
doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-4338-9_8.

Vector Competence Assays for RVFV in Mosquitoes

Lotty Birnberg  1 , Núria Busquets  2
Affiliations

Vector Competence Assays for RVFV in Mosquitoes

Lotty Birnberg et al. Methods Mol Biol. 2025.

Abstract

Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is the causative agent of Rift Valley fever, a mosquito-borne zoonotic febrile illness that primarily affects ruminants, camels, and humans. It is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, albeit with the potential to spread to and establish in non-endemic countries where mosquito vectors are present. Assessing the vector competence (VC) of local mosquito populations is essential for risk evaluation and to develop more accurate control and surveillance strategies. Herein, parameters for VC experimental design, as well as protocols for mosquito rearing and laboratory techniques used for RVFV VC assays are comprehensively described.

Keywords: Artificial blood feeding; Experimental infection; Field-caught mosquito; Laboratory colony; Rift Valley fever phlebovirus; Vector competence.

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