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Diseases and Vector Studies

Diseases and Vector Studies

247 - Lack of competence of U.S. mosquito species for circulating Oropouche virus

Thursday, March 6, 2025
8:50 AM – 9:00 AM AST
Location: 209
Abstract: Oropouche virus (OROV) is an orthobunyavirus first identified in Trinidad and Tobago in 1955. Although previously identified in several Latin American countries, large outbreaks have historically been limited to the Brazilian Amazon. In 2024, over 10,000 cases have been reported, including two deaths. This includes an unprecedented number of infections recorded outside of Brazil, including the first known cases in Cuba and the Dominican Republic. In addition, 90 imported cases have been identified in travelers or residents returning to the U.S. Although the primary vector of OROV is Culicoides paraensis midges, studies have additionally implicated mosquitoes, particularly Culex quinquefasciatus. Despite this, experimental assessment of OROV transmission by mosquitoes is limited. We isolated OROV from an rt-PCR positive serum sample from a febrile patient from Cuba (OROV 240023). Using both OROV 240023 and the genetically distinct original 1955 strain OROV TRVL 9760, we assessed competence following feeding on blood meals containing 6.5 log10 pfu/ml with four U.S. species including: Aedes albopictus (NY), Culex quinquefasciatus (GA), Culex pipiens (NY), and Anopheles quadrimaculatus (FL). Our results suggest a general lack of competence for all species with both viral strains, yet we also report the first experimental evidence of transmission of OROV by Cx. pipiens and infection in Anopheles. Specifically, infection rates for Ae. albopictus, Cx. quinquefasciatus, Cx. pipiens, and An. quadrimaculatus were 2.0%, 4.0%, 2.0%, and 0.0%, respectively, for OROV TRVL 9760, and 0.0%, 0.0%, 0.0%, and 2.0%, respectively, for OROV 240023. Of the 4 OROV positive mosquitoes, 3 had disseminated infections, yet OROV positive saliva was only identified for a single Cx. pipiens infected with OROV 240023. These data demonstrate both that mosquito transmission is possible and that there could be some strain-specific variability, yet additionally suggest that the capacity for these mosquito species to maintain OROV in N. America is limited.

    Presenter(s)

  • AC

    Alexander Ciota, PhD (he/him/his)

    Director
    Arbovirus Laboratory, Wadsworth Center, NYS Dept of Health, New York, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • AP

    Anne Payne, B.S.

    Arbovirus Laboratory, Wadsworth Center, NYS Dept of Health, New York, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • JS

    Jessica Stout

    Arbovirus Laboratory, Wadsworth Center, NYS Dept of Health, New York, United States

  • PD

    Peter Dumoulin

    Florida Dept of Health, Florida, United States

  • LH

    Lea Heberlein

    Florida Dept of Health, Florida, United States

  • AD

    Alan P. Dupuis, II

    Research Scientist
    Arbovirus Laboratory, Wadsworth Center, NYS Dept of Health, New York, United States