Ticks need not bite their red grouse hosts to infect them with louping ill virus

Gilbert, L. , Jones, L. D., Laurenson, M. K., Gould, E. A., Reid, H. W. and Hudson, P. J. (2004) Ticks need not bite their red grouse hosts to infect them with louping ill virus. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B: Biological Sciences, 271(Suppl.), s202-s205. (doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2003.0147) (PMID:15252984) (PMCID:PMC1810039)

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Abstract

For pathogens transmitted by biting vectors, one of the fundamental assumptions is often that vector bites are the sole or main route of host infection. Here, we demonstrate experimentally a transmission route whereby hosts (red grouse, Lagopus lagopus scoticus) became infected with a member of the tick–borne encephalitis virus complex, louping ill virus, after eating the infected tick vector. Furthermore, we estimated from field observations that this mode of infection could account for 73–98% of all virus infections in wild red grouse in their first season. This has potential implications for the understanding of other biting vector–borne pathogens where hosts may ingest vectors through foraging or grooming.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Gilbert, Dr Lucy
Authors: Gilbert, L., Jones, L. D., Laurenson, M. K., Gould, E. A., Reid, H. W., and Hudson, P. J.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
Journal Name:Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B: Biological Sciences
Publisher:The Royal Society
ISSN:0962-8452
ISSN (Online):1471-2954
Published Online:14 January 2004

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