Sequential infection of Rice dwarf virus in the internal organs of its insect vector after ingestion of virus.

Confocal microscopy revealed that Rice dwarf virus (RDV) initially accumulated in epithelial cells of the filter chamber of leafhopper vector Nephotettix cincticeps 2 days after acquisition access feeding on diseased plants. Subsequently, RDV accumulation progressed to the anterior midgut, and then spread to the nervous system before infection of other organs. Furthermore, RDV accumulation progressed to the visceral muscles surrounding the anterior midgut. Later, RDV accumulation was detected in other parts of the alimentary canal, salivary glands and the follicular cells of the ovarioles in viruliferous insect vector. Our results suggest that RDV may use the muscle or neural tissues for viral dissemination from the infected vector's midgut into other tissues.