scholarly journals Zika Virus in Salivary Glands of Five Different Species of Wild-Caught Mosquitoes from Mexico

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darwin Elizondo-Quiroga ◽  
Aarón. Medina-Sánchez ◽  
Jorge M. Sánchez-González ◽  
Kristen Allison Eckert ◽  
Erendira Villalobos-Sánchez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Culture ◽  
Salivary Glands ◽  
Culex Quinquefasciatus ◽  
Blood Meal ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Body Parts ◽  
Male Mosquitoes

AbstractZika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne virus and Aedes agypti has been mentioned as the main vector of the disease. Other mosquito species in the Aedes and Culex genera have been suggested to have the potential for being competent vectors, based on experimental exposition of mosquitoes to an infectious blood meal containing ZIKV. Here, we report the isolation in cell culture of ZIKV from different body parts of wild-caught female mosquitoes (Ae. aegypti, Ae. vexans, Culex quinquefasciatus, Cx. coronator, and Cx. tarsalis) and whole male mosquitoes (Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus) in Mexico. Importantly, the virus was isolated from the salivary glands of all of these mosquitoes, strongly suggesting that these species are potential vectors for ZIKV.

scholarly journals Zika virus replication in the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus in Brazil

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. R. D. Guedes ◽  
M. H. S. Paiva ◽  
M. M. A. Donato ◽  
P. P. Barbosa ◽  
L. Krokovsky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aedes Aegypti ◽  
Salivary Glands ◽  
Virus Replication ◽  
Culex Quinquefasciatus ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Neurological Disorders ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Mosquito Bite ◽  
Vectorial Competence

AbstractZika virus (ZIKV) is a flavivirus that has recently been associated with increased incidence of neonatal microcephaly and other neurological disorders. The virus is primarily transmitted by mosquito bite, although other routes of infection have been implicated in some cases. The Aedes aegypti mosquito is considered to be the main vector to humans worldwide, but there is evidence of other mosquito species, including Culex quinquefasciatus, playing a role in the Brazilian outbreak. To test this hypothesis, we experimentally compared the vectorial competence of laboratory-reared A. aegypti and C. quinquefasciatus. We found ZIKV in the midgut, salivary glands, and saliva of artificially fed C. quinquefasciatus. Additionally, we collected ZIKV-infected C. quinquefasciatus from urban areas of high microcephaly incidence in Recife, Brazil. Take into account; these findings indicate that there may be a wider range of vectors for ZIKV than anticipated.

scholarly journals Vector competence ofAnophelesandCulexmosquitoes for Zika virus

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3096 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brittany L. Dodson ◽  
Jason L. Rasgon
Keyword(s):  
Anopheles Gambiae ◽  
Culex Quinquefasciatus ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Anopheles Stephensi ◽  
Vector Competence ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Plaque Assay ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Serious Disease ◽  
Blood Meals

Zika virus is a newly emergent mosquito-borne flavivirus that has caused recent large outbreaks in the new world, leading to dramatic increases in serious disease pathology including Guillain-Barre syndrome, newborn microcephaly, and infant brain damage. AlthoughAedesmosquitoes are thought to be the primary mosquito species driving infection, the virus has been isolated from dozens of mosquito species, includingCulexandAnophelesspecies, and we lack a thorough understanding of which mosquito species to target for vector control. We exposedAnopheles gambiae,Anopheles stephensi, andCulex quinquefasciatusmosquitoes to blood meals supplemented with two Zika virus strains. Mosquito bodies, legs, and saliva were collected five, seven, and 14 days post blood meal and tested for infectious virus by plaque assay. Regardless of titer, virus strain, or timepoint,Anopheles gambiae,Anopheles stephensi, andCulex quinquefasciatusmosquitoes were refractory to Zika virus infection. We conclude thatAnopheles gambiae,Anopheles stephensi, andCulex quinquefasciatusmosquitoes likely do not contribute significantly to Zika virus transmission to humans. However, future studies should continue to explore the potential for other novel potential vectors to transmit the virus.

