Reduction of Arbovirus Plaque Numbers by Suspensions of Normal Mosquitoes

Thomas M. Yuill Department of Virology, Medical Research Laboratory, SEATO Medical Project, Rujavithi Road, Bangkok, Thailand

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Infectiousness was compared for local, low passage and for prototype strains of dengue-1 through 4 and chikungunya viruses in suspensions of normal Aedes aegypti females and in mosquito-free controls. Mosquito suspensions reduced the formation of virus plaques by 10- to 2,300-fold in LLC-MK2 cells. A similar reduction of Japanese encephalitis virus plaques was observed in the presence of suspensions of Culex tritaeniorhynchus and Culex gelidus. This reduction was not as apparent in suckling mice, however. Thus, with certain virus-host systems, mosquito suspensions per se may prevent the detection of small amounts of arboviruses in pools of these insects when virus is detected directly by plaque formation in cell cultures.

Author Notes

Present address: Department of Veterinary Science, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706.

Alternative address: SEATO Medical Project, U. S. Component, APO San Francisco 96346.

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