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Ferraguti M, Magallanes S, Mora-Rubio C, Bravo-Barriga D, Marzal A, Hernandez-Caballero I, Aguilera-Sepúlveda P, Llorente F, Pérez-Ramírez E, Guerrero-Carvajal F, Jiménez-Clavero MÁ, Frontera E, Ortiz JA, de Lope F. Implications of migratory and exotic birds and the mosquito community on West Nile virus transmission. Infect Dis (Lond) 2024; 56:206-219. [PMID: 38160682 DOI: 10.1080/23744235.2023.2288614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vector-borne diseases like West Nile virus (WNV) pose a global health challenge, with rising incidence and distribution. Culex mosquitoes are crucial WNV vectors. Avian species composition and bird community diversity, along with vector communities, influence WNV transmission patterns. However, limited knowledge exists on their impact in southwestern Spain, an area with active WNV circulation in wild birds, mosquitoes, and humans. METHODS To address this, we conducted a comprehensive study investigating the contributions of migratory and exotic bird species to WNV transmission and the influence of mosquito community composition. RESULTS Analysing 1194 serum samples from 44 avian species, we detected WNV antibodies in 32 samples from 11 species, four for the first time in Europe. Migratory birds had higher WNV exposure likelihood than native and exotic species, and higher phylogenetic diversity in bird communities correlated with lower exposure rates. Moreover, in 5859 female mosquitoes belonging to 12 species, we identified WNV competent vectors like Cx. pipiens s.l. and the Univittatus subgroup. Birds with WNV antibodies were positively associated with competent vector abundance, but negatively with overall mosquito species richness. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight the complex interactions between bird species, their phylogenetics, and mosquito vectors in WNV transmission. Understanding these dynamics will help to implement effective disease control strategies in southwestern Spain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Ferraguti
- Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD), CSIC, Departamento de Biología de la Conservación y Cambio Global, Seville, Spain
- Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Biología, Departamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Badajoz, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Sergio Magallanes
- Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD), CSIC, Departamento de Biología de la Conservación y Cambio Global, Seville, Spain
- Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Biología, Departamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Badajoz, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos Mora-Rubio
- Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Biología, Departamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Daniel Bravo-Barriga
- Universidad de Córdoba, Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación en Zoonosis y Sanidad Animal (GISAZ), UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Córdoba, Spain
- Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Veterinaria, Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Parasitología, Cáceres, Spain
| | - Alfonso Marzal
- Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Biología, Departamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Badajoz, Spain
- Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Grupo de Investigaciones en Fauna Silvestre, Tarapoto, Perú
| | - Irene Hernandez-Caballero
- Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Biología, Departamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Badajoz, Spain
| | | | - Francisco Llorente
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA-INIA), CSIC, Valdeolmos, Spain
| | - Elisa Pérez-Ramírez
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA-INIA), CSIC, Valdeolmos, Spain
| | | | - Miguel Ángel Jiménez-Clavero
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA-INIA), CSIC, Valdeolmos, Spain
| | - Eva Frontera
- Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Grupo de Investigaciones en Fauna Silvestre, Tarapoto, Perú
| | | | - Florentino de Lope
- Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Biología, Departamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Badajoz, Spain
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Blom R, Krol L, Langezaal M, Schrama M, Trimbos KB, Wassenaar D, Koenraadt CJM. Blood-feeding patterns of Culex pipiens biotype pipiens and pipiens/molestus hybrids in relation to avian community composition in urban habitats. