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Transmission of Japanese Encephalitis Virus from the Black Flying Fox, Pteropus alecto, to Culex annulirostris Mosquitoes, Despite the Absence of Detectable Viremia

To determine the potential role of flying foxes in transmission cycles of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) in Australia, we exposed Pteropus alecto (Megachiroptera: Pteropididae) to JEV via infected Culex annulirostris mosquitoes or inoculation. No flying foxes developed symptoms consistent with JEV infection. Anti-JEV IgG antibodies developed in 6/10 flying foxes exposed to infected Cx. annulirostris and in 5/5 inoculated flying foxes. Low-level viremia was detected by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction in 1/5 inoculated flying foxes and this animal was able to infect recipient mosquitoes. Although viremia was not detected in any of the 10 flying foxes that were exposed to JEV by mosquito bite, two animals infected recipient mosquitoes. Likewise, an inoculated flying fox without detectable viremia infected recipient mosquitoes. Although infection rates in recipient mosquitoes were low, the high population densities in roosting camps, coupled with migratory behavior indicate that flying foxes could play a role in the dispersal of JEV.

Received October 27, 2008. Accepted for publication May 28, 2009.

Acknowledgments: We thank Bruce Harrower for undertaking the post mortems on the flying foxes; Amanda McLaughlin, Carol de Jong, and Janine Barrett for assistance with flying fox collection; and Sadet Davis, Teck Chuan, Petrina Johnson, Donna Mackenzie, and Russell Simmons for technical assistance. We also thank Les Hall for discussions on flying fox movements in the Torres Strait and Laura Kramer, Scott Ritchie, and Roy Hall for their comments on the manuscript.

Financial support: This study was funded by the Australian Health Minister’s Advisory Council (AHMAC) Priority Driven Research Program and Queensland Health.

^* Address correspondence to Andrew F. van den Hurk, Virology, Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services, 39 Kessels Rd, Coopers Plains, Queensland 4108, Australia. E-mail: andrew_hurk{at}health.qld.gov.au

Authors’ addresses: Andrew F. van den Hurk, Ina L. Smith, Judith A. Northill, Carmel T. Taylor, and Greg A. Smith, Virology, Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services, 39 Kessels Rd., Coopers Plains, Queensland 4108, Australia, Tel: 617-3274-9135, Fax: 617-3000-9186, E-mails: andrew_hurk{at}health.qld.gov.au, ina_smith{at}health.qld.gov.au, judy_northill{at}health.qld.gov.au, carmel_taylor{at}health.qld.gov.au, and greg_smith{at}health.qld.gov.au. Craig S. Smith and Hume E. Field, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Animal Research Institute, 665 Fairfield Road, Yeerongpilly, Queensland 4105, Australia, E-mails: Craig.S.Smith{at}dpi.qld.gov.au and hume.field{at}dpi.qld.gov.au. Cassie C. Jansen, formerly Australian Army Malaria Institute, currently Australian Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia, E-mail: cassie_jansen{at}health.qld.gov.au. John S. Mackenzie, Australian Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre, Centre for International Health, Curtin University of Technology, GPO U1987, Perth, Western Australia, 6845, Australia, E-mail: J.Mackenzie{at}curtin.edu.au.