Potential roles of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in lumpy skin disease virus transmission.

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an emerging viral disease affecting cattle and water buffalo, leading to significant socioeconomic impacts. In Southeast Asia, the first LSD outbreak was reported in Vietnam in 2020, and the disease has continued to expand to neighboring countries, including Thailand. Recently, LSD has been reported in wildlife such as yaks and giraffes. Despite being recognized for nearly a century, the mechanisms of lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) transmission remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the potential role of Aedes albopictus in LSDV transmission. Accordingly, Ae. albopictus were allowed to feed on an infected blood meal. In addition, we investigated the presence of midgut barriers in Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus by injecting LSDV into their thorax. Following artificial feeding, LSDV DNA was detected in the bodies and wings-legs until 14 days post exposure (dpe), and in the saliva until 12 dpe. These findings suggest that Ae. albopictus may be susceptible to LSDV exposure under laboratory conditions. Furthermore, after intrathoracic injection, LSDV DNA remained detectable up to 14 dpe in both Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. Comparison of positivity rates in bodies and wings-legs between the two methods suggests that midgut barriers may influence LSDV dynamics in both species. These findings demonstrate the persistence of LSDV DNA in mosquito tissues and saliva and suggest a potential role of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus in the transmission dynamics of LSDV under laboratory conditions.