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:95. [PMID: 38424573 PMCID: PMC10902945 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06186-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Culex pipiens sensu stricto (s.s.) is considered the primary vector of Usutu virus and West Nile virus, and consists of two morphologically identical but behaviourally distinct biotypes (Cx. pipiens biotype pipiens and Cx. pipiens biotype molestus) and their hybrids. Both biotypes are expected to differ in their feeding behaviour, and pipiens/molestus hybrids are presumed to display intermediate feeding behaviour. However, the evidence for distinct feeding patterns is scarce, and to date no studies have related differences in feeding patterns to differences in host abundance. METHODS Mosquitoes were collected using CO2-baited traps. We collected blood-engorged Cx. pipiens/torrentium specimens from 12 contrasting urban sites, namely six city parks and six residential areas. Blood engorged Cx. pipiens/torrentium mosquitoes were identified to the species and biotype/hybrid level via real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We performed blood meal analysis via PCR and Sanger sequencing. Additionally, avian host communities were surveyed via vocal sounds and/or visual observation. RESULTS We selected 64 blood-engorged Cx. pipiens/torrentium mosquitoes of which we successfully determined the host origin of 55 specimens. Of these, 38 belonged to biotype pipiens, 14 were pipiens/molestus hybrids and the identity of three specimens could not be determined. No blood-engorged biotype molestus or Cx. torrentium specimens were collected. We observed no differences in feeding patterns between biotype pipiens and pipiens/molestus hybrids across different habitats. Avian community composition differed between city parks and residential areas, whereas overall avian abundance did not differ between the two habitat types. CONCLUSIONS Our results show the following: (1) Cx. pipiens s.s. feeding patterns did not differ between city parks and residential areas, regardless of whether individuals were identified as biotype pipiens or pipiens/molestus hybrids. (2) We detected differences in host availability between city parks and residential areas. (3) We show that in both urban habitat types, biotype pipiens and pipiens/molestus hybrids fed on both mammalian and avian hosts. This underscores the potential role in arbovirus transmission of biotype pipiens and pipiens/molestus hybrids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rody Blom
- Laboratory of Entomology, Plant Sciences Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Louie Krol
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Deltares, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Melissa Langezaal
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Maarten Schrama
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Krijn B Trimbos
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Daan Wassenaar
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Constantianus J M Koenraadt
- Laboratory of Entomology, Plant Sciences Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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3
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Soto A, Delang L. Culex modestus: the overlooked mosquito vector. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:373. [PMID: 37858198 PMCID: PMC10588236 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05997-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Culex (Barraudius) modestus (Ficalbi 1889) are found in temperate regions across Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa. These mosquitoes thrive during the summer and prefer to breed in permanent vegetative habitats such as rice paddies and marshes. Culex modestus feed on a wide range of bird species but are highly attracted to humans, which makes them a potential 'bridge' vector for enzootic pathogens. There is compelling evidence that Culex modestus is an efficient vector for West Nile virus, potentially capable of causing epidemics in humans and other mammals. This species is also a likely vector for Usutu virus, avian malaria (Plasmodium spp.), and parasitic heartworms (Dirofilaria spp.). Culex modestus can be morphologically identified at the larval and adult stages, and a distinctive phenotype of this species is their ability to overwinter. Despite the widespread establishment of this mosquito species and their role as vectors for human pathogens, we lack sufficient knowledge on this species to implement and evaluate targeted vector control measures. Since Culex modestus can be considered a potential public health threat, there is a need for a better understanding of this mosquito species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina Soto
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Leen Delang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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4
