Vector borne and zoonotic diseases最新文献

{"title":"Prevalence of Toscana Virus Antibodies in Residents of Bulgaria: A Nationwide Study Following the Pandemic of COVID-19.","authors":"Iva Trifonova, Kim Ngoc, Teodora Gladnishka, Elitsa Panayotova, Evgenia Taseva, Vladislava Ivanova, Iva Vladimirova, Eleonora Kuteva, Iva Christova","doi":"10.1089/vbz.2024.0050","DOIUrl":"10.1089/vbz.2024.0050","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Toscana virus (TOSV) is an arthropod-borne virus transmitted by sandflies and is mainly found in countries around the Mediterranean basin. In this article, we present the findings of a seroprevalence study on TOSV in Bulgaria. We aim to assess the current epidemiological situation regarding TOSV in the country and raise clinical awareness. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Serum samples (<i>n</i> = 1892) were collected in December 2023. Serological tests were performed using a commercial anti-TOSV ELISA kit. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies were detected in 6.4% (121/1892) of the participants. A significantly higher seropositivity rate was found in the age group over 65 years compared with the age groups 18-29 and 40-64 (11.8% vs. 3.9% vs. 3.4%), as well as in males compared with females (8.0% vs. 5.3%). The seroprevalence rates in districts ranged from 0% to 18.5%. Higher seropositivity was found in the southern and northern regions. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> The seroprevalence rate of TOSV in Bulgaria, found in this study, is a significant decrease compared with the seropositivity rate of 24.5% reported in the country in 2018. The reasons for this are unknown and could possibly be related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the constantly changing environmental conditions. There is also a possibility that the higher seropositivity detected in 2018 together with the rise in clinical cases reported from endemic countries around that time might have been due to an unrecognized TOSV outbreak taking place in this period. Continued clinical awareness and surveillance are necessary for recognition and management of potential cases of TOSV neuroinfection, especially during summer.</p>","PeriodicalId":23683,"journal":{"name":"Vector borne and zoonotic diseases","volume":" ","pages":"142-147"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142476052","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Burden of <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> Among Pet Dogs and Cats with Respiratory Illness Outside the Healthcare Facilities: A Possible Public Health Concern.","authors":"Alaa A Shaker, Ahmed Samir, Hala M Zaher, Khaled A Abdel-Moein","doi":"10.1089/vbz.2024.0082","DOIUrl":"10.1089/vbz.2024.0082","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b><i>Background:</i></b> Researchers paid more attention to nosocomial <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> in veterinary hospitals worldwide; however, the research scope toward community-acquired <i>A. baumannii</i> infections among animals is largely ignored. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the role of diseased dogs and cats suffering from respiratory illness in transmission of community-acquired <i>A. baumannii</i> infection and its public health threat. <b><i>Materials and methods:</i></b> Oral swabs were collected from 154 pet animals with respiratory signs, including 80 cats and 74 dogs (outpatient visits). The obtained swabs were cultured on CHROMagar™ MH Orientation media for isolation of <i>A. baumannii</i>, and identification of suspected isolates was conducted via Gram staining, conventional biochemical tests, and molecular detection of the <i>bla</i>_OXA-51-like gene. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of <i>A. baumannii</i> isolates was carried out using the disc diffusion method. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Overall, 10 (6.5%) out of 154 diseased pet animals were positive for <i>A. baumannii</i>, where 6 (8.1%) and 4 (5%) dogs and cats were positive, respectively. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) <i>A. baumannii</i> was found in 3.9% of the examined animals. The phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that the obtained sequences from dogs and cats were closely related to human and animal sequences. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> The occurrence of MDR <i>A. baumannii</i> among dogs and cats suffering from respiratory illness highlights the potential role of pet animals in the dissemination of MDR <i>A. baumannii</i> in the community.