Ukauwa virus proliferation in mosquitoes

1968 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oladeinde Ogunbi
Keyword(s):  
Aedes Aegypti ◽  
Salivary Glands ◽  
North American ◽  
Blood Meal ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Infective Virus ◽  
Biological Criteria ◽  
Eclipse Phase ◽  
Initial Recovery ◽  
Intrathoracic Inoculation

Ukauwa virus, a Bunyamwera group arbovirus endemic in the Ethiopian zoogeographic region, multiplied in the tissues of North American mosquito species Aedes canadensis (Theobald) and Aedes triseriatus (Say) after intrathoracic inoculation. This virus also multiplied in laboratory-bred Aedes aegypti (L.) after both feeding and injection. Ukauwa virus now fulfills the biological criteria of an arbovirus. In these three mosquito species, after initial detection of infective virus immediately after inoculation, an eclipse phase with lack of detection of infectivity was observed 6 hours later, and was followed by initial recovery of virus (1.0 log mouse LD50) at 12 hours and thereafter steady virus increments in thorax, salivary glands, gut, and legs which reached maximum titers of 5.4 to 6.3 log mouse LD50 in 4 days. In A. aegypti fed Ukauwa virus no infectivity was detected during the first 8 days after the meal. After initial detection of infective virus (3.0 log mouse LD50) on day 10, maximum titers of 4.3 to 5.3 log mouse LD50 were reached 4 days later.A. aegypti transmitted Ukauwa virus to weaned mice on the 12th and 14th days after an infective blood meal, when virus titers in the salivary glands exceeded 4.3 log mouse LD50. The infection threshold of Ukauwa virus for A. aegypti by feeding was 4.7 log mouse LD50 per 0.002 ml.

scholarly journals Assessing the blood meal hosts of Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes taeniorhynchus in Isla Santa Cruz, Galápagos

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samoa Asigau ◽  
Sawsan Salah ◽  
Patricia G. Parker
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Behavior ◽  
Culex Quinquefasciatus ◽  
Blood Meal ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Avian Malaria ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Blood Feeding ◽  
Santa Cruz ◽  
Aedes Taeniorhynchus ◽  
Blood Meals

Abstract Background Blood meal host selection by mosquito vectors is an important component in understanding disease dynamics of pathogens that threaten endemic fauna in isolated islands such as Galápagos. Research on the feeding behavior of mosquitoes can provide clues to the hosts and vectors involved in disease transmission. This information is particularly critical for endemic wildlife fauna in island systems that have evolved without resistance to novel diseases such as avian malaria. The aims of this study were to determine the blood-feeding patterns of two species of mosquitoes found in Galápagos and discuss how their feeding behavior may influence the transmission of pathogens such as avian malaria. Methods In the summer of 2015, we sampled two mosquito species (Aedes taeniorhynchus and Culex quinquefasciatus) across 18 different sites on Isla Santa Cruz, which is the second largest island in Galápagos and has the largest human population. We trapped mosquitoes using CDC light traps and CDC gravid traps and identified sources of blood meals for engorged mosquitoes by sequencing a portion of the vertebrate mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Results Out of 947 female mosquitoes captured, 320 were blood-fed, and PCR amplifications were successful for 301 of the blood meals. Results revealed that both Aedes taeniorhynchus and Culex quinquefasciatus feed from a variety of vertebrate taxa, numerically dominated by humans on Isla Santa Cruz. Conclusions The high proportion of mammalian blood meals could represent locally available and abundant hosts on Santa Cruz. However, host surveys and estimates of relative abundances of vertebrate species will need to accompany mosquito trapping studies on non-inhabited and inhabited islands in Galápagos to further validate this.

scholarly journals Starvation at the larval stage increases the vector competence of Aedes aegypti females for Zika virus

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. e0010003
Author(s):  
Christie S. Herd ◽  
DeAna G. Grant ◽  
Jingyi Lin ◽  
Alexander W. E. Franz
Keyword(s):  
Aedes Aegypti ◽  
Salivary Glands ◽  
Blood Meal ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Vector Competence ◽  
Transmission Cycle ◽  
Physical Evidence ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Primary Vector ◽  
Blood Meal Digestion

Aedes aegypti is the primary vector of Zika virus (ZIKV), a flavivirus which typically presents itself as febrile-like symptoms in humans but can also cause neurological and pregnancy complications. The transmission cycle of mosquito-borne arboviruses such as ZIKV requires that various key tissues in the female mosquito including the salivary glands get productively infected with the virus before the mosquito can transmit the virus to another vertebrate host. Following ingestion of a viremic blood-meal from a vertebrate, ZIKV initially infects the midgut epithelium before exiting the midgut after blood-meal digestion to disseminate to secondary tissues including the salivary glands. Here we investigated whether smaller Ae. aegypti females resulting from food deprivation as larvae exhibited an altered vector competence for blood-meal acquired ZIKV relative to larger mosquitoes. Midguts from small ‘Starve’ and large ‘Control’ Ae. aegypti were dissected to visualize by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) the midgut basal lamina (BL) as physical evidence for the midgut escape barrier showing Starve mosquitoes with a significantly thinner midgut BL than Control mosquitoes at two timepoints. ZIKV replication was inhibited in Starve mosquitoes following intrathoracic injection of virus, however, Starve mosquitoes exhibited a significantly higher midgut escape and population dissemination rate at 9 days post-infection (dpi) via blood-meal, with more virus present in saliva and head tissue than Control by 10 dpi and 14 dpi, respectively. These results indicate that Ae. aegypti developing under stressful conditions potentially exhibit higher midgut infection and dissemination rates for ZIKV as adults, Thus, variation in food intake as larvae is potentially a source for variable vector competence levels of the emerged adults for the virus.

