Expectoration of Flaviviruses during sugar feeding by mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae).

Biological transmission of arboviruses to a vertebrate host occurs when virions are expelled along with saliva during blood feeding by a hematophagous arthropod. We undertook experiments to determine whether mosquitoes expectorate flaviviruses in their saliva while sugar feeding. Batches of Culex annulirostris Skuse and Culex gelidus Theobald (Diptera: Culicidae) were orally infected with Japanese encephalitis (family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus, JEV), Kunjin (family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus, KUNV; a subtype of West Nile virus), and Murray Valley encephalitis (family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus, MVEV) viruses.

Detection of Australian bat lyssavirus using a fluorogenic probe.

Background: Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) has been transmitted to humans following a scratch or bite from an infected bat in two cases. Following a scratch or bite to a person, the bat is usually submitted for testing and diagnosis is made using a direct fluorescent antibody test on a brain smear. A nested RT-PCR assay has also been utilised to confirm diagnosis.