Hamel Rodolphe auteur aut IRD Narpon Q. auteur aut IRD Serrato-Pomar I. auteur aut IRD Gauliard C. auteur aut IRD Berthomieu A. auteur aut IRD Wichit S. auteur aut IRD Missé Dorothée auteur aut IRD Sofonea M. T. auteur aut IRD Pompon Julien auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf reformatted digital access Understanding the transmission routes of arboviruses is key to determining their epidemiology. Here, we tested whether West Nile viruses (WNVs) are transmitted through mosquito excreta. First, we observed a high concentration of infectious units per excreta, although viruses were short lived. Second, we showed that virion excretion starts early after oral infection and remains constant for a long period, regardless of mosquito infection level. These results highlight the infectiousness of excreta from infected mosquitoes. Third, we found that both larvae and pupae were susceptible to infection, while pupae were highly permissive. Fourth, we established the proof-of-concept that immature mosquitoes can be infected by infectious excreta, demonstrating an excreta-mediated mode of transmission. Finally, by mathematically modeling excreta-mediated transmission in the field, we demonstrated that WNV can be transmitted within mosquito populations. Our study uncovers a route of transmission for mosquito-borne arboviruses, unveiling mechanisms of viral maintenance in mosquito reservoirs. specialized infected mosquitoes Mosquito aquatic stages excreta excreta-mediated 052 27 11 111099 [16 p.] 2024 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010091993 10.1016/j.isci.2024.111099 [F B010091993] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010091993 https://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/2024-12/010091993.pdf IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2024-12-04 2026-06-12 fdi:010091993 fre