Quantitative Aspects of Replication of Dengue Viruses in Aedes Albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) After Oral and Parenteral Infection1

Abstract

Replication of the 4 prototype strains of dengue viruses was studied in male and female Ae. albopictus mosquitoes following intrathoracic infection, and in females following oral infection. Replication was rapid in both sexes and virus titers reached levels of 107 or more mosquito infectious doses50 per insect in females. Titers attained in males were about 5-fold less than in females. Maximum titers occurred several days later in females infected orally as compared with those infected intrathoracically. Virus titers in both sexes declined slowly after reaching their maxima. Replication of 3 nonprototype strains of dengue type 3 also was studied in male and female Ae. albopictus mosquitoes following intrathoracic infection. Replication of each strain appeared to be significantly different than the prototype.