scholarly journals Detailed Analyses of Zika Virus Tropism in Culex quinquefasciatus Reveal Systemic Refractoriness

mBio ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah J. MacLeod ◽  
George Dimopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Culex Quinquefasciatus ◽  
Real Time Pcr ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Vector Competence ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Quantitative Real Time Pcr ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Qrt Pcr

ABSTRACT The role of Culex quinquefasciatus in Zika virus transmission has been debated since the epidemic of Zika occurred in the Americas in 2015 to 2016. The majority of studies have found no evidence that C. quinquefasciatus or other Culex species are competent vectors of Zika virus, and the few studies that have proposed Zika vector status for C. quinquefasciatus have relied predominantly on quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) for viral detection. We assessed the infectious range of pre- and post-epidemic Zika virus isolates in order to classify mosquito samples based on titer infectiousness and demonstrated that two strains of C. quinquefasciatus, including one previously found to be competent, are highly resistant to infection with these Zika isolates compared to Aedes aegypti and are not competent for virus transmission. Further dissection of the dynamics of Zika exposure in both A. aegypti and C. quinquefasciatus revealed that while virus transmission by C. quinquefasciatus is blocked at the levels of the midgut and salivary glands, viral RNA persists in these tissues for prolonged periods post-exposure. We assessed Zika entry dynamics in both Aedes and Culex cells, and our results suggest that Zika virus infection in Culex cells may be blocked downstream of cell entry. These findings strongly suggest that C. quinquefasciatus is not a vector of Zika virus and additionally inform the use of qRT-PCR in vector competence assays as well as our understanding of barriers to arbovirus infection in non-susceptible mosquito species. IMPORTANCE Understanding which mosquito species transmit an emerging arbovirus is critical to effective vector control. During the Zika virus epidemic in 2015 to 2016, Aedes mosquitoes were confirmed as vectors. However, studies addressing the vector status of Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes presented conflicting evidence and remain an outstanding source of confusion in the field. Here, we established a robust cell-based assay to identify infectious titers of Zika virus and assessed the virus titers in C. quinquefasciatus by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). We found that while low levels of virus were detected in C. quinquefasciatus, these titers did not correspond to infectious virus, and these mosquitoes did not transmit virus in the saliva. We also present evidence that the virus may enter Culex cells before infection is disrupted. Our findings are important for future studies incriminating vector species using qRT-PCR for virus detection and offer new information on how virus transmission is blocked by mosquitoes.

scholarly journals Transmission Potential of Zika Virus by Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) and Ae. mediovittatus (Diptera: Culicidae) Populations From Puerto Rico

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca A Zimler ◽  
Donald A Yee ◽  
Barry W Alto
Keyword(s):  
Puerto Rico ◽  
Aedes Aegypti ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
The United States ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Transmission Potential ◽  
Transmission Rates ◽  
Higher Doses ◽  
Local Transmission

Abstract Recurrence of local transmission of Zika virus in Puerto Rico is a major public health risk to the United States, where mosquitoes Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus) and Aedes mediovittatus (Coquillett) are abundant. To determine the extent to which Ae. mediovittatus are capable of transmitting Zika virus and the influence of viremia, we evaluated infection and transmission in Ae. mediovittatus and Ae. aegypti from Puerto Rico using serial dilutions of infectious blood. Higher doses of infectious blood resulted in greater infection rates in both mosquitoes. Aedes aegypti females were up to twice as susceptible to infection than Ae. mediovittatus, indicating a more effective midgut infection barrier in the latter mosquito species. Aedes aegypti exhibited higher disseminated infection (40–95%) than Ae. mediovittatus (<5%), suggesting a substantial midgut escape barrier in Ae. mediovittatus. For Ae. aegypti, transmission rates were low over a range of doses of Zika virus ingested, suggesting substantial salivary gland barriers.

scholarly journals Assessing Diversity, Plasmodium Infection and Blood Meal Sources in Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) from a Brazilian Zoological Park with Avian Malaria Transmission

