Assessment of Mayaro virus vector competence of the mosquito Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) populations in Argentine using dose-response assays.

Mayaro virus (MAYV; Alphavirus: Togaviridae) is an emerging pathogen in Latin America, causing fever and polyarthritis. Sporadic outbreaks of MAYV have occurred in the region, with reported human cases being imported to Europe and North America. Although primarily a risk for those residing in the Amazon basin's tropical forests, recent reports highlight that urbanization would increase the risk of MAYV transmission in Latin America.

Dose dependence of susceptibility and transmission for an Argentinean West Nile virus strain in local Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae).

Background: West Nile virus (WNV) activity has been documented in the central region of Argentina since 2005, but its maintenance network has not been elucidated yet.

Methods: We evaluated the susceptibility to WNV oral infection and transmission in a Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus mosquito population by means of a dose-dependent vector competence assay. Mosquitoes were orally infected with five different viral loads and evaluated for viral infection, dissemination and transmission.

Modulating offspring responses: concerted effects of stress and immunogenic challenge in the parental generation.

The perception, processing and response to environmental challenges involves the activation of the immuno-neuroendocrine (INE) interplay. Concerted environmental challenges might induce trade-off when resource allocation to one trait occurs at the expense of another, also producing potential transgenerational effects in the offspring. We evaluated whether concerted challenges, in the form of an immune inoculum against inactivated enteritidis (immune challenge, ICH) and a chronic heat stress (CHS) exposure on adult Japanese quail, modulate the INE responses of the parental generation and their offspring.