Excretion Dynamics of Arboviruses in Mosquitoes and the Potential Use in Vector Competence Studies and Arbovirus Surveillance

The increasing threat of arboviruses such as West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu (USUV) requires the fast efficient surveillance these viruses. examination mosquitoes takes up an important part; however, investigations are usually very time-consuming. An alternative sample type for arbovirus might be mosquito excreta. In order to determine excretion dynamics under laboratory conditions, colonies Aedes vexans Culex pipiens biotype molestus were infected with WNV, USUV or tick-borne encephalitis (TBEV). After infection, excreta sampled investigated viral RNA. Excretion RNA together infectious blood meal could detected five days after infection. Further seemed correlate a disseminated infection in mosquitoes, at least addition, it determined that amount excretions correlated positively load bodies. Overall, this study shows usage enables detection endemic viruses (WNV, USUV) well non-mosquito-borne shedding during vector competence studies can provide insights into course without sacrificing animals.