</p>","PeriodicalId":23683,"journal":{"name":"Vector borne and zoonotic diseases","volume":" ","pages":"118-124"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142476053","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Coinfection with Orthohantavirus and <i>Leptospira</i> spp. in Rats Collected from Markets in Indonesia.","authors":"Kozue Miura, James Chambers, Naohiro Takahashi, Harimurti Nuradji, Nlp Indi Dharmayanti, Susanti, Parriantariksina Randusari, Susan M Noor, Rahmat Setya Adji, Muharam Saepulloh, Sumarningsih, Kumiko Yoshimatsu, Nobuo Koizumi","doi":"10.1089/vbz.2023.0170","DOIUrl":"10.1089/vbz.2023.0170","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b><i>Background:</i></b> Rats are an important reservoir animal for several zoonotic pathogens worldwide, including hantaviruses and Leptospira spp., which are the causative agents of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome, and leptospirosis. Although a previous study indicated a high frequency of antihantaviral antibodies in patients with acute fever in Indonesia, circulating hantaviruses and their reservoir animals in the country remain limited. <b><i>Materials and Methods:</i></b> The presence of hantavirus in rats captured in the urban area of Bogor, Indonesia, from which Leptospira spp. were isolated using PCR, followed by DNA sequencing. Immunohistochemical analyses were performed to detect hantaviral and leptospiral antigens in rat kidney tissues. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Seoul of Orthohantavirus seoulense (SEOV) RNA was detected from 24 of 80 Rattus norvegicus (30%). SEOV and Leptospira coinfection was detected in 10 of 80 rats (12.5%). Immunohistochemistry revealed that hantavirus antigens were positively stained in the interstitial capillaries and cells, whereas Leptospira antigens were stained in the luminal side of the renal tubules. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> This study revealed a high prevalence of SEOV and SEOV and Leptospira coinfection among rats in the urban areas of Bogor, Indonesia, indicating a potential risk of rat-borne zoonotic diseases in the area.</p>","PeriodicalId":23683,"journal":{"name":"Vector borne and zoonotic diseases","volume":" ","pages":"43-48"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142476049","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"<i>Bartonella</i> Species in Small Mammals in Turkey: <i>Bartonella bilalgolemii</i> sp. nov. Isolated from a Ural Field Mouse (<i>Apodemus uralensis</i>).","authors":"Bekir Çelebi, Rita Zgheib, Ahmet Karataş, Cahit Babür, İbrahim Mehmet Ali Öktem, Ferhat Matur, Mustafa Sözen, Bernard Davoust, Oleg Mediannikov, Pierre-Edouard Fournier","doi":"10.1089/vbz.2024.0026","DOIUrl":"10.1089/vbz.2024.0026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b><i>Background:</i></b> The genus <i>Bartonella</i> is composed of Gram-negative, fastidious, facultative intracellular bacteria that can cause bacteremia in mammals and various disorders in humans. Rodents have been reported as reservoirs of more than 30 <i>Bartonella</i> species, seven of which cause zoonotic infections. <b><i>Materials and Methods:</i></b> In the present study, the isolation of <i>Bartonella</i> sp. was attempted from 150 spleen samples from 13 rodent species (mostly <i>Apodemus</i> species) from three geographically different regions in Turkey. <b><i>Results:</i></b> <i>Bartonella</i> sp. was successfully isolated from 65 of these 150 samples (43%). The prevalences of <i>Bartonella</i> sp. in tested rodents in the regions of Giresun, Yozgat, and Burdur were 68%, 44%, and 16%, respectively. Using polymerase chain reaction/sequence analysis of the citrate synthase-coding gene (<i>gltA</i>), Bartonellaisolates were classified seven species including <i>B. taylorii</i>, <i>B. grahamii</i>, <i>B. birtlesii</i>, <i>B. mastomydis</i>, and three putatively new <i>Bartonella</i> species. We performed further identification techniques for one of the three <i>Bartonella</i> species that were different from the validated <i>Bartonella</i> species according to the <i>gltA</i> sequence analysis. