Isolation of a novel species of flavivirus and a new strain of Culex flavivirus (Flaviviridae) from a natural mosquito population in Uganda

• DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.014183-0
• Publication Date: 2009-10-09T18:48:59Z
• Authors: Shelley Cook; Gregory Moureau; Ralph E. Harbach; Louis Mukwaya; Kim Goodger; Fred Ssenfuka; Ernest Gould; Edward C. Holmes; Xavier de Lamball...
• Keywords: Flavivirus; Mansonia; Culex quinquefasciatus

The genus Flavivirus, which contains approximately 70 single-stranded, positive-sense RNA viruses, represents a unique model for studying the evolution of vector-borne disease, as it includes viruses that are mosquito-borne, tick-borne or have no known vector. Both theoretical work and field studies suggest existence large number undiscovered flaviviruses. Recently, first isolation cell fusing agent virus (CFAV) was reported from natural mosquito population in Puerto Rico, sequences related to CFAV been discovered mosquitoes Thailand. had previously isolated line 1975 represented only 'insect-only' flavivirus, appearing replicate insect cells alone. A second member group, Kamiti River (KRV), Kenyan 2003. third tentative Culex flavivirus (CxFV), 2007 Japan further strains subsequently Americas. We report discovery, characterization two novel flaviviruses Entebbe, Uganda: lineage tentatively designated Nakiwogo (NAKV) new strain CxFV. individual these were isolated, identified retrospectively by using reference molecular phylogeny generated voucher specimens region, Mansonia africana nigerrima quinquefasciatus, respectively. This isolation, our knowledge, insect-only species CxFV Africa.