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Verhulst NO, Juurlink M, Wondwosen B, Rugaimukamu S, Hill SR, Ignell R, Koenraadt CJM, Spitzen J. Fermenting molasses and a synthetic odour blend to attract blood-fed Anopheles coluzzii. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 37:228-237. [PMID: 36346219 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Collecting blood-fed mosquitoes to monitor pathogen presence or to gather information on the host blood meal is often challenging. Fermenting molasses can be used to produce carbon dioxide to attract host-seeking mosquitoes, however, earlier work indicated that it may also attract blood-fed mosquitoes in the field. In the current study, these field results were validated in an experimental setting using a large cage setup with Anopheles coluzzii (Diptera, Culicidae). Blood-fed mosquitoes were indeed attracted to fermenting molasses with the highest attraction at 72 hours post feeding, which was used for subsequent experiments. Next, it was tested if fermentation of molasses is required for attraction, and whether it acts as an oviposition attractant, increases egg laying, or increases mosquito survival. The compounds that could be responsible for attraction were identified by combined electrophysiology and chemical analyses and formulated into a synthetic blend. Fermenting molasses attracted blood-fed mosquitoes in the large cage study, while fermenting sugar and non-fermenting molasses did not. The fecundity of blood-fed mosquitoes increased after feeding on fermenting molasses, however, compounds emanating from molasses did not trigger oviposition. The synthetic blend attracted blood-fed mosquitoes and may be used to determine mosquito host selection and for xenomonitoring, as 'flying syringes' to detect non-vector borne pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niels O Verhulst
- National Centre for Vector Entomology, Institute of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Malou Juurlink
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Gelderland, The Netherlands
| | - Betelehem Wondwosen
- Department of Zoological Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Oromia, Ethiopia
| | - Sapience Rugaimukamu
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Gelderland, The Netherlands
| | - Sharon R Hill
- Disease Vector Group, Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp, Skåne County, Sweden
| | - Rickard Ignell
- Disease Vector Group, Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp, Skåne County, Sweden
| | | | - Jeroen Spitzen
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Gelderland, The Netherlands
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5
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Ziegler R, Blanckenhorn WU, Mathis A, Verhulst NO. Temperature preference of sugar- or blood-fed Aedes japonicus mosquitoes under semi-natural conditions. J Therm Biol 2023; 114:103592. [PMID: 37210983 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2023.103592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Mosquito-borne diseases pose a major burden on humans and animals. Temperature strongly influences the physiology and life cycle of mosquitoes and also the pathogens they transmit. Thermoregulatory behaviour of mosquitoes has been addressed in a few laboratory studies. Here, we expand such studies by investigating the thermal preference when resting of Aedes japonicus, an invasive and putative vector species of many pathogens, in a semi-field setup during summers in a temperate climate. Blood-fed or sugar-fed Ae. japonicus females were released in the late afternoon in a large outdoor cage containing three resting boxes. The next morning, temperature treatments were applied to the boxes, creating a "cool" (over all experiments around 18 °C), and a "warm" (around 35 °C) microhabitat in addition to an untreated "ambient" (around 26 °C) one. The mosquitoes resting within the three boxes were counted five times, every 2 h between 9h and 17h. The highest proportions of mosquitoes (e.g. up to 21% of blood-fed ones) were found in the cool box while both blood-fed and sugar-fed mosquitoes avoided the warm box. The mean resting temperatures of Ae. japonicus were below the ambient temperatures measured by a nearby meteorological station, and this was more pronounced at higher outdoor temperatures and in blood-fed as compared to sugar-fed mosquitoes. Thus, over all experiments with blood-fed mosquitoes, the calculated average resting temperature was 4 °C below the outdoor temperature. As mosquitoes prefer cooler resting places than temperatures measured by weather stations in summer, models to predict mosquito-borne disease outbreaks need to account for the thermoregulatory behaviour of mosquitoes, especially in the wake of climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphaela Ziegler
- National Centre for Vector Entomology, Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse and Medical Faculty, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, 8057, Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Wolf U Blanckenhorn
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, Faculty of Science, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Alexander Mathis
- National Centre for Vector Entomology, Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse and Medical Faculty, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, 8057, Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Niels O Verhulst
- National Centre for Vector Entomology, Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse and Medical Faculty, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, 8057, Zürich, Switzerland.