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Here, we report the genomic and phenotypic characterization of <i>Bartonella</i> sp. strain G70 that was isolated from the splenic tissue of an <i>Apodemus uralensis</i> (Pallas 1881), the Ural field mouse, captured in the Giresun region of northeastern Turkey. <i>Bartonella</i> sp. strainG70 (RSKK 22001) was characterized by whole genome and partial gene (<i>gltA</i>, 16S ribosomal RNA) sequencing and comparison, scanning electron microscopy, biochemical tests, and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. This novel <i>Bartonella</i> is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium and has neither flagella nor pili. The genome from strain G70 was 1,606,969-bp-long with a G + C content of 35.7%. <i>Bartonella rochalimae</i> was found to be the closest phylogenetic relative of strain G70 (OrthoANI = 90.5%, digital DNA-DNA hybridization = 41.4%). We therefore propose that this new species be named <i>Bartonella bilalgolemii</i> sp. nov. with strain G70^T as the type strain.</p>","PeriodicalId":23683,"journal":{"name":"Vector borne and zoonotic diseases","volume":" ","pages":"60-70"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142547834","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Brucellosis Coinfecting with Liver Hydatid Cyst: Case Report and Literature Review of Zoonoses Coinfection of Human Brucellosis.","authors":"Dai Peijun, Shen Weiwei, Pu Zhongshu","doi":"10.1089/vbz.2024.0062","DOIUrl":"10.1089/vbz.2024.0062","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b><i>Background:</i></b> Brucellosis is a major global public health problem. Brucellosis usually coinfects with zoonoses because of their similar reservoir and infection routes. <b><i>Materials and Methods:</i></b> Here, we present a patient who was diagnosed with coinfecting with liver cyst and brucellosis. <b><i>Results:</i></b> A 57-year-old female farmer was hospitalized with right hip joint pain approximately 4 weeks earlier. The patient reported a history of hydatid cysts and a family history of brucellosis. Abdominal computerized tomography and ultrasonography revealed a liver hydatid cyst. The standard agglutination test titer of Wright's test was 1:100. Computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed brucellosis hip arthritis. The patient was treated with a combination of doxycycline, rifampicin, and cefotaxime. The symptoms immediately improved. The patient was well and asymptomatic during the 6-month follow-up. We reviewed the literature on other zoonoses superinfection with brucellosis. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Brucellosis coinfects with multiple zoonosis organisms and poses a serious health threat to humans. Awareness of possible brucellosis coinfection with other zoonoses, especially professionally exposed persons in endemic regions, is warranted.</p>","PeriodicalId":23683,"journal":{"name":"Vector borne and zoonotic diseases","volume":" ","pages":"74-77"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142476048","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pathogen and Host Associations of Soft Ticks Collected in South Texas.","authors":"Sarah E Mays Maestas, Lauren P Maestas, Phillip E Kaufman","doi":"10.1089/vbz.2023.0135","DOIUrl":"10.1089/vbz.2023.0135","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b><i>Background:</i></b> Soft ticks (Family: Argasidae) are vectors of relapsing fever <i>Borrelia</i> in the United States and are potential vectors of African swine fever virus, a pathogen that could have a devastating effect on the U.S. swine industry if introduced to the U.S. mainland. Much of the tick-borne disease research in the U.S. focuses on hard ticks, and less is known about the ecology of soft ticks. Some soft tick species found in the southern U.S. have a wide host range and may feed on cattle, swine, native and exotic ungulates, small mammals, reptiles, and humans. Because the feeding habit of most soft tick species involves taking short, repeated blood meals that may include multiple host species, pathogen transmission among hosts is a concern both for human and animal health. <b><i>Materials and Methods:</i></b> Sampling was carried out at four locations in south Texas using dry ice traps placed in or near animal burrows and other sheltering cracks and crevasses that may provide refuge for soft ticks. Collected ticks were identified and subsequently screened for <i>Rickettsia</i> and <i>Borrelia</i> species and for host bloodmeal detection using conventional polymerase chain reaction and Sanger sequencing for pathogen and host species identification. <b><i>Results:</i></b> In total, 256 ticks of two Ornithodorinae species were screened. <i>Borrelia</i> species were identified in three samples. Bloodmeal detections were made in 22 tick specimens, representing eight vertebrate host species. