The risks to Australia from emerging and exotic arboviruses

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 84
Author(s):  
John S Mackenzie ◽  
Andrew F van den Hurk
Keyword(s):  
Disease Burden ◽  
Yellow Fever Virus ◽  
Vector Competence ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Vector Species ◽  
Potential Threat ◽  
Essential Components ◽  
Arboviral Diseases ◽  
Vertebrate Hosts ◽  
Livestock Health

The recent pandemic spread of mosquito-borne arboviruses across multiple continents, as exemplified by West Nile (WNV)1,, chikungunya (CHIKV)2, and Zika (ZIKV)3, viruses, together with the continuing disease burden of epidemic dengue viruses (DENVs)1, multiple importations of yellow fever virus (YFV) into populous areas of Asia4, and the potential threat of some other, possibly unknown, emerging arboviral threat, constitute a wake-up call for governments to strengthen surveillance programmes and enhance research into mosquito-transmitted diseases5–7. Rift Valley fever8 (RVFV) and Japanese encephalitis1,9 (JEV) viruses are also important examples of threats to human and/or livestock health. Australia is vulnerable to these arboviral diseases, with risk of importation and outbreak potential varying between viruses10. The risk of exotic arboviral diseases establishing transmission cycles in Australia is dependent on the availability of competent vectors and suitable vertebrate hosts. Therefore, knowledge of the vector competence of Australian mosquito species for exotic arboviruses, potential for the introduction and establishment of exotic vector species, and suitability of vertebrate hosts, are essential components of understanding and mitigating these arboviral threats.

scholarly journals Epidemiology of West Nile virus in Africa: An underestimated threat

2022 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. e0010075
Author(s):  
Giulia Mencattelli ◽  
Marie Henriette Dior Ndione ◽  
Roberto Rosà ◽  
Giovanni Marini ◽  
Cheikh Tidiane Diagne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Disease Burden ◽  
Vector Competence ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Reference List ◽  
African Continent ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Scientific Papers ◽  
Epidemiological Pattern

Background West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus which has been posing continuous challenges to public health worldwide due to the identification of new lineages and clades and its ability to invade and establish in an increasing number of countries. Its current distribution, genetic variability, ecology, and epidemiological pattern in the African continent are only partially known despite the general consensus on the urgency to obtain such information for quantifying the actual disease burden in Africa other than to predict future threats at global scale. Methodology and principal findings References were searched in PubMed and Google Scholar electronic databases on January 21, 2020, using selected keywords, without language and date restriction. Additional manual searches of reference list were carried out. Further references have been later added accordingly to experts’ opinion. We included 153 scientific papers published between 1940 and 2021. This review highlights: (i) the co-circulation of WNV-lineages 1, 2, and 8 in the African continent; (ii) the presence of diverse WNV competent vectors in Africa, mainly belonging to the Culex genus; (iii) the lack of vector competence studies for several other mosquito species found naturally infected with WNV in Africa; (iv) the need of more competence studies to be addressed on ticks; (iv) evidence of circulation of WNV among humans, animals and vectors in at least 28 Countries; (v) the lack of knowledge on the epidemiological situation of WNV for 19 Countries and (vii) the importance of carrying out specific serological surveys in order to avoid possible bias on WNV circulation in Africa. Conclusions This study provides the state of art on WNV investigation carried out in Africa, highlighting several knowledge gaps regarding i) the current WNV distribution and genetic diversity, ii) its ecology and transmission chains including the role of different arthropods and vertebrate species as competent reservoirs, and iii) the real disease burden for humans and animals. This review highlights the needs for further research and coordinated surveillance efforts on WNV in Africa.

scholarly journals Colonized Sabethes cyaneus, a Sylvatic New World Mosquito Species, Shows a Low Vector Competence for Zika Virus Relative to Aedes aegypti

