Suitable Mouse Model to Study Dynamics of West Nile Virus Infection in Culex quinquefasciatus Mosquitoes
West Nile Virus (WNV) poses a significant global public health threat as a mosquito-borne pathogen. While laboratory mouse models have historically played a crucial role in understanding virus biology, recent research has focused on utilizing immunocompromised models to study arboviruses like dengue and Zika viruses, particularly their interactions with <i>Aedes aegypti</i> mosquitoes. However, there has been a shortage of suitable mouse models for investigating WNV and St. Louis encephalitis virus interactions with their primary vectors, <i>Culex</i> spp. mosquitoes. Here, we establish the AG129 mouse (IFN α/β/γ R<sup>-/-</sup>) as an effective vertebrate model for examining mosquito-WNV interactions. Following intraperitoneal injection, AG129 mice exhibited transient viremia lasting several days, peaking on the second or third day post-infection, which is sufficient to infect <i>Culex quinquefasciatus</i> mosquitoes during a blood meal. We also observed WNV replication in the midgut and dissemination to other tissues, including the fat body, in infected mosquitoes. Notably, infectious virions were present in the saliva of a viremic AG129 mouse 16 days post-exposure, indicating successful transmission capacity. These findings highlight the utility of AG129 mice for studying vector competence and WNV-mosquito interactions.
Authors
- Ellen Santos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5096-1254)
- Yaovi M. H. Todjro (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8276-7971)
- Emanuele Guimarães Silva
- Marcele Neves Rocha (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7130-6961)
- Rafaela Silva Moreira (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1973-834X)
- Lívia Baldon
- Flávia V. Ferreira (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8716-6828)
- Viviane de Oliveira Santos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4425-3806)
- Siad C. G. Amadou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6508-0361)
- Luíz Carlos Júnior Alcântara (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6769-9931)
- Marta Giovanetti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5849-7326)
- Thiago H. J. F. Leite (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3286-2011)
- Sara Comini
- Álvaro Ferreira (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6299-0391)
- Amanda Cupertino de Freitas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8600-4077)
- Luciano Andrade Moreira (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9240-3506)
- Mariana Lima (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-8356-8897)
- João Paulo de Almeida
- Camila de Freitas Cunha Carvalho
- Fernanda Rezende
- Bruno Marçal
- Silvana de Mendonça
- V. E. de Sousa
Institutions
- Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (BR)
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (BR)
- Università Campus Bio-Medico (IT)
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (BR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease
- Published
- 2024-09-02
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed9090201
- Citations
- 3
- Primary Topic
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.63
Funders
- Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz