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. 2016 Sep 7;5(9):e102.
doi: 10.1038/emi.2016.102.

Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus: a potential vector to transmit Zika virus

Xiao-Xia Guo  1 , Chun-Xiao Li  1 , Yong-Qiang Deng  2 , Dan Xing  1 , Qin-Mei Liu  1 , Qun Wu  1 , Ai-Juan Sun  1 , Yan-de Dong  1 , Wu-Chun Cao  3 , Cheng-Feng Qin  2 , Tong-Yan Zhao  1
Affiliations

Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus: a potential vector to transmit Zika virus

Xiao-Xia Guo et al. Emerg Microbes Infect. .

Abstract

Zika virus (ZIKV) has become a threat to global health since the outbreak in Brazil in 2015. Although ZIKV is generally considered an Aedes-transmitted pathogen, new evidence has shown that parts of the virus closely resemble Culex-transmitted viruses. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the competence of Culex species for ZIKV to understand their potential as vectors. In this study, female Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus were orally exposed to ZIKV. Mosquito midguts, salivary glands and ovaries were tested for ZIKV to measure infection and dissemination at 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16 and 18 days post exposure (pe). In addition, saliva was collected from mosquitoes after infection and infant mice were bitten by infected mosquitoes to measure the transmission ability of Cx. p. quinquefasciatus. The results showed that the peak time of virus appearance in the salivary glands was day 8 pe, with 90% infection rate and an estimated virus titer of 3.92±0.49 lg RNA copies/mL. Eight of the nine infant mice had positive brains after being bitten by infected mosquitoes, which meant that Cx. p. quinquefasciatus could be infected with and transmit ZIKV following oral infection. These laboratory results clearly demonstrate the potential role of Cx. p. quinquefasciatus as a vector of ZIKV in China. Because there are quite different vector management strategies required to control Aedes (Stegomyia) species and Cx. p. quinquefasciatus, an integrated approach may be required should a Zika epidemic occur.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Midgut, salivary gland and ovary ZIKV infection rates in Cx. p. quinquefasciatus at different days postexposure to the blood meal. Ten mosquitoes were sampled per day. The error bars represent the confidence intervals (95%). The number of individuals analyzed is given in parentheses. ZIKV, Zika virus.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Quantification of Zika viral RNA copies by real-time RT-PCR detected in the salivary glands (A), midguts (B) and ovaries (C) at different days postexposure. Each box represents the median (horizontal bar), the interquartile range (box) and the full range (‘whiskers'). RT-PCR, reverse transcription-PCR.
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