Viruses ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ajit K. Karna ◽  
Sasha R. Azar ◽  
Jessica A. Plante ◽  
Rumei Yun ◽  
Nikos Vasilakis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aedes Aegypti ◽  
Yellow Fever ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
New World ◽  
Yellow Fever Virus ◽  
Vector Competence ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Sylvatic Cycle ◽  
Post Feeding ◽  
Body Compartments

The introduction of Zika virus (ZIKV) to the Americas raised concern that the virus would spill back from human transmission, perpetuated by Aedes aegypti, into a sylvatic cycle maintained in wildlife and forest-living mosquitoes. In the Americas, Sabethes species are vectors of sylvatic yellow fever virus (YFV) and are therefore candidate vectors of a sylvatic ZIKV cycle. To test the potential of Sabethes cyaneus to transmit ZIKV, Sa. cyaneus and Ae. aegypti were fed on A129 mice one or two days post-infection (dpi) with a ZIKV isolate from Mexico. Sa. cyaneus were sampled at 3, 4, 5, 7, 14, and 21 days post-feeding (dpf) and Ae. aegypti were sampled at 14 and 21 dpf. ZIKV was quantified in mosquito bodies, legs, and saliva to measure infection, dissemination, and potential transmission, respectively. Of 69 Sa. cyaneus that fed, ZIKV was detected in only one, in all body compartments, at 21 dpf. In contrast, at 14 dpf 100% of 20 Ae. aegypti that fed on mice at 2 dpi were infected and 70% had virus in saliva. These data demonstrate that Sa. cyaneus is a competent vector for ZIKV, albeit much less competent than Ae. aegypti.

scholarly journals Mosquito Vector Competence for Japanese Encephalitis Virus

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1154
Author(s):  
Heidi Auerswald ◽  
Pierre-Olivier Maquart ◽  
Véronique Chevalier ◽  
Sebastien Boyer
Keyword(s):  
Japanese Encephalitis Virus ◽  
Japanese Encephalitis ◽  
Vector Competence ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Encephalitis Virus ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Mosquito Vector ◽  
Vector Species ◽  
Local Climate

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a zoonotic pathogen mainly found in East and Southeast Asia and transmitted by mosquitoes. The objective of this review is to summarize the knowledge on the diversity of JEV mosquito vector species. Therefore, we systematically analyzed reports of JEV found in field-caught mosquitoes as well as experimental vector competence studies. Based on the investigated publications, we classified 14 species as confirmed vectors for JEV due to their documented experimental vector competence and evidence of JEV found in wild mosquitoes. Additionally, we identified 11 mosquito species, belonging to five genera, with an experimentally confirmed vector competence for JEV but lacking evidence on their JEV transmission capacity from field-caught mosquitoes. Our study highlights the diversity of confirmed and potential JEV vector species. We also emphasize the variety in the study design of vector competence investigations. To account for the diversity of the vector species and regional circumstances, JEV vector competence should be studied in the local context, using local mosquitoes with local virus strains under local climate conditions to achieve reliable data. In addition, harmonization of the design of vector competence experiments would lead to better comparable data, informing vector and disease control measures.

scholarly journals First confirmed occurrence of the yellow fever virus and dengue virus vector Aedes (Stegomyia) luteocephalus (Newstead, 1907) in Mozambique

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Paula Abílio ◽  
Ayubo Kampango ◽  
Eliseu J. Armando ◽  
Eduardo S. Gudo ◽  
Luís C. B. das Neves ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dengue Virus ◽  
Yellow Fever ◽  
Male Genitalia ◽  
Yellow Fever Virus ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Fever Virus ◽  
Morphological Identification ◽  
Vector Species ◽  
Vector Systems