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6
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González MA, Goiri F, Prosser SWJ, Cevidanes A, Hernández-Triana LM, Barandika JF, Hebert PDN, García-Pérez AL. Culicoides species community composition and feeding preferences in two aquatic ecosystems in northern Spain. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:199. [PMID: 35690834 PMCID: PMC9188056 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05297-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Aquatic ecosystems provide breeding sites for blood-sucking insects such as Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), but factors affecting their distribution and host choice are poorly understood. A study was undertaken at two nature reserves in northern Spain to examine the abundance, species composition, population dynamics and feeding patterns of biting midges between 2018 and 2019. Methods Culicoides were captured by light suction traps baited with CO2 and by sweep netting vegetation. Blood meals and species identification of blood-fed specimens were determined using cytochrome c oxidase I subunit (COI) DNA barcoding. Multivariate generalized linear models were used to evaluate the associations between the abundance of Culicoides, the species richness and other parameters. Results The 4973 identified specimens comprised 28 species of Culicoides. These included two species reported for the first time in northern Spain, thus raising to 54 the number of Culicoides species described in the region. Specimens of all 28 species and 99.6% of the total specimens collected were caught in suction traps, while sweep netting vegetation revealed just 11 species and 0.4% of the total specimens. Midge abundance peaked in June/early July, with five species comprising > 80% of the captures: Culicoides alazanicus (24.9%), Culicoides griseidorsum (20.3%), Culicoides poperinghensis (16.2%), Culicoides kibunensis (10.7%) and Culicoides clastrieri (9.6%). DNA barcode analysis of blood meals from eight Culicoides species revealed that they fed on 17 vertebrate species (3 mammals and 14 birds). Species in the subgenus Avaritia were primarily ornithophilic, except for C. griseidorsum and C. poperinghensis. Host DNA from blood meals was successfully amplified from 75% of blood-fed females. A pictorial blood meal digestion scale is provided to accurately assess the blood-fed status of female Culicoides. Conclusions The large number of different blood meal sources identified in the midges captured in this study signals the likely importance of wild birds and mammals (e.g. red deer and wild boar) as reservoir/amplifying hosts for pathogens. Available hosts are more exposed to being bitten by biting midge populations in aquatic ecosystems in late spring and early summer. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-022-05297-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikel A González
- Department of Animal Health, NEIKER-Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, Bizkaia, Spain.,Applied Zoology and Animal Conservation Research Group, Department of Biology, University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Fátima Goiri
- Department of Animal Health, NEIKER-Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Sean W J Prosser
- Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Aitor Cevidanes
- Department of Animal Health, NEIKER-Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Luis M Hernández-Triana
- Vector-Borne Diseases Research Group, Virology Department-Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone, UK
| | - Jesús F Barandika
- Department of Animal Health, NEIKER-Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Paul D N Hebert
- Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Ana L García-Pérez
- Department of Animal Health, NEIKER-Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, Bizkaia, Spain.
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Bertola M, Mazzucato M, Pombi M, Montarsi F. Updated occurrence and bionomics of potential malaria vectors in Europe: a systematic review (2000-2021). Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:88. [PMID: 35292106 PMCID: PMC8922938 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05204-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the eradication of malaria across most European countries in the 1960s and 1970s, the anopheline vectors are still present. Most of the malaria cases that have been reported in Europe up to the present time have been infections acquired in endemic areas by travelers. However, the possibility of acquiring malaria by locally infected mosquitoes has been poorly investigated in Europe, despite autochthonous malaria cases having been occasionally reported in several European countries. Here we present an update on the occurrence of potential malaria vector species in Europe. Adopting a systematic review approach, we selected 288 papers published between 2000 and 2021 for inclusion in the review based on retrieval of accurate information on the following Anopheles species: An. atroparvus, An. hyrcanus sensu lato (s.l.), An. labranchiae, An. maculipennis sensu stricto (s.s.), An. messeae/daciae, An. sacharovi, An. superpictus and An. plumbeus. The distribution of these potential vector species across Europe is critically reviewed in relation to areas of major presence and principal bionomic features, including vector competence to Plasmodium. Additional information, such as geographical details, sampling approaches and species identification methods, are also reported. We compare the information on each species extracted from the most recent studies to comparable information reported from studies published in the early 2000s, with particular reference to the role of each species in malaria transmission before eradication. The picture that emerges from this review is that potential vector species are still widespread in Europe, with the largest diversity in the Mediterranean area, Italy in particular. Despite information on their vectorial capacity being fragmentary, the information retrieved suggests a re-definition of the relative importance of potential vector species, indicating An. hyrcanus s.l., An. labranchiae, An. plumbeus and An. sacharovi as potential vectors of higher importance, while An. messeae/daciae and An. maculipennis s.s. can be considered to be moderately important species. In contrast, An. atroparvus and An. superpictus should be considered as vectors of lower importance, particularly in relation to their low anthropophily. The presence of gaps in current knowledge of vectorial systems in Europe becomes evident in this review, not only in terms of vector competence but also in the definition of sampling approaches, highlighting the need for further research to adopt the appropriate surveillance system for each species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Bertola
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università 10, 35020, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Matteo Mazzucato
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università 10, 35020, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Marco Pombi
- Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica e Malattie Infettive, Università di Roma "Sapienza", P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Roma, Italy.
