Aedes albopictus (Diptera:Culicidae) is incompetent as a vector of hepatitis C virus

APMIS. 1997 Apr;105(4):299-302. doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1997.tb00572.x.

Abstract

In laboratory experiments, Aedes albopictus females were fed hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected human blood with a unit-feeding apparatus. Pools of engorged females were tested at various time intervals after their blood meal for the presence of HCV RNA using two methods in parallel: reverse transcription-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and PCR with the Amplicor HCV system. Comparable results were obtained with both methods. Mosquitoes were found to be positive only immediately and 24 h after feeding. Moreover, female progeny produced negative results. Our results indicate that the Ae.albopictus strain used is incompetent as a vector of HCV.

MeSH terms

  • Aedes / virology*
  • Animals
  • Eating
  • Female
  • Hepacivirus / isolation & purification
  • Hepacivirus / pathogenicity*
  • Hepatitis C / blood
  • Hepatitis C / transmission*
  • Humans
  • Insect Vectors*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • RNA, Viral / analysis*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • RNA, Viral