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Results demonstrate that the soft tick species detected herein feed on a range of wildlife hosts in south Texas and are associated with agents of human disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":23683,"journal":{"name":"Vector borne and zoonotic diseases","volume":" ","pages":"34-42"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141971957","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Navigating the Landscape of Tick Diversity: Integrating Molecular Approaches for Enhanced Control Measures.","authors":"Donath Damian","doi":"10.1089/vbz.2024.0052","DOIUrl":"10.1089/vbz.2024.0052","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The emergence and spread of infectious diseases, particularly zoonotic diseases originating from wildlife, pose significant threats to global health and economy. This review examines the pivotal role of ticks as vectors in transmitting pathogens to humans, livestock, and wildlife and the use of molecular techniques in their identification. Tick infestations result in economic losses through reduced animal productivity, anemia, and quality deterioration of hides. Furthermore, ticks serve as reservoirs for a wide range of pathogens including viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes, contributing to the transmission of diseases such as Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, tick-borne encephalitis, and African swine fever among others. The interface between wildlife, livestock, and humans facilitates the transmission of zoonotic pathogens, exacerbated by nomadic and pastoralist lifestyles that promote interactions between wildlife and domestic animals. This movement of animals across landscapes enhances the dispersion of tick vectors, increasing the risk of pathogen exposure for diverse populations. Historically, tick identification in sub-Saharan Africa has relied on morphological characteristics despite limitations such as species overlap and variability. Molecular techniques offer a more precise means of species identification, providing critical data for effective tick and pathogen management strategies. Integrating molecular approaches into tick research enhances our understanding of tick diversity, distribution patterns, and pathogen dynamics. This knowledge is essential for developing targeted interventions to mitigate the impact of tick-borne diseases on public and veterinary health worldwide.</p>","PeriodicalId":23683,"journal":{"name":"Vector borne and zoonotic diseases","volume":" ","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141976785","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mapping <i>Ixodes pacificus</i> and <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i> Habitat Suitability Under Current and Mid-Century Climate in the Pacific Northwest (BC and WA).","authors":"Isabelle Couloigner, Carl Dizon, Sunny Mak, Elizabeth Dykstra, Erin Fraser, Muhammad Morshed, Stefan Iwasawa, Sylvia Checkley, Susan Cork","doi":"10.1089/vbz.2024.0025","DOIUrl":"10.1089/vbz.2024.0025","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States and Canada. The primary vector for the causative agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, in the Pacific Northwest is the western blacklegged tick, Ixodes pacificus. <b><i>Materials and Methods:</i></b> Using active tick surveillance data from British Columbia, Canada, and Washington State, USA, habitat suitability models using MaxEnt (maximum entropy) were developed for <i>I. pacificus</i> to predict its current and mid-century geographic distributions. Passive surveillance data both from BC and WA were also visualized. <b><i>Results:</i></b> According to the constructed models, the number of frost-free days during the winter is the most relevant predictor of its habitat suitability, followed by summer climate moisture, ecoregion, and mean minimum fall temperature. The ensemble geographic distribution map predicts that the coastal regions and inland valleys of British Columbia and the Puget Lowlands of Washington State provide the most suitable habitats for <i>I. pacificus</i>. The density map of ticks submitted from passive surveillance data was overlaid on the current distribution map and demonstrates the correlation between numbers of submissions and habitat suitability. Mid-century projections, based on current climate change predictions, indicate a range expansion, especially of low and moderate suitability, from current distribution. Regarding Lyme disease risk, <i>I. pacificus</i> identified from both active and passive surveillance and tested positive for <i>B. burgdorferi</i> were found to be in areas of moderate to very high suitability for <i>I. pacificus</i>. