TY - JOUR T1 - Spondweni virus causes fetal harm in a mouse model of vertical transmission and is transmitted by <em>Aedes aegypti</em> mosquitoes JF - bioRxiv DO - 10.1101/824466 SP - 824466 AU - Anna S. Jaeger AU - Andrea M. Weiler AU - Ryan V. Moriarty AU - Sierra Rybarczyk AU - Shelby L. O’Connor AU - David H. O’Connor AU - Davis M. Seelig AU - Michael K. Fritsch AU - Thomas C. Friedrich AU - Matthew T. Aliota Y1 - 2019/01/01 UR - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2019/10/30/824466.abstract N2 - Spondweni virus (SPONV) is the most closely related known flavivirus to Zika virus (ZIKV). Its pathogenic potential and vector specificity have not been well defined. SPONV has been found predominantly in Africa, but was recently detected in a pool of Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes in Haiti. Here we show that SPONV can cause significant fetal harm, including demise, comparable to ZIKV, in a mouse model of vertical transmission. Following maternal inoculation, we detected infectious SPONV in placentas and fetuses, along with significant fetal and placental histopathology, together indicating vertical transmission. To test vector competence, we exposed Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes to SPONV-infected bloodmeals. Aedes aegypti could efficiently transmit SPONV, whereas Culex quinquefasciatus could not. Our results suggest that SPONV has the same features that made ZIKV a public health risk. ER -