Recovery of Mermet Virus from Culex Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) Collected in Memphis, Tennessee, Usa

During 1977, two strains of Mermet virus (Simbu group) were isolated, 1 each from pools of Culex restuans and Culex pipiens complex mosquitoes collected in the area of Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The virus recoveries from these 2 species, in conjunction with their frequent feeding on passerine birds, from which all other Mermet strains have been isolated, suggest that 1 or both species may serve as natural vectors.