Ilheus virus (ILHV) infection phenotype and dynamic in Aedes albopictus (SKUSE) and Colinus virginianus (L.)

Transmission of vector-borne diseases is associated with vector and host infection phenotype and dynamic. The threat of such diseases, both emerging and resurgent, is of major concern and interest. Ilheus virus (ILHV), a Flavivirus, was first isolated from mosquitoes (Aedes and Psorophora spp.) on the northeastern coast of Brazil near Ilheus City, state of Bahia in 1944. Though this virus has not been connected with epidemic disease, it has been isolated from intermittent patients presenting with symptoms that may result in clinical diagnosis of dengue, yellow fever, Saint Louis encephalitis, or influenza. Ilheus virus has not been reported in the United States; however, many states include eco-regions with conditions that favor the circulation of zoonotic arboviruses: large concentrations of hematophagous arthropods and diverse wildlife species. The overall goal of this study was to model infection phenotype and dynamic of ILHV. Adult female Aedes albopictus mosquitoes were infected and then allowed to incubate the virus for up to 12 days to allow the mosquito to become infective (i.e., for the virus to travel to the salivary glands). Virus titers calculated from FFU/mL were found to be highest overall at Day 12 post inoculation in the mosquito salivary glands. Midgut titers decreased significantly overall from Day 6 to Day 12 across all treatment groups, a high and low ILHV inoculation concentration (P