The Role of Culex pipiens L. (Diptera: Culicidae) in Virus Transmission in Europe

Victor A. Brugman, Luis M. Hernández-Triana, Jolyon M. Medlock, Anthony R. Fooks, Simon Carpenter and Nicholas Johnson
Additional contact information
Victor A. Brugman: Evolution Biotechnologies, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, Bedford MK44 1LZ, UK
Luis M. Hernández-Triana: Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
Jolyon M. Medlock: Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UK
Anthony R. Fooks: Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
Simon Carpenter: The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Woking, Surrey GU24 0NF, UK
Nicholas Johnson: Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 2, 1-30

Abstract: Over the past three decades, a range of mosquito-borne viruses that threaten public and veterinary health have emerged or re-emerged in Europe. Mosquito surveillance activities have highlighted the Culex pipiens species complex as being critical for the maintenance of a number of these viruses. This species complex contains morphologically similar forms that exhibit variation in phenotypes that can influence the probability of virus transmission. Critical amongst these is the choice of host on which to feed, with different forms showing different feeding preferences. This influences the ability of the mosquito to vector viruses and facilitate transmission of viruses to humans and domestic animals. Biases towards blood-feeding on avian or mammalian hosts have been demonstrated for different Cx. pipiens ecoforms and emerging evidence of hybrid populations across Europe adds another level of complexity to virus transmission. A range of molecular methods based on DNA have been developed to enable discrimination between morphologically indistinguishable forms, although this remains an active area of research. This review provides a comprehensive overview of developments in the understanding of the ecology, behaviour and genetics of Cx. pipiens in Europe, and how this influences arbovirus transmission.

Keywords: Culex pipiens; West Nile virus; transmission; molestus; arbovirus; host preference (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/15/2/389/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/15/2/389/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:2:p:389-:d:132945

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().