| | - Fabrizio Montarsi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università 10, 35020, Legnaro, Italy.,Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica e Malattie Infettive, Università di Roma "Sapienza", P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Roma, Italy
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8
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Jeyaprakasam NK, Low VL, Liew JWK, Pramasivan S, Wan-Sulaiman WY, Saeung A, Vythilingam I. Blood meal analysis of Anopheles vectors of simian malaria based on laboratory and field studies. Sci Rep 2022; 12:354. [PMID: 35013403 PMCID: PMC8748441 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-04106-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Blood feeding and host-seeking behaviors of a mosquito play an imperative role in determining its vectorial capacity in transmitting pathogens. Unfortunately, limited information is available regarding blood feeding behavior of Anopheles species in Malaysia. Collection of resting Anopheles mosquitoes for blood meal analysis poses a great challenge especially for forest dwelling mosquitoes. Therefore, a laboratory-based study was conducted to evaluate the potential use of mosquitoes caught using human landing catch (HLC) for blood meal analysis, and subsequently to document blood feeding behavior of local Anopheles mosquitoes in Peninsular Malaysia. The laboratory-based experiment from this study revealed that mosquitoes caught using HLC had the potential to be used for blood meal analysis. Besides HLC, mosquitoes were also collected using manual aspirator and Mosquito Magnet. Overall, 47.4% of 321 field-caught Anopheles mosquitoes belonging to six species were positive for vertebrate host DNA in their blood meal. The most frequent blood meal source was human (45.9%) followed by wild boar (27.4%), dog (15.3%) and monkey (7.5%). Interestingly, only Anopheles cracens and Anopheles introlatus (Leucosphyrus Group) fed on monkey. This study further confirmed that members of the Leucosphyrus Group are the predominant vectors for knowlesi malaria transmission in Peninsular Malaysia mainly due to their simio-anthropophagic feeding behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Van Lun Low
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre (TIDREC), Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Jonathan Wee Kent Liew
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Environmental Health Institute, National Environment Agency, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Sandthya Pramasivan
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | | | - Atiporn Saeung
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Center of Insect Vector Study, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Indra Vythilingam
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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Štefanić S, Grimm F, Mathis A, Winiger R, Verhulst NO. Xenosurveillance proof-of-principle: Detection of Toxoplasma gondii and SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in mosquito blood meals by (pan)-specific ELISAs. CURRENT RESEARCH IN PARASITOLOGY & VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES 2022; 2:100076. [PMID: 36589872 PMCID: PMC9795339 DOI: 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2022.100076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Blood-fed insects can be used to analyse the host blood for circulating vertebrate pathogens or antibodies directed against them. We tested whether naturally acquired antibodies in different host species can be detected by host-specific and pan-specific ELISAs in mosquito blood meals. Cat- and alpaca-specific ELISAs could detect antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii or SARS-CoV-2 in blood meals of Aedes japonicus for 48 and at least 24 h, respectively. In the pan-specific ELISA, a conjugated protein A/G and anti-IgY were used to detect antibodies of mammalian and bird hosts. Thus, Toxoplasma antibodies could be detected in mosquitoes fed on blood from humans, chicken, pig, and sheep up to 72 h after the blood meal. The results, however, demonstrated differences in sensitivities between different host species, and the assay requires further evaluation. Xenosurveillance with antibody detection in mosquito blood meals can be an additional surveillance tool that would especially be helpful when it is difficult to sample the potential animal reservoirs.
