Culex pipiens (Diptera:Culicidae) morbidity and mortality associated with Rift Valley fever virus infection

Experiments were conducted to determine whether infection with Rift Valley fever (RVF) virus resulted in increased morbidity or mortality in infected Egyptian Culex pipiens . Following oral exposure to RVF virus, mosquitoes with disseminated infections showed a 21% reduction in refeeding rate and a 20% reduction in the number of eggs laid compared to uninfected mosquitoes. Mosquitoes with nondisseminated infections had refeeding and egg-laying rates intermediate between those for uninfected and disseminated individuals. All larvae inoculated with RVF virus failed to emerge successfully as adults.