Abstract Background Mozambique, same as many other tropical countries, is at high risk of arthropod-borne virus (arbovirus) diseases and recently two dengue virus (DENV) outbreaks occurred in the northern part of the country. The occurrence of some important vector species, such as Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (Linnaeus) and Ae. (Stg.) albopictus (Skuse), besides several other sylvatic vectors, have been reported in the country, which may indicate that the transmission of some arboviruses of public health importance may involve multiple-vector systems. Therefore, knowing the occurrence and distribution of existing and the new important vectors species, is crucial for devising systematic transmission surveillance and vector control approaches. The aim of this study was to map the occurrence and distribution of mosquito species with potential for transmitting arboviruses of human and veterinary relevance in Niassa Province, Northern Mozambique. Methods Field entomological surveys were undertaken in April 2016 in Lago District, Niassa Province, northern Mozambique. Breeding sites of mosquitoes were inspected and immature stages were collected and reared into adult. Mosquitoes in the adult stages were morphologically identified using taxonomic keys. Morphological identification of Aedes (Stegomyia) luteocephalus (Newstead) were later confirmed using dissected male genitalia and molecular based on the phylogenetic analyses of the sequenced barcode (cox1 mtDNA) gene. Results A total of 92 mosquito larvae collected developed into adults. Of these, 16 (17.39%) were morphologically identified as Ae. luteocephalus. The remaining specimens belonged to Ae. (Stg.) aegypti (n = 4, 4.35%), Ae. (Aedimorphus) vittatus (n = 24, 26.09%), Anopheles garnhami (n = 1, 1.09%), Culex (Culiciomyia) nebulosus (n = 28, 30.43%), Eretmapodites subsimplicipes (n = 18, 19.57%) and Toxorhynchites brevipalpis (n = 1, 1.09%), taxa already known to the country. Male genitalia and phylogenetic analyses confirmed the identity of Ae. luteocephalus specimens collected in this study. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first detection of Ae. luteocephalus in Mozambican territory, a vector species of yellow fever virus (YFV), Zika virus (ZIKV) and dengue virus (DENV) in Africa. Further studies are encouraged to investigate the role of Ae. luteocephalus in the transmission of arboviral diseases in Mozambique.

scholarly journals Detection of Insect-Specific Flaviviruses in Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Northeastern Regions of South Africa

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 2148
Author(s):  
Milehna M. Guarido ◽  
Kamini Govender ◽  
Megan A. Riddin ◽  
Maarten Schrama ◽  
Erin E. Gorsich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Vector Competence ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Vector Species ◽  
Entomological Surveillance ◽  
Culex Flavivirus ◽  
Pathogenic Viruses ◽  
Anopheline Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes in the Aedes and Culex genera are considered the main vectors of pathogenic flaviviruses worldwide. Entomological surveillance using universal flavivirus sets of primers in mosquitoes can detect not only pathogenic viruses but also insect-specific ones. It is hypothesized that insect-specific flaviviruses, which naturally infect these mosquitoes, may influence their vector competence for zoonotic arboviruses. Here, entomological surveillance was performed between January 2014 and May 2018 in five different provinces in the northeastern parts of South Africa, with the aim of identifying circulating flaviviruses. Mosquitoes were sampled using different carbon dioxide trap types. Overall, 64,603 adult mosquitoes were collected, which were screened by RT-PCR and sequencing. In total, 17 pools were found positive for insect-specific Flaviviruses in the mosquito genera Aedes (12/17, 70.59%) and Anopheles (5/17, 29.41%). No insect-specific viruses were detected in Culex species. Cell-fusing agent viruses were detected in Aedes aegypti and Aedes caballus. A range of anopheline mosquitoes, including Anopheles coustani, An. squamosus and An. maculipalpis, were positive for Culex flavivirus-like and Anopheles flaviviruses. These results confirm the presence of insect-specific flaviviruses in mosquito populations in South Africa, expands their geographical range and indicates potential mosquito species as vector species.

