Abstract
BackgroundChikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-borne alphavirus associated with epidemics of acute and chronic arthritic disease in humans. Aedes albopictus has emerged as an important new natural vector for CHIKV transmission; however, mouse models for studying transmission have not been developed.Methods Aedes albopictus mosquitoes were infected with CHIKV via membrane feeding and by using infected adult wild-type C57BL/6 mice. Paraffin sections of infected mosquitoes were analysed by immunofluorescent antibody staining using an anti-CHIKV antibody. CHIKV-infected mosquitoes were used to infect adult C57BL/6 and interferon response factor 3 and 7 deficient (IRF3/7-/-) mice.ResultsFeeding mosquitoes on blood meals with CHIKV titres > 5 log10CCID50/ml, either by membrane feeding or feeding on infected mice, resulted in ≥ 50 % of mosquitoes becoming infected. However, CHIKV titres in blood meals ≥ 7 log10CCID50/ml were required before salivary glands showed significant levels of immunofluorescent staining with an anti-CHIKV antibody. Mosquitoes fed on blood meals of 7.5 (but not 5.9) log10CCID50/ml were able efficiently to transmit virus to adult C57BL/6 and IRF3/7-/- mice, with the latter mice showing overt signs of arthritis post-infection.ConclusionsThe results provide a simple in vivo model for studying transmission of CHIKV from mosquitoes to mammals and also argue against a resistance barrier to CHIKV infection in adult mice.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1838-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-borne alphavirus associated with epidemics of acute and chronic arthritic disease in humans
The recent epidemic was associated with efficient CHIKV transmission by Aedes albopictus, in the Indian Ocean, West Africa, Europe and Papua New Guinea, with transmission in Asia involving both species
The East/Central/South African (ECSA) genotype of CHIKV developed a mutation in the E1 envelope gene (Alanine 226 to Valine V), which permitted efficient transmission by Aedes albopictus [4, 5], a highly anthropophilic and geographically widespread mosquito species [6]
Summary
Aedes albopictus mosquitoes were infected with CHIKV via membrane feeding and by using infected adult wild-type C57BL/6 mice. CHIKV-infected mosquitoes were used to infect adult C57BL/6 and interferon response factor 3 and 7 deficient (IRF3/7-/-) mice. Aedes albopictus mosquitoes A colony of Aedes albopictus was established from eggs collected on Hammond Island (Torres Strait, Australia) in May 2014, with additional wild-caught mosquitoes included in 2015. Pupae were collected and placed in a container of rainwater inside a 30 × 30 × 30 cm cage (BugDorm, MegaView Science Education Services Co., Taichung, Taiwan). The cage was provided with 10 % sucrose solution on cotton wool pledgets. Mosquitoes (5–6 day-old) were deprived of sucrose solution for 24 h. Female mosquitoes (80–110) were added to each 750 ml plastic containers with gauze lids
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