Vector competence of anthropophilic mosquitoes for a new mesonivirus in Senegal.

The mesoniviruses (MESOVs) belong to the newly described Mesoniviridae family (Order: Nidovirales). They have never been reported in Senegal until recently during a study in arbovirus emergence with the detection of a new species of MESOV named (DKV) from common mosquitoes from eastern Senegal. Actually, their vector competence for this newly described DKV is unknown. We, therefore, estimated the vector competence of , , , and mosquitoes collected in Senegal for DKV using oral infection. Whole bodies, legs/wings, and saliva samples were tested for DKV by RT-PCR to estimate infection, dissemination, and transmission rates. The infectivity of virus particles in the saliva was confirmed by infecting C6/36 cells. Virus transmission rates were up to 95.45% in , 28% in and 9.09% in . Viral particles in the saliva were confirmed infectious by C6/36 cell culture. was able to disseminate DKV only at 20 days post-infection. This study shows that mosquitoes are more competent than for DKV, while is not likely a competent vector.