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 215
Author(s):  
Lilian de Oliveira Guimarães ◽  
Roseli França Simões ◽  
Carolina Romeiro Fernandes Chagas ◽  
Regiane Maria Tironi de Menezes ◽  
Fabiana Santos Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Meal ◽  
Avian Malaria ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Plasmodium Species ◽  
Sao Paulo ◽  
São Paulo ◽  
Malaria Parasites ◽  
Ecological Relationships ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Avian Malaria Parasites

Avian malaria parasites are widespread parasites transmitted by Culicidae insects belonging to different genera. Even though several studies have been conducted recently, there is still a lack of information about potential vectors of Plasmodium parasites, especially in Neotropical regions. Former studies with free-living and captive animals in São Paulo Zoo showed the presence of several Plasmodium and Haemoproteus species. In 2015, a pilot study was conducted at the zoo to collect mosquitoes in order to find out (i) which species of Culicidae are present in the study area, (ii) what are their blood meal sources, and (iii) to which Plasmodium species might they be potential vectors. Mosquitoes were morphologically and molecularly identified. Blood meal source and haemosporidian DNA were identified using molecular protocols. A total of 25 Culicidae species were identified, and 6 of them were positive for Plasmodium/Haemoproteus DNA. Ten mosquito species had their source of blood meal identified, which were mainly birds, including some species that were positive for haemosporidian parasites in the former study mentioned. This study allowed us to expand the list of potential vectors of avian malaria parasites and to improve our knowledge of the evolutionary and ecological relationships between the highly diverse communities of birds, parasites, and vectors present at São Paulo Zoo.

scholarly journals Behavioural response of mosquito vectors Aedes aegypti, Anopheles stephensi and Culex quinquefasciatus to synthetic pyrethroid and organophosphorus-based slow-release insecticidal paint

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunil Dhiman ◽  
Kavita Yadav ◽  
B. N. Acharya ◽  
Raj Kumar Ahirwar ◽  
D. Sukumaran
Keyword(s):  
Aedes Aegypti ◽  
Culex Quinquefasciatus ◽  
Anopheles Stephensi ◽  
Slow Release ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Escape Time ◽  
Behavioural Avoidance ◽  
Vector Mosquito ◽  
Contact Exposure

Abstract Background The direct toxicological impact of insecticides on vector mosquitoes has been well emphasized; however, behavioural responses such as excito-repellency and physical avoidance as a result of insecticide exposure have not been much studied. We have demonstrated the excito-repellency and behavioural avoidance in certain vector mosquito species on exposure to a slow-release insecticidal paint (SRIP) formulation in addition to direct toxicity. Methods A SRIP formulation developed by the Defence Research and Development Establishment, Gwalior, contains chlorpyriphos, deltamethrin and pyriproxyfen as active insecticides. Anopheles stephensi, Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti mosquitoes were used to study the excito-repellency response of the formulation. The experiments were performed in a specially designed dual-choice exposure and escape chamber made of transparent polymethyl methacrylate. For the experiments, the SRIP formulation was applied undiluted at a rate of 8 m2 per kg on 15 cm2 metallic surfaces. Mosquitoes were introduced into the exposure chamber, and observations of the movement of mosquitoes into the escape chamber through the exit portal were taken at 1-min intervals for up to 30 min. Results The evaluated formulation displayed strong excito-repellency against all three tested vector mosquito species. Results showed that the ET50 (escape time 50%) for Ae. aegypti, An. stephensi and Cx. quinquefasciatus was 20.9 min, 14.5 min and 17.9 min for contact exposure (CE) respectively. Altogether in CE, the escape rates were stronger in An. stephensi mosquitoes at different time intervals compared to Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus mosquitoes. The probit analysis revealed that the determined ET did not deviate from linearity for both non-contact exposure (NCE) and placebo exposure (PE) (χ2 ≤ 7.9; p = 1.0) for Ae. aegypti mosquitoes and for NCE (χ2 = 8.3; p = 1.0) and PE (χ2 = 1.7; p = 1.0) treatments in Cx. quinquefasciatus. Mortality (24 h) was found to be statistically higher (F = 6.4; p = 0.02) in An. stephensi for CE but did not vary for NCE (p ≥ 0.3) and PE (p = 0.6) treatments among the tested mosquito species. Survival probability response suggested that all the three tested species displayed similar survival responses for similar exposures (χ2 ≤ 2.3; p ≥ 0.1). Conclusion The study demonstrates the toxicity and strong behavioural avoidance in known vector mosquito species on exposure to an insecticide-based paint formulation. The combination of insecticides in the present formulation will broaden the overall impact spectrum for protecting users from mosquito bites. The efficacy data generated in the study provide crucial information on the effectiveness of the tested formulation and could be useful in reducing the transmission intensity and disease risk in endemic countries.

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