Evaluation of two artificial infection methods of live ticks as tools for studying interactions between tick-borne viruses and their tick vectors

0557058 - BC 2023 RIV DE eng J - Journal Article
Migne, C. - Hönig, Václav - Bonnet, S. - Palus, Martin - Rakotobe, S. - Galon, C. - Heckmann, A. - Výletová, Eva - Devillers, E. - Attoui, H. - Růžek, Daniel - Moutailler, S.
Evaluation of two artificial infection methods of live ticks as tools for studying interactions between tick-borne viruses and their tick vectors.
Scientific Reports. Roč. 12, č. 1 (2022), č. článku 491. ISSN 2045-2322. E-ISSN 2045-2322
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GA20-14325S
Institutional support: RVO:60077344
Keywords : ixodes-persulcatus ticks * encephalitis-virus * kemerovo virus * ricinus ticks * aedes-aegypti * transmission * mice * competence * variants * survival
OECD category: Microbiology
Impact factor: 4.6, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Open access
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-04498-9

Up to 170 tick-borne viruses (TBVs) have been identified to date. However, there is a paucity of information regarding TBVs and their interaction with respective vectors, limiting the development of new effective and urgently needed control methods. To overcome this gap of knowledge, it is essential to reproduce transmission cycles under controlled laboratory conditions. In this study we assessed an artificial feeding system (AFS) and an immersion technique (IT) to infect Ixodes ricinus ticks with tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and Kemerovo (KEM) virus, both known to be transmitted predominantly by ixodid ticks. Both methods permitted TBEV acquisition by ticks and we further confirmed virus trans-stadial transmission and onward transmission to a vertebrate host. However, only artificial feeding system allowed to demonstrate both acquisition by ticks and trans-stadial transmission for KEMV. Yet we did not observe transmission of KEMV to mice (IFNAR(-/-) or BALB/c). Artificial infection methods of ticks are important tools to study tick-virus interactions. When optimally used under laboratory settings, they provide important insights into tick-borne virus transmission cycles.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0340122