Detection of West Nile viral RNA from an overwintering pool of Culex pipens pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae) in New Jersey, 2003

Ary Farajollahi; Wayne J Crans; Patricia Bryant; Bruce Wolf; Kristen L Burkhalter; Marvin S Godsey; Stephen E Aspen; Roger S Nasci

doi:10.1093/jmedent/42.3.490

Detection of West Nile viral RNA from an overwintering pool of Culex pipens pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae) in New Jersey, 2003

J Med Entomol. 2005 May;42(3):490-4. doi: 10.1093/jmedent/42.3.490.

Authors

Ary Farajollahi¹, Wayne J Crans, Patricia Bryant, Bruce Wolf, Kristen L Burkhalter, Marvin S Godsey, Stephen E Aspen, Roger S Nasci

Affiliation

¹ Mosquito Research and Control, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901- 8536, USA. farajoll@rci.rutgers.edu

PMID: 15962803
DOI: 10.1093/jmedent/42.3.490

Abstract

In total, 1,324 Culex pipiens pipiens L. female mosquitoes were collected at Ft. Hancock, Monmouth County, New Jersey, from January to March 2001-2003. Mosquitoes were held in an insectary at 27 degrees C and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D) h for 6 to 21 d after which they were tested in 34 pools. West Nile viral RNA was detected in one pool by a TaqMan reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay; however, infectious virus could not be isolated using either Vero cell plaque assay or C6/36 mosquito cells. Twenty females dissected in January and March 2003 confirmed ovarian diapause status. We suggest that the mode of infection in this pool of overwintering females may have been due to vertical (transgenerational) transmission.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Culex / virology*
Female
New Jersey
RNA, Viral / analysis*
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
Seasons*
Time Factors
West Nile virus / genetics*

Substances

RNA, Viral