Multiplication of chikungunya virus in male Culex pipiens molestus

Abstract

The multiplication of chikungunya virus, the causal agent of viral haemorrhagic fever, in males of Culex molestus Forsk. (pipiens molestus) was studied; the mosquitoes were infected by intrathoracic injection, the injection site being the dorsal part of the thorax. The procedure is described in detail. The virus titre in the mosquitoes began to increase on day 2 and rose to a peak on day 7. The maximum titre was about 1000 times as high as that immediately after the injection. The multiplication phase of this virus occurred about 1 week earlier than that of type-2 dengue virus in the salivary glands of Aedes aegypti (L.) in similar studies; multiplication times known for other viruses and other species of mosquitoes are briefly reviewed.