Evaluation of the Role of Irradiated, Culex pipiens , Mosquito (Diptera; Culicidae) in the Transmission of Hepatitis C Virus ( HCV)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Science , Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt

2 VACSERA Holding Company for production of vaccines, sera and drugs, Giza-Egypt

3 Natural Products Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology, Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt.

Abstract

In the present study, gamma radiation effects on the reproductive potential of the mosquito, Culex  pipiens and its role in the transmission of the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) were investigated. The susceptibility of female, Culex pipiens mosquitoes to gamma irradiation was carried out by exposed full grown pupae to doses 0, 20, 40, 60 Gy. The lethal doses were calculated, as the doses of gamma radiation increased, a progressive increase in the non- hatched eggs percentage. The viral load at mouth parts, in mid-gut and salivary gland, was detected in the irradiated females with LD75 (60 Gy) and non-irradiated using RT-PCR relatively at time 60 min., 5 and 13 days and tested in the mentioned position. Viral load in irradiated Culex pipiens that fed on an infected blood with a viral load 1.2 x 106IU/ml %was decreased by time from 6.0782 x 104 IU/ML% at zero time into 2.399 x 103 IU/ML% after 60 min. post-infection at the mouth parts. Also, the viral load decreased by time in the mid-gut from 2.63575 x 105  IU/ML% at zero time into 3.969 x 103  IU/ML%  after 5 days post-infection, while  HCV was not detected in the salivary glands. The current results indicated that the mechanical transmission through mouth parts in irradiated and non-irradiated Culex pipiens mosquitoes is plausible while the biological transmission did not occur. 

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