Experimental infection of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes by a spiroplasma strain isolated from Culex annulus in Taiwan

Two Aedes albopictus strains are infected by one of the four presently known mosquito spiroplasma strains, the CUAS-1 strain isolated from Culex annulus from Taïwan. An infection by intra-thoracic inoculation leads to a pathogenic effect, dose-dependent, the longevity of mosquitoes being shortened. This pathogenicity is observed at various time after inoculation depending of the mosquito strain. On the other hand, an oral infection has no consequence on the longevity of infected females. However, the replication of spiroplasma has been demonstrated with both infection procedures.