The vector competence and vectorial capacity of Aedes albopictus for ross river virus as a function of temperature

Spina, Joseph Michael

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/129956 Copy

Description

Title

The vector competence and vectorial capacity of Aedes albopictus for ross river virus as a function of temperature

Author(s)

Spina, Joseph Michael

Issue Date

2025-07-21

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Stone, Christopher M

Committee Member(s)

• Dolezal, Adam
• Allan, Brian

Department of Study

Entomology

Discipline

Entomology

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.S.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

• Aedes albopictus
• Vector-borne disease
• Emerging viruses

Abstract

Ross River virus (RRV) is a medically significant arbovirus endemic to Australia where it causes an average of 5000 reported human cases per year. Due to a growing number of outbreaks outside of its endemic range, I examined the vector competence and vectorial capacity of RRV by Aedes albopictus to contribute to risk assessments for outbreaks in the United States. I tested Aedes albopictus mosquitoes exposed to RRV at three temperatures and five time points post-infection for infection and dissemination. I also collected saliva from exposed individuals incubated at the same three temperatures to determine salivary viral RNA expression. Finally, I examined the impact that viral infection had on life expectancy as a function of temperature. Rates of infection were unaffected by time and temperature and 89.3% of individuals were infected. 85-100% of infected individuals displayed dissemination by day 7 at all temperatures. The extrinsic incubation period as determined by the saliva collection was approximately 6 days and 78.6-100% of individuals tested expressed salivary viral RNA at some point in the experiment which is comparable to the rates of overall infection. The vectorial capacity of RRV with Aedes albopictus as a vector ranged from 10.23-23.37 indicating that these mosquitoes are competent potential vectors for RRV. Due to the number of outbreaks RRV has caused outside of its endemic range, these findings warrant further investigation in the transmission potential of RRV in the United States.

Graduation Semester

2025-08

Type of Resource

Thesis

Handle URL

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/129956

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2025 Joseph Spina

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