Vector competence of mosquitoes from Europe for Tahyna virus

Tahyna virus (TAHV) was the first mosquito-borne virus isolated in Europe, and has since been found throughout Eurasia and Africa. Infections are mostly asymptomatic but can cause "Valtice fever", characterized by influenza-like symptoms, mainly in children, with severe cases occasionally causing neurological symptoms. The virus is maintained in an enzootic cycle between small mammals and mosquitoes. Recent and comprehensive studies of vector competence for TAHV are scarce. To fill this gap, and to better understand the transmission cycle of TAHV, we studied ten taxa (Ae. aegypti, Ae. albopictus, Ae. japonicus japonicus, Ae. koreicus, Ae. rusticus, Cx. pipiens biotype pipiens, Cx. torrentium, Cs. morsitans/fumipennis, An. daciae, and An. stephensi) by orally infecting them with TAHV. All taxa were susceptible to TAHV infection. Additionally, the invasive species Ae. albopictus, and Ae. rusticus, a species native to Europe, were able to transmit the virus at 27 ± 5 °C, with transmission efficiencies of 3.3% and 14.3%, respectively. Therefore, it is plausible for TAHV to be transmitted by Ae. albopictus and Ae. rusticus in natural settings in Europe. At a lower temperature of 24 ± 5 °C, infection and transmission decreased in Ae. albopictus. This data will allow future risk models and early warning systems to better predict TAHV transmission.