County-Level Records for Culex stigmatosoma and Culex thriambus in Texas

ABSTRACT Populations of Culex stigmatosoma and Cx. thriambus have been documented in the southwestern USA with a southward range extension to northern South America and Central America, respectively. Studies conducted in California indicate both species are potential vectors of West Nile virus. However, vector competence studies are lacking for other parts of the USA. During a multicounty regional surveillance study west of San Antonio, Texas, multiple errors were observed in the Texas distributional literature of these species. These errors involved incorrect distributional information in Texas and US publications. Evidence to correct these errant records was found upon further analysis of Texas literature and curated specimens. Therefore, the aims of this study were to present that evidence and then combine the corrected records with additional records from the Texas Department of State Health Services and from larval collections made during other Texas surveillance studies.

LABORATORY TRANSMISSION OF WESTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALOMYELITIS VIRUS BY MOSQUITOES OF THE GENERA CULEX AND CULISETA

1. Western equine virus has been successfully transmitted in the laboratory by 3 species of mosquitoes from 2 genera not previously reported as laboratory vectors: Culex tarsalis, Culiseta inornata, and Culiseta incidens. 2. Though transmission was not demonstrated, survival of the virus for more than a few days was shown to occur in Culex stigmatosoma and Psorophora confinnis. Possibly transmission occurred by the former. 3. In experiments with Culex tarsalis, infection of the mosquitoes occurred from feeding on an inoculated guinea pig, a duck, and virus-blood suspensions. After an incubation period of 10 to 30 days at a temperature above 25°C. these mosquitoes infected chickens and a guinea pig by their bite and virus was in turn demonstrated in the blood of the chickens and in the brain of the guinea pig. A total of 12 transmissions occurred. The fact that mosquitoes can be infected from fowl and in turn transmit to fowl, together with much other supporting data from field and laboratory, is interpreted as strengthening evidence that fowl serve as reservoirs of virus in nature. 4. Since Culex tarsalis mosquitoes have been repeatedly found infected with Western equine virus and epidemiologic evidence supports their incrimination, the vector rôle of this species is now established, and it may be regarded as fully incriminated. 5. Culiseta inornata has also been found infected in nature and now proven a laboratory vector. This species does not fit the epidemiological picture in the Yakima Valley as well as C. tarsalis, but may play an important rôle elsewhere. 6. Anopheles maculipennis freeborni and Culex pipiens found naturally infected have not transmitted the virus under laboratory conditions.

LABORATORY TRANSMISSION OF ST. LOUIS ENCEPHALITIS VIRUS BY THREE GENERA OF MOSQUITOES

1. St. Louis virus has been successfully transmitted in the laboratory by the following 9 species of mosquitoes from 3 genera: Culex tarsalis, Culex pipiens, Culex coronator, Aedes lateralis, Aedes taeniorhynchus, Aedes vexans, Aedes nigromaculis, Theobaldia incidens, and Theobaldia inornata. 2. Though transmission has not been demonstrated, survival of the virus for more than a few days was shown to occur in Culex quinquefasciatus, Culex stigmatosoma, Psorophora ciliata, and Anopheles maculipennis freeborni. 3. In experiments with Culex tarsalis, infection occurred from feeding on chickens and ducks which had been previously inoculated by the subcutaneous route. After an incubation period these mosquitoes infected other chickens and virus was in turn demonstrated in the blood of these. This is interpreted as proof that fowl may serve as reservoirs of virus in nature. Since mosquitoes have been repeatedly found naturally infected with St. Louis virus and epidemiologic evidence supports their incrimination, their rôle as vectors is now established. The fully incriminated species is Culex tarsalis.