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10
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Gilkey PL, Ortiz DL, Kowalo T, Troyo A, Sirot LK. Host-Feeding Patterns of the Mosquito Assemblage at Lomas Barbudal Biological Reserve, Guanacaste, Costa Rica. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 58:2058-2066. [PMID: 34224564 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjab113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Mosquito-borne pathogens have spread throughout tropical regions of the Western Hemisphere causing increased burden of disease in the region. Outbreaks of dengue fever, yellow fever, chikungunya, West Nile, and Zika have occurred over the past several years. Mosquito blood-feeding patterns need to be assayed to assist in determining which vertebrates could act as hosts of these mosquito-borne pathogens and which mosquito species could act as vectors. We conducted bloodmeal analyses of mosquitoes collected at Lomas Barbudal Biological Reserve, a dry tropical forest reserve in Costa Rica. Mosquitoes were collected using backpack aspirators and light, gravid, and resting traps, and then identified morphologically. Blood-fed mosquitoes underwent DNA extraction, PCR amplification, and sequencing of the vertebrate cytochrome b and cytochrome c oxidase 1 genes to identify vertebrate bloodmeal hosts. Several mosquitoes known to vector pathogens were found including Culex (Melanoconion) erraticus Dyar & Knab (Diptera: Culicidae), Cx. (Mel.) pedroi Sirivanakarn & Belkin, Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus Skuse, Ae. (Ochlerotatus) scapularis Rondani, Ae. (Och.) serratus Theobald, and Ae. (Och.) taeniorhynchus Wiedemann. The most common bloodmeal hosts were basilisk lizards (Basiliscus vittatus) Wiegmann (Squamata: Corytophanidae) in Culex (Linnaeus) species and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Zimmermann (Artiodactyla: Cervidae) in Aedes (Meigen) species. These results show the diversity of mosquito species in a tropical dry deciduous forest and identify associations between mosquito vectors and potential pathogen reservoir hosts. Our study highlights the importance of understanding interactions between vector species and their hosts that could serve as predictors for the potential emergence or resurgence of mosquito-borne pathogens in Costa Rica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick L Gilkey
- Department of Biology, The College of Wooster, Wooster, OH, USA
- School of Biological, Environmental, & Earth Sciences, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, USA
| | - Diana L Ortiz
- Biology Program, Westminster College, New Wilmington, PA, USA
| | - Tia Kowalo
- Environmental Science Program, Westminster College, New Wilmington, PA, USA
| | - Adriana Troyo
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Vectores (LIVE), Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (CIET), Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Laura K Sirot
- Department of Biology, The College of Wooster, Wooster, OH, USA
- Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
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Hernández-Triana LM, Folly AJ, Barrero E, Lumley S, Del Mar Fernández de Marco M, Sewgobind S, McElhinney LM, Fooks AR, Johnson N. Oral susceptibility of aedine and culicine mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) to Batai Orthobunyavirus. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:566. [PMID: 34732254 PMCID: PMC8567561 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-05070-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A number of zoonotic mosquito-borne viruses have emerged in Europe in recent decades. Batai virus (BATV), a member of the genus Orthobunyavirus, is one example of a relatively newly emerged mosquito-borne virus, having been detected in mosquitoes and livestock. We conducted vector competency studies on three mosquito species at a low temperature to assess whether Aedes and Culex mosquito species are susceptible to infection with BATV. Methods Colonised lines of Aedes aegypti and Culex pipiens and a wild-caught species, Aedes detritus, were orally inoculated with BATV strain 53.2, originally isolated from mosquitoes trapped in Germany in 2009. Groups of blood-fed female mosquitoes were maintained at 20 °C for 7 or 14 days. Individual mosquitoes were screened for the presence of BATV in body, leg and saliva samples for evidence of infection, dissemination and transmission, respectively. BATV RNA was detected by reverse transcription-PCR, and positive results confirmed by virus isolation in Vero cells. Results Aedes detritus was highly susceptible to BATV, with an infection prevalence of ≥ 80% at both measurement time points. Disseminated infections were recorded in 30.7–41.6% of Ae. detritus, and evidence of virus transmission with BATV in saliva samples (n = 1, days post-infection: 14) was observed. Relatively lower rates of infection for Ae. aegypti and Cx. pipiens were observed, with no evidence of virus dissemination or transmission at either time point. Conclusions This study shows that Ae. detritus may be a competent vector for BATV at 20 °C, whereas Ae. aegypti and Cx. pipiens were not competent. Critically, the extrinsic incubation period appears to be ≤ 7 days for Ae. detritus, which may increase the onward transmissibility potential of BATV in these populations. Graphical Abstract ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis M Hernández-Triana
- Vector-Borne Diseases Research Team, Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Addlestone, KT15 3NB, Surrey, UK.
