Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-1-2018

Department

Biological Sciences

Abstract

The epidemic of Zika in the Western hemisphere has led to intense investigations of all species important in the transmission of Zika virus (ZikV), including putative mosquito vectors. Although evidence points to Stegomyia (= Aedes) (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquitoes as the primary vectors in nature among humans, there remains the possibility that other common mosquito species may be implicated in the rapid spread of the virus. Herein, field-caught Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) collected during June 2016 in different neighbourhoods in San Juan, Puerto Rico were examined for the presence of natural infection with ZikV. Stegomyia aegypti (= Aedes aegypti) from the same locations were also analysed. None of the Cx. quinquefasciatus tested showed natural infection for ZikV, whereas S. aegypti tested positive at seven sites. The present results suggest that Cx. quinquefasciatus was not involved in the transmission of ZikV in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 2016.

Comments

This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in 'Medical and Veterinary Entomology' following peer review. The version of record is available online at: 10.1111/mve.12289.

Publication Title

Medical and Veterinary Entomology

Volume

32

Issue

2

First Page

255

Last Page

258

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