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Updated: Feb 16, 2026

Vector Competence Analyses on Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes using Zika Virus
Published on: May 31, 2020
Zika virus can be venereally transmitted between Aedes aegypti mosquitoes
Stéphanie Silva Campos1, Rosilainy Surubi Fernandes1, Alexandre Araujo Cunha Dos Santos2
1Laboratório de Mosquitos Transmissores de Hematozoários, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Background:
Alternative transmission routes have been described for Zika virus (ZIKV). Here, we assessed for the first time the venereal transmission of ZIKV between Aedes aegypti under laboratory conditions.
Results:
Orally-infected mosquito females were able to transmit the virus to males venereally, and males inoculated intrathoracically were capable of infecting females during mating. The genome of venereally-transmitted virus recovered from males was identical to that of ZIKV ingested by mated females.
Conclusion:
We conclude that venereal transmission between Aedes mosquitoes might contribute to Zika virus maintenance in nature.

