Occurrence and evolutionary significance of a California encephalitis-like virus in Aedes squamiger (Diptera: Culicidae).

More than 12,000 Aedes increpitus Dyar and 4,600 Aedes squamiger (Coquillett) were tested for the presence of arboviruses to test the hypothesis that there is a coevolutionary relationship between Aedes (Ochlerotatus) mosquitoes and California serogroup viruses. Five strains of a California encephalitis-like virus were isolated from adults reared from larvae of Ae. squamiger collected in January 1989 from a coastal salt marsh at Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo County, California. Viruses were isolated in Vero cell cultures and serotyped by cross-neutralization tests. These isolates represent the first arboviruses isolated from this species. On the basis of morphology, Aedes squamiger has been included in the Aedes stimulans group of the subgenus Ochlerotatus. Other species within the Ae. stimulans group are vectors of California (CAL) serogroup viruses elsewhere in North America. Analysis of isozyme variability supports the inclusion of Ae. squamiger in the Ae. stimulans group and suggests that coastal populations of Ae. increpitus are the closest California relatives of Ae. squamiger. Recovery of virus from Ae. squamiger reinforces the relationship between CAL serogroup viruses and Aedes (Ocherlotatus) mosquitoes. However, the failure to isolate virus from large samples of Ae. increpitus from coastal and low elevation inland habitats suggests a complex evolutionary history involving both vertical and horizontal transmission mechanisms.