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

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.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Entomology

Grantor

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2025

Author dc:creator

• Spina, Joseph Michael

Contributors dc:contributor

• Stone, Christopher M.
• Dolezal, Adam
• Allan, Brian

• Aedes Albopictus
• Vector-borne Disease
• Emerging Viruses

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2025 Joseph Spina

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

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

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F129956