West Nile virus may have an enemy in the form of another virus.
Researchers have found that the mosquito genus most blamed for transporting West Nile from birds to man and horses, the Culex, has a viral enemy of its own.
Found by James Becnel in 1997, the baculovirus called CuniNPV can be used to infect and kill 85-95 percent of mosquito larvae that have ingested it.
“These viruses are rare in mosquitoes. That is what made this one so interesting,” he said.
This particular baculovirus will not infect other insects or animals.
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The virus and its delivery method have been patented by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology in Gainesville, Florida, where Becnel works.
The virus is activated when combined with magnesium. The mixture of virus and metal can be added to water bodies such as ponds, sloughs or lakes.
Once in the water, the larvae take in the virus and die within two to three days. The low level of magnesium has no effect on the water quality.
USDA’s Agricultural Research Service is seeking industrial partners to market the technology.
