Experimental Studies On The Potential For The Important Culex Mosquitoes In China To Transmit West Nile Virus

West Nile virus (WNV), belong to the genus Flavivirus, family Flaviviridae, can cause fever, headach, myalgia, febrile, sometimes fatal illnesses in human. This virus is historically enzootic in Africa, Asia, and southern/central Europe. The recent outbreak of illness due to infection with WNV in the New York City metropolitan area represents the first documented introduction of WNV into the New World, and its quick widespread becomes a major public health concern in the world. It has been confirmed that WNV is maintained in an enzootic transmission cycle among mosquitoes and wild birds in nature. The Culex genus is considered as the primary vectors. Migratory birds appear to be the major introductory or amplifying hosts. Since the WNV outbreak in the New World, the list of mosquitoes from which WNV has been isolated includes more than 70 species. It seems unlikely that China would be excluded from epidemic of WNV. There are 4 reasons for this. Firstly, there are many habitats for wintering of migratory birds in the mainland, so it is possible for WNV to enter our country with migrating of the birds. Secondly, the trade for domestic fowl, animals among nations may lead to the entrance of WNV by seaport. Thirdly, former investigations suggest that WNV antibody exist in the serum of population in some locations. Fourthly, all the members of Cx. pipiens complex distribute extensively in our country, and Cx. tritaeniorhynchus and Cx modestus are identified as primary and potential vectors of the Japanese encephalitis virus, a flavivirus closely related to WNV, in China. In order to assessing the risk that indigenous mosquitoes are capable of sustaining and transmitting the WNV, It is carried out that we conducted laboratory studies to evaluate the important Culex in China for their ability to become infected with and transmit...