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> According to developed models, the total suitable habitat area for <i>I. pacificus</i> will expand in the interior regions of British Columbia and Washington State. However, the risk remains small given relatively low infection rates among <i>I. pacificus</i>. Further studies are required to better understand how this might change in the future.</p>","PeriodicalId":23683,"journal":{"name":"Vector borne and zoonotic diseases","volume":" ","pages":"49-59"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141876148","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Isolation of <i>Rickettsia heilongjiangensis</i> (Strain AH-19) from <i>Haemaphysalis longicornis</i> on a Wild Hedgehog in Anhui Province, China.","authors":"Boyu Liu, Hao Liu, Cuiping Ren, Danyou Hu, Yang Chen, Haotian Sun, Zhen Chen, Yan Liu","doi":"10.1089/vbz.2024.0036","DOIUrl":"10.1089/vbz.2024.0036","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b><i>Background:</i></b> Spotted fever group rickettsioses, caused by rickettsiae of the spotted fever group, pose a significant zoonotic threat to public health. In endemic areas of Anhui Province, China, the ecology and transmission dynamics of these pathogens remain under investigation. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We isolated a rickettsial strain from <i>Haemaphysalis longicornis</i> ticks collected from a wild hedgehog in the Dabie Mountain area. Molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis were employed to confirm the strain. Pathological examinations of the hedgehog's tissues were conducted to assess the potential impact of the infection. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The isolated strain was identified as <i>R. heilongjiangensis</i> strain AH-19. Pathological examination revealed significant tissue alterations, including cellular vacuolization, necrosis, and disarray of tissue architecture. It remains uncertain whether these changes were directly attributable to the rickettsial infection or other factors. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> The identification of <i>R. heilongjiangensis</i> strain AH-19 in <i>H. longicornis</i> suggests that hedgehogs may serve as reservoir hosts in the Dabie Mountain area.Further research is needed to clarify their role in the ecology and epidemiology of this pathogen, which could inform future public health strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":23683,"journal":{"name":"Vector borne and zoonotic diseases","volume":" ","pages":"14-20"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142141249","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evidence of Limited Laboratory Infection of <i>Culex Tarsalis</i> (Diptera: Culicidae) by Usutu Virus.","authors":"Nathaniel M Byers, Jeremy P Ledermann, Holly R Hughes, Ann M Powers","doi":"10.1089/vbz.2024.0054","DOIUrl":"10.1089/vbz.2024.0054","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b><i>Background:</i></b> Usutu virus (USUV) is an emerging flavivirus, closely related to West Nile virus (WNV), that has spread into Europe from Africa. Since Culex tarsalis Coquillett is an important vector for WNV transmission in the United States, we tested the ability of USUV to replicate in and be transmitted by these mosquitoes. <b><i>Materials and Methods:</i></b> USUV was used to infect 3-4 day-old Cx. tarsalis with 5.6 to 7.5 log₁₀ pfu/ml in goose bloodmeals. Saliva, heads, and bodies were collected on day 13 or 14 and analyzed by RT-qPCR for detection for USUV vRNA. Blotting paper punches were also collected daily to assess viral transmissibility. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The low and high dose blood meal resulted in 0% and 19.6% of the mosquitoes having established infections, respectively. All of the high dose had a dissemination of USUV RNA to the heads and none of the filter papers had detectable USUV RNA, but five of the capillary saliva collections were positive, representing 45.5% of the infected mosquitoes. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Limited infection of Cx. tarsalis was observed when exposed to bloodmeals with greater than 107 pfu/mL of USUV, indicating this vector is not likely to have a key role in transmission of the virus.</p>","PeriodicalId":23683,"journal":{"name":"Vector borne and zoonotic diseases","volume":" ","pages":"71-73"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142393774","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}