Eurosurveillance: Experimentally Infected Culex Mosquitoes Unable To Spread Zika

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There has been a lot of speculation, and concern, that the ubiquitous Culex mosquito - which is a vector for West Nile Virus - might also be capable of transmitting the Zika virus.  

Previously we've seen reports suggesting that the Culex mosquito might be a competent vector (see Fiocruz: Zika Virus Experimentally Introduced Into Culex Mosquitoes), but their role (if any) in transmitting the virus remained unproven. 

But in July we saw an EID Journal Study on Culex pipiens and Aedes triseriatus Mosquito Susceptibility to Zika Virus which cast doubt on the ability of the Culex mosquito to harbor and transmit the virus.


Today, we've two more Rapid Communications published in the ECDC journal Eurosurveillance with similar findings.  Neither found experimentally infected Culex mosquitoes capable of transmitting the virus.


Follow the links to read the full reports. 

Eurosurveillance, Volume 21, Issue 35, 01 September 2016

Rapid communication 

 

Culex mosquitoes are experimentally unable to transmit Zika virus

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Citation style for this article: Amraoui F, Atyame-Nten C, Vega-Rúa A, Lourenço-de-Oliveira R, Vazeille M, Failloux AB. Culex mosquitoes are experimentally unable to transmit Zika virus. Euro Surveill. 2016;21(35):pii=30333. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2016.21.35.30333

Received:16 August 2016; Accepted:02 September 2016

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We report that two laboratory colonies of Culex quinquefasciatus and Culex pipiens mosquitoes were experimentally unable to transmit ZIKV either up to 21 days post an infectious blood meal or up to 14 days post intrathoracic inoculation. Infectious viral particles were detected in bodies, heads or saliva by a plaque forming unit assay on Vero cells. We therefore consider it unlikely that Culex mosquitoes are involved in the rapid spread of ZIKV.

Eurosurveillance, Volume 21, Issue 35, 01 September 2016

Rapid communication 

 

Experimental investigation of the susceptibility of Italian Culex pipiens mosquitoes to Zika virus infection

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Citation style for this article: Boccolini D, Toma L, Di Luca M, Severini F, Romi R, Remoli ME, Sabbatucci M, Venturi G, Rezza G, Fortuna C. Experimental investigation of the susceptibility of Italian Culex pipiens mosquitoes to Zika virus infection. Euro Surveill. 2016;21(35):pii=30328. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2016.21.35.30328

Received:11 August 2016; Accepted:02 September 2016

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We investigated the susceptibility of an Italian population of Culex pipiens mosquitoes to Zika virus (ZIKV) infection, tested in parallel with Aedes aegypti, as a positive control. We analysed mosquitoes at 0, 3, 7, 10, 14, 20 and 24 days after an infectious blood meal. Viral RNA was detected in the body of Cx. pipiens up to three days post-infection, but not at later time points. Our results indicate that Cx. pipiens is not susceptible to ZIKV infection.