Mechanical transmission of equine infectious anemia virus by deer flies (Chrysops flavidus) and stable flies (Stomoxys calcitrans).

Three groups of stable flies comprising 101, 100 and 52 insects were allowed to feed on a pony infected with the virulent Wyoming strain of the virus. When they were visibly engorged they were transferred to three other ponies to complete their blood meal. Six deer flies were also allowed to feed on an infected pony before transfer to another pony. One recipient pony on which stable flies were fed did not develop antibodies to virus within 100 days while the other three seroconverted within 34 days. Antibodies were detected by the agar gel immunodiffusion test.