Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Transmission between Ticks Cofeeding on Specific Immune Natural Rodent Hosts☆

摘要: To determine whether the portion of a vertebrate host population having specific immunity to tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus can participate in TBE transmission cycle, natural hosts immunized against were challenged with infected and uninfected ticks. Yellow-necked field mice (Apodemus flavicollis) bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) either by subcutaneous inoculation virus, or they exposed virus-infected Ixodes ricinus One month later, when serum neutralizing antibody was detectable, animals infested (donor) adult female ticks (recipient) nymphal ticks; recipients allowed feed close contact (chamber 1) physically separated 2) from donor Following challenge (and uninfected) ticks, viremia developed all control, nonimmune animals, whereas undetectable those naturally previous exposure Despite presence antibodies 89% (24/ 27) immune supported between cofeeding Most localized, occurring within chamber 1; disseminated 1 2 reduced. Immunization tick bite more effective than immunization syringe blocking transmission. Nevertheless 76% (9/12) "natural" still The results demonstrate that no detectable viremia) support feeding closely together on same animal. These observations have important epidemiological implications relating survival Nature.