Competence of Aedes aegypti, Ae. albopictus, and Culex quinquefasciatus Mosquitoes as Zika Virus Vectors, China

• Main Authors: Zhuanzhuan Liu, Tengfei Zhou, Zetian Lai, Zhenhong Zhang, Zhirong Jia, Guofa Zhou, Tricia Williams, Jiabao Xu, Jinbao Gu, Xiaohong Zhou, Lifeng Lin, Guiyun Yan, Xiao-Guang Chen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2017-07-01
• Series: Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Subjects: Aedes aegypti; Aedes albopictus; Culex quinquefasciatus; vector competence; Zika virus; mosquitoes
• Online Access: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/23/7/16-1528_article

In China, the prevention and control of Zika virus disease has been a public health threat since the first imported case was reported in February 2016. To determine the vector competence of potential vector mosquito species, we experimentally infected Aedes aegypti, Ae. albopictus, and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes and determined infection rates, dissemination rates, and transmission rates. We found the highest vector competence for the imported Zika virus in Ae. aegypti mosquitoes, some susceptibility of Ae. albopictus mosquitoes, but no transmission ability for Cx. quinquefasciatus mosquitoes. Considering that, in China, Ae. albopictus mosquitoes are widely distributed but Ae. aegypti mosquito distribution is limited, Ae. albopictus mosquitoes are a potential primary vector for Zika virus and should be targeted in vector control strategies.