Potential arthropod vectors of African swine fever virus in North America and the Caribbean basin.

In an effort to identify arthropods that might serve as vectors and perhaps reservoirs of African swine fever virus (ASFV) if it were to enter the U.S.A., the blood-sucking insect Triatoma gerstaeckeri and four species of ticks of the genus Ornithodoros were established in colonies capable of reproducing in numbers sufficient to enable thorough studies to be made of their ASFV vector potentials. A nymphal stage of T. gerstaeckeri carried the virus for 41 days and retained it through one molt, but was unable to transmit it to susceptible pigs. Studies on O. coriaceus revealed that the species is able to harbor and transmit the virus for greater than 440 days, passing it trans-stadially from the first nymphal stage to the adult, sustaining it through at least four molts. Trans-ovarial passage was not demonstrated and nearly 40% of the ticks died, apparently, of the ASFV infection. O. turicata collected in Florida was also found to be capable of becoming infected with ASFV and transmitting it by bite to susceptible pigs. O. puertoricensis collected during the ASF eradication programs in the Dominican Republic and Haiti was not only readily infected experimentally, but it was also able to transmit the virus trans-stadially and trans-ovarially. However, ASFV was not isolated from any of the 350 O. puertoricensis collected in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. O. parkeri from a long-established laboratory colony were able to carry the virus through at least one molt, but they were unable to transmit it to susceptible pigs.