GROWTH OF CALIFORNIA ENCEPHALITIS AND OTHER VIRUSES IN AEDES-DORSALIS (DIPTERA, CULICIDAE) CELL-CULTURES

Aedes dorsalis cells were evaluated for their susceptibility to California encephalitis (CE) virus, a bunyavirus, and 13 other viruses (6 bunyaviruses, 5 togaviruses, 2 rhabdoviruses). Those viruses naturally vectored by mosquitoes (CE, Jamestown Canyon, Trivittatus, Turlock, Hart PArk, Western equine encephalomyelitis and St. Louis encephalitis) and by Culicoides (Lokern, Main Drain and Buttonwillow) grew well in Ae. dorsalis cells. A tick-borne virus (Powassan) and 2 nonarthropod-borne viruses (Modoc and Rio Bravo) failed to replicate. The 2 rhabdoviruses Kern Canyon and Hart Park, grew in the Ae.dorsalis cultures, but multiplication occurred only after a 3-day latent period. Kern Canyon virus (insect vector, if any, unknown) has not been previously reported to replicate in mosquito cells. None of the viruses that grew in the mosquito cells produced overt cytopathic effects. Two subpopulations of Ae. dorsalis cells were more susceptible than parental cells to CE virus by infectivity and immunofluorescent-antibody assays