Role of insects in the transmission of bovine leukosis virus: potential for transmission by mosquitoes
Buxton, B.A.; Schultz, R.D.; Collins, W.E.
American Journal of Veterinary Research 43(8): 1458-1459
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9645 PMID: 6285782 Document Number: 191373
Bovine leukosis virus was transmitted to sheep in a simulated mechanical transmission experiment in the USA using Anopheles freeborni Aitken, A. stephensi List., A. quadrimaculatus Say and A. albimanus Wied., in which the mouthparts and heads of mosquitoes that had fed on blood taken from an infected cow with persistent lymphocytosis were removed immediately after feeding and inoculated subcutaneously into the sheep. Nine sheep were inoculated with mouthparts and heads from 37-122 mosquitoes, and infection was determined serologically. Serum samples were collected from the sheep 1, 2 and 3 months after inoculation and tested for the presence of antibodies to the virus, using the agar-gel immunodiffusion test. Sera that were negative after 3 months were tested by radioimmunoassay, and the same results were obtained with both methods. Four of the 9 sheep developed antibodies to the virus, 1 of which had been inoculated with mouthparts and heads from only 54 mosquitoes.