Transmission ability of Zika virus with artificially infected Aedes albopictus in Korea

Abstract Zika virus (ZIKV), a virus mainly occurring in South America, is now globally distributed. Understanding the pathogen transmission cycle in a vector is exceptionally important in developing disease control strategies. In this study, we performed ZIKV microinjection in Aedes albopictus (Skuese), to estimate its vertical and horizontal transmission ability. The virus infection rate was confirmed by real‐time qPCR in the F1 generation derived from the ZIKV‐injected Ae. albopictus . The minimum infection rate (MIR) of the F1 generation was highest when they were injected with the virus at 6–12 h (MIR: 16.1) and lowest at 12–24 h (MIR: 4.7) after feeding. In the developmental stage of the F1 progeny, MIR values were 1.0, 1.3, and 6.7 in each egg, larval, and adult stage, respectively, but ZIKV was not detected in the pupa stage. Virus transmission ability was not significantly different between the collection areas (Tongyeong and Jeju). Ae. albopictus demonstrated a high venereal transmission rate of ZIKV and was detected in males (6 pool/7 pool) and females (6 pool/7 pool), confirming that ZIKV can be transmitted from infected mosquitoes to uninfected mosquitoes via mating. This is the first study of the administration of a ZIKV microinjection to Ae. albopictus in Korea and suggests a possibility of a potential mechanism for the virus to survive during adverse conditions via vertical transmission.