Cache Valley virus: isolations from mosquitoes in Saskatchewan, 1972-1974

Eighteen isolations of Cache Valley virus (Bunyaviridae) were obtained from a total of 113,694 mosquitoes collected in Saskatchewan during the summers of 1972 to 1974. Most of the isolations were from mosquitoes collected during August. Culiseta inornata, the most abundant mosquito (38% of total collected), had the highest minimum vector-infection rate (0.83 isolations per 1000 mosquitoes). The virus was also isolated from Culex tarsalis and Aedes vexans. It is indicated in the isolations that the prairie grasslands of the province are enzootic for Cache Valley virus.