Zika virus can be venereally transmitted between Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
Abstract
Background:
Alternative transmission routes have been described for Zika virus (ZIKV). Here, we assessed for the first time the venereal transmission of ZIKV between Aedes aegypti under laboratory conditions.
Results:
Orally-infected mosquito females were able to transmit the virus to males venereally, and males inoculated intrathoracically were capable of infecting females during mating. The genome of venereally-transmitted virus recovered from males was identical to that of ZIKV ingested by mated females.
Conclusion:
We conclude that venereal transmission between Aedes mosquitoes might contribute to Zika virus maintenance in nature.
Origin : Publication funded by an institution
Loading...