| | - Arran J Folly
- Vector-Borne Diseases Research Team, Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Addlestone, KT15 3NB, Surrey, UK
| | - Elsa Barrero
- Vector-Borne Diseases Research Team, Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Addlestone, KT15 3NB, Surrey, UK
| | - Sarah Lumley
- Microbiology Services Division, Public Health England, Porton Down, Wiltshire, UK
| | - Maria Del Mar Fernández de Marco
- Vector-Borne Diseases Research Team, Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Addlestone, KT15 3NB, Surrey, UK
| | - Sanam Sewgobind
- Vector-Borne Diseases Research Team, Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Addlestone, KT15 3NB, Surrey, UK
| | - Lorraine M McElhinney
- Vector-Borne Diseases Research Team, Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Addlestone, KT15 3NB, Surrey, UK
| | - Anthony R Fooks
- Vector-Borne Diseases Research Team, Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Addlestone, KT15 3NB, Surrey, UK
| | - Nicholas Johnson
- Vector-Borne Diseases Research Team, Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Addlestone, KT15 3NB, Surrey, UK
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12
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Alenou LD, Etang J. Airport Malaria in Non-Endemic Areas: New Insights into Mosquito Vectors, Case Management and Major Challenges. Microorganisms 2021; 9:2160. [PMID: 34683481 PMCID: PMC8540862 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9102160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the implementation of preventive measures in airports and aircrafts, the risk of importing Plasmodium spp. infected mosquitoes is still present in malaria-free countries. Evidence suggests that mosquitoes have found a new alliance with the globalization of trade and climate change, leading to an upsurge of malaria parasite transmission around airports. The resulting locally acquired form of malaria is called Airport malaria. However, piecemeal information is available, regarding its epidemiological and entomological patterns, as well as the challenges in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Understanding these issues is a critical step towards a better implementation of control strategies. To cross reference this information, we conducted a systematic review on 135 research articles published between 1969 (when the first cases of malaria in airports were reported) and 2020 (i.e., 51 years later). It appears that the risk of malaria transmission by local mosquito vectors in so called malaria-free countries is not zero; this risk is more likely to be fostered by infected vectors coming from endemic countries by air or by sea. Furthermore, there is ample evidence that airport malaria is increasing in these countries. From 2010 to 2020, the number of cases in Europe was 7.4 times higher than that recorded during the 2000-2009 decade. This increase may be associated with climate change, increased international trade, the decline of aircraft disinsection, as well as delays in case diagnosis and treatment. More critically, current interventions are weakened by biological and operational challenges, such as drug resistance in malaria parasites and vector resistance to insecticides, and logistic constraints. Therefore, there is a need to strengthen malaria prevention and treatment for people at risk of airport malaria, and implement a rigorous routine entomological and epidemiological surveillance in and around airports.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leo Dilane Alenou
- Malaria Research Laboratory, Yaoundé Research Institute (IRY), Organization for the Coordination of Endemic Diseases’ Control in Central Africa (OCEAC), Yaoundé P.O. Box 288, Cameroon;
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Douala P.O. Box 2701, Cameroon
| | - Josiane Etang
- Malaria Research Laboratory, Yaoundé Research Institute (IRY), Organization for the Coordination of Endemic Diseases’ Control in Central Africa (OCEAC), Yaoundé P.O. Box 288, Cameroon;
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Douala P.O. Box 2701, Cameroon
- Department of Insect Biotechnology in Plant Protection, Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Faculty 09—Agricultural Sciences, Nutritional Sciences and Environmental Management, Justus-Liebig-University Gießen, Winchester Str. 2, 35394 Giessen, Germany
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13