A Simple PCR Assay for Discrimination of Dengue Vectors from Nsukka LGA, Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-77
Author(s):  
Amos Watentena ◽  
Ikem Chris Okoye ◽  
Ikechukwu Eugene Onah ◽  
Onwude Cosmas Ogbonnaya ◽  
Emmanuel Ogudu
Keyword(s):  
Aedes Aegypti ◽  
Aedes Albopictus ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Mosquito Vector ◽  
Aedes Mosquitoes ◽  
Allele Specific ◽  
Arboviral Diseases ◽  
Dengue Vectors

Mosquitoes of Aedes species are vectors of several arboviral diseases which continue to be a major public health problem in Nigeria. This study among other things, morphologically identified Aedes mosquitoes collected from Nsukka LGA and used an allele specific PCR amplification for discrimination of dengue vectors. Larval sampling, BG-sentinel traps and modified human landing catches were used for mosquito sampling in two selected autonomous communities of Nsukka LGA (Nsukka and Obimo). A total of 124 Aedes mosquitoes consisting of five (5) different species were collected from April to June, 2019 in a cross-sectional study that covered 126 households, under 76 distinct geographical coordinates. Larvae was mainly collected from plastic containers 73% (n=224), metallic containers 14% (n=43), earthen pots 9% (n=29) and used car tyres 3% (n=9), reared to adult stage 69.35% (n=86), and all mosquitoes were identified using standard morphological keys. Five (5) Aedes mosquito species were captured; Aedes aegypti 83(66.94%), Aedes albopictus 33(26.61%), Aedes simpsoni (4.48%), Aedes luteocephalus (≤1%) and Aedes vittatus (≤1%). Nsukka autonomous community had higher species diversity than Obimo. Allele specific amplification confirmed dengue vectors, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus species on a 2% agarose gel. Since the most recent re-emergence of arboviral diseases is closely associated with Aedes species, findings of this study, therefore, give further evidence about the presence of potential arboviral vectors in Nigeria and describe the role of a simple PCR in discriminating some. Further entomological studies should integrate PCR assays in mosquito vector surveillance.

scholarly journals Microbiota identified from preserved Anopheles

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bianca E Silva ◽  
Zvifadzo Matsena Zingoni ◽  
Lizette L. Koekemoer ◽  
Yael L. Dahan-Moss
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Diversity ◽  
Vector Competence ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Anopheles Funestus ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Malaria Vectors ◽  
Microbial Composition ◽  
Culture Independent ◽  
Culture Dependent

Abstract Background Mosquito species from the Anopheles gambiae complex and the Anopheles funestus group are dominant African malaria vectors. Mosquito microbiota play vital roles in physiology and vector competence. Recent research has focused on investigating the mosquito microbiota, especially in wild populations. Wild mosquitoes are preserved and transported to a laboratory for analyses. Thus far, microbial characterization post-preservation has been investigated in only Aedes vexans and Culex pipiens. Investigating the efficacy of cost-effective preservatives has also been limited to AllProtect reagent, ethanol and nucleic acid preservation buffer. This study characterized the microbiota of African Anopheles vectors: Anopheles arabiensis (member of the An. gambiae complex) and An. funestus (member of the An. funestus group), preserved on silica desiccant and RNAlater® solution. Methods Microbial composition and diversity were characterized using culture-dependent (midgut dissections, culturomics, MALDI-TOF MS) and culture-independent techniques (abdominal dissections, DNA extraction, next-generation sequencing) from laboratory (colonized) and field-collected mosquitoes. Colonized mosquitoes were either fresh (non-preserved) or preserved for 4 and 12 weeks on silica or in RNAlater®. Microbiota were also characterized from field-collected An. arabiensis preserved on silica for 8, 12 and 16 weeks. Results Elizabethkingia anophelis and Serratia oryzae were common between both vector species, while Enterobacter cloacae and Staphylococcus epidermidis were specific to females and males, respectively. Microbial diversity was not influenced by sex, condition (fresh or preserved), preservative, or preservation time-period; however, the type of bacterial identification technique affected all microbial diversity indices. Conclusions This study broadly characterized the microbiota of An. arabiensis and An. funestus. Silica- and RNAlater®-preservation were appropriate when paired with culture-dependent and culture-independent techniques, respectively. These results broaden the selection of cost-effective methods available for handling vector samples for downstream microbial analyses.

