Oropouche virus. IV. Laboratory transmission by Culicoides paraensis
Pinheiro, F.P.; Hoch, A.L.; Gomes, M.L.; Roberts, D.R.
American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 30(1): 172-176
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9637 PMID: 7212164 Document Number: 173420
Biological transmission of Oropouche virus by Culicoides paraensis (Goeldi) was successfully demonstrated in the laboratory [see preceding abstract, etc.]. Adult Culicoides, collected in an area where the virus was absent, were infected by feeding on viraemic hamsters and then periodically exposed to susceptible hamsters at specific intervals blood-meal. They were capable of biological transmission of the virus 4-9 days after feeding on viraemic hamsters circulating 6.7-9.9 log SMLD50s/ml virus. Infection rates of 54 and 80% were obtained for C. paraensis 7 days after feeding. Virus transmission rates for these experiments were 83 and 25%, respectively. No evidence of mechanical transmission of the virus by C. paraensis was observed when interrupted feeding of Culicoides on viraemic hamsters was followed by feeding on susceptible hamsters.