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Sauer FG, Grave J, Lühken R, Kiel E. Habitat and microclimate affect the resting site selection of mosquitoes. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 35:379-388. [PMID: 33394505 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 11/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) use certain resting sites during their inactive phase. The microclimatic conditions of these resting sites might affect their physiology and vectorial capacity. In this study, we combined a field and a laboratory study to investigate the natural resting site and temperature preferences of mosquitoes. The field study was conducted at a forest close to Oldenburg (Lower Saxony, Germany) from May to October 2018. Mosquitoes were collected in five different natural habitats with seven replicates each. Temperature was recorded hourly at each site. Significantly more mosquitoes were collected in deadwood (predominantly Culiseta morsitans/fumipennis) and shaded herb layer (predominantly Aedes species) compared to unshaded herb layer or broadleaf and coniferous trees. GLMMs revealed resting site habitats as the best predictor to explain the observed preference patterns, but microclimatic conditions are also involved in mosquito resting site selection. Most mosquitoes were collected at resting sites with relatively colder and more stable temperatures. In concert, laboratory choice experiments with a thermal gradient ring demonstrated that Cs. morsitans/fumipennis avoid temperatures over 30 °C. Understanding the small-scaled resting site preferences and the related microclimatic conditions can improve mosquito collection techniques and refine the prediction of mosquito-borne pathogen transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- F G Sauer
- Aquatic Ecology and Nature Conservation, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - J Grave
- Aquatic Ecology and Nature Conservation, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - R Lühken
- Arbovirology, Arbovirus Ecology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - E Kiel
- Aquatic Ecology and Nature Conservation, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany
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14
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Hernandez-Colina A, Gonzalez-Olvera M, Lomax E, Townsend F, Maddox A, Hesson JC, Sherlock K, Ward D, Eckley L, Vercoe M, Lopez J, Baylis M. Blood-feeding ecology of mosquitoes in two zoological gardens in the United Kingdom. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:249. [PMID: 34016159 PMCID: PMC8139098 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04735-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Zoological gardens contain unique configurations of exotic and endemic animals and plants that create a diverse range of developing sites and potential sources of blood meals for local mosquitoes. This may imply unusual interspecific pathogen transmission risks involving zoo vertebrates, like avian malaria to captive penguins. Understanding mosquito ecology and host feeding patterns is necessary to improve mosquito control and disease prevention measures in these environments. METHODS Mosquito sampling took place in Chester Zoo for 3 years (2017, 2018, and 2019) and for 1 year in Flamingo Land (2017) using different trapping methods. Blood-fed mosquitoes were identified and their blood meal was amplified by PCR, sequenced, and blasted for host species identification. RESULTS In total, 640 blood-fed mosquitoes were collected [Culex pipiens (n = 497), Culiseta annulata (n = 81), Anopheles maculipennis s.l. (n = 7), An. claviger (n = 1), and unidentifiable (n = 55)]. Successful identification of the host species was achieved from 159 blood-fed mosquitoes. Mosquitoes fed on birds (n = 74), non-human mammals (n = 20), and humans (n = 71). There were mixed blood meals from two hosts (n = 6). The proportions of blood-fed mosquitoes varied across sampling seasons and sites within the zoos. The use of resting traps and aspiration of vegetation were more efficient techniques for capturing blood-fed mosquitoes than traps for host-seeking or gravid mosquitoes. By relating the locations of zoo vertebrates to where fed mosquitoes were trapped, the minimum travelling distances were calculated (13.7 to 366.7 m). Temperature, precipitation, relative humidity, proximity to zoo vertebrate exhibits, and vegetation level were found to be significantly associated with the proportion of captured blood-fed mosquitoes by generalized linear modelling. CONCLUSIONS Mosquito feeding behaviour in zoos is mainly influenced by time, location (sampling area), temperature, and host availability, which highlights the value of mosquito monitoring in complex settings to plan control strategies and potentially reduce inherent disease transmission risks