Background: Cache Valley virus (CVV) is a mosquito-borne orthobunyavirus endemic in North America. The virus is
an important agricultural pathogen leading to abortion and embryonic lethality in ruminant species, especially
sheep. The importance of CVV in human public health has recently increased because of the report of severe
neurotropic diseases. However, mosquito species responsible for transmission of the virus to humans remain to be
determined. In this study, vector competence of three Culex species mosquitoes of public health importance, Culex
pipiens, Cx. tarsalis and Cx. quinquefasciatus, was determined in order to identify potential bridge vector species
responsible for the transmission of CVV from viremic vertebrate hosts to humans.
Results: Variation of susceptibility to CVV was observed among selected Culex species mosquitoes tested in this
study. Per os infection resulted in the establishment of infection and dissemination in Culex tarsalis, whereas Cx.
pipiens and Cx. quinquefasciatus were highly refractory to CVV. Detection of viral RNA in saliva collected from
infected Cx. tarsalis provided evidence supporting its role as a competent vector.
Conclusions: Our study provided further understanding of the transmission cycles of CVV and identifies Cx. tarsalis
as a competent vector
