Field Detection of Tembusu Virus in Western Thailand by RT-PCR and Vector Competence Determination of Select Culex Mosquitoes for Transmission of the Virus

Monica L. O'Guinn Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland; Department of Entomology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand

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Michael J. Turell Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland; Department of Entomology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand

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Ampornpan Kengluecha Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland; Department of Entomology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand

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Boonsong Jaichapor Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland; Department of Entomology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand

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Prasan Kankaew Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland; Department of Entomology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand

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R. Scott Miller Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland; Department of Entomology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand

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Timothy P. Endy Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland; Department of Entomology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand

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James W. Jones Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland; Department of Entomology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand

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Russell E. Coleman Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland; Department of Entomology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand

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John S. Lee Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland; Department of Entomology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand

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Tembusu virus (TMUV; Ntaya serocomplex) was detected in two pools of mosquitoes captured near Sangkhlaburi, Thailand, as well as from sera from sentinel ducks from the same area. Although TMUV has been isolated from several mosquito species in Asia, no studies have ever shown competent vectors for this virus. Therefore, we allowed mosquitoes captured near Sangkhlaburi to feed on young chickens that had been infected with TMUV. These mosquitoes were tested approximately 2 weeks later to determine infection, dissemination, and transmission rates. Culex vishnui developed high viral titers after feeding on TMUV-infected chicks and readily transmitted virus to naïve chickens. In contrast, Cx. fuscocephala seemed less susceptible to infection, and more importantly, zero of five fuscocephala with a disseminated infection transmitted virus by bite, indicating a salivary gland barrier. These results provide evidence for the involvement of Culex mosquitoes in the transmission of TMUV in the environment.

Author Notes

* Address correspondence to John S. Lee, Division of Entomology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910. E-mail: john.s.lee13@gmail.com

Financial support: This work was supported through the joint partnership between the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD, and the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand, and it was funded in part by the Military Infectious Disease Research Program Projects U0014_02_RD and U0014_03_RD.

Authors' addresses: Monica L. O'Guinn, Military Infectious Diseases Research Program, US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD, E-mail: monica.oguinn@us.army.mil. Michael J. Turell, Virology Division, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD, E-mail: michael.j.turell@us.army.mil. Ampornpan Kengluecha, Boonsong Jaichapor, and James W. Jones, Department of Entomology, US Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand, E-mails: ampornpank@afrims.org, boonsongj@afrims.org, and james.jones@afrims.org. Prasan Kankaew, Department of Geography, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, E-mail: prasankankaew@yahoo.com. R. Scott Miller and Russell E. Coleman, US Army Medical Materiel Development Activity, Frederick, MD, E-mails: robert.s.miller@us.army.mil and russell.coleman@us.army.mil. Timothy P. Endy, Department of Medicine, Upstate Medical University, State University of New York, Syracuse, NY, E-mail: endyt@upstate.edu. John S. Lee, Division of Entomology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, E-mail: john.s.lee13@gmail.com.

Reprint requests: John S. Lee, Division of Entomology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910, E-mail: john.s.lee13@gmail.com.

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