scholarly journals Yellow Fever Outbreak in Eastern Senegal, 2020–2021

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1475
Author(s):  
Moussa Moïse Diagne ◽  
Marie Henriette Dior Ndione ◽  
Alioune Gaye ◽  
Mamadou Aliou Barry ◽  
Diawo Diallo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Yellow Fever ◽  
Yellow Fever Virus ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Genomic Analysis ◽  
Hemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Fever Virus ◽  
World Health ◽  
Effective Vaccine ◽  
Ministry Of Health

Yellow fever virus remains a major threat in low resource countries in South America and Africa despite the existence of an effective vaccine. In Senegal and particularly in the eastern part of the country, periodic sylvatic circulation has been demonstrated with varying degrees of impact on populations in perpetual renewal. We report an outbreak that occurred from October 2020 to February 2021 in eastern Senegal, notified and managed through the synergistic effort yellow fever national surveillance implemented by the Senegalese Ministry of Health in collaboration with the World Health Organization, the countrywide 4S network set up by the Ministry of Health, the Institut Pasteur de Dakar, and the surveillance of arboviruses and hemorrhagic fever viruses in human and vector populations implemented since mid 2020 in eastern Senegal. Virological analyses highlighted the implication of sylvatic mosquito species in virus transmission. Genomic analysis showed a close relationship between the circulating strain in eastern Senegal, 2020, and another one from the West African lineage previously detected and sequenced two years ago from an unvaccinated Dutch traveler who visited the Gambia and Senegal before developing signs after returning to Europe. Moreover, genome analysis identified a 6-nucleotide deletion in the variable domain of the 3′UTR with potential impact on the biology of the viral strain that merits further investigations. Integrated surveillance of yellow fever virus but also of other arboviruses of public health interest is crucial in an ecosystem such as eastern Senegal.

scholarly journals Wolbachia prevalence in the vector species Culex pipiens and Culex torrentium in a Sindbis virus-endemic region of Sweden

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Bergman ◽  
Jenny C. Hesson
Keyword(s):  
Culex Pipiens ◽  
Sindbis Virus ◽  
Vector Competence ◽  
Horizontal Transmission ◽  
Vector Species ◽  
Endemic Region ◽  
Species Determination ◽  
Terrestrial Arthropods ◽  
Endosymbiotic Bacteria ◽  
Vector Borne

Abstract Background Wolbachia pipientis are endosymbiotic bacteria present in a large proportion of terrestrial arthropods. The species is known to sometimes affect the ability of its host to transmit vector-borne pathogens. Central Sweden is endemic for Sindbis virus (SINV), where it is mainly transmitted by the vector species Culex pipiens and Culex torrentium, with the latter established as the main vector. In this study we investigated the Wolbachia prevalence in these two vector species in a region highly endemic for SINV. Methods Culex mosquitoes were collected using CDC light traps baited with carbon dioxide over 9 years at 50 collection sites across the River Dalälven floodplains in central Sweden. Mosquito genus was determined morphologically, while a molecular method was used for reliable species determination. The presence of Wolbachia was determined through PCR using general primers targeting the wsp gene and sequencing of selected samples. Results In total, 676 Cx. pipiens and 293 Cx. torrentium were tested for Wolbachia. The prevalence of Wolbachia in Cx. pipiens was 97% (95% CI 94.8–97.6%), while only 0.7% (95% CI 0.19–2.45%) in Cx. torrentium. The two Cx. torrentium mosquitoes that were infected with Wolbachia carried different types of the bacteria. Conclusions The main vector of SINV in the investigated endemic region, Cx. torrentium, was seldom infected with Wolbachia, while it was highly prevalent in the secondary vector, Cx. pipiens. The presence of Wolbachia could potentially have an impact on the vector competence of these two species. Furthermore, the detection of Wolbachia in Cx. torrentium could indicate horizontal transmission of the endosymbiont between arthropods of different species. Graphical abstract

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