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Updated: Apr 5, 2026
Mosquito-Associated Virus Isolation from Field-Collected Mosquitoes
Published on: August 31, 2022
Mercadeo Virus: A Novel Mosquito-Specific Flavivirus from Panama
Jean-Paul Carrera1, Hilda Guzman1, Davis Beltrán1
1Department of Virology and Biotechnology Research, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama City, Panama; Department of Medical Entomology, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama City, Panama; School of Medicine, Columbus University, Panama City, Panama; Department of Pathology, Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas; Institute for Human Infectious and Immunity, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas.
Abstract:
Viruses in the genus Flavivirus (family Flaviviridae) include many arthropod-borne viruses of public health and veterinary importance. However, during the past two decades an explosion of novel insect-specific flaviviruses (ISFs), some closely related to vertebrate pathogens, have been discovered. Although many flavivirus pathogens of vertebrates have been isolated from naturally infected mosquitoes in Panama, ISFs have not previously been reported from the country. This report describes the isolation and characterization of a novel ISF, tentatively named Mercadeo virus (MECDV), obtained from Culex spp. mosquitoes collected in Panama. Two MECDV isolates were sequenced and cluster phylogenetically with cell-fusing agent virus (CFAV) and Nakiwogo virus (NAKV) to form a distinct lineage within the insect-specific group of flaviviruses.
