Abstract
La Crosse (LAC) virus is transmitted horizontally to vertebrates and vertically to progeny by Aedes triseriatus mosquitoes, and in northern midwestern states, this virus overwinters in diapausing eggs of the vector. In Florida, the vector remains active throughout the year and does not diapause. To determine if there is an association between diapause and vertical transmission efficiency of LAC virus, transovarial transmission (TOT), and filial infection (FI) rates were determined for geographic strains of Ae. triseriatus. The TOT rates were not significantly different for Ae. triseriatus originating from Florida (78%) and those from Wisconsin (85%). The FI rates did differ significantly between the two groups (33% and 45%, respectively, for the Florida and Wisconsin mosquitoes). Furthermore, a line of mosquitoes was selected from a Wisconsin colony that had a reduced diapause phenotype (the AD- strain). While this strain displayed TOT rates that were the same as the other Wisconsin mosquitoes (85%), the FI rates were significantly lower (34%), indicating a reduction in TOT efficiency. The role of vertical transmission capacity in LAC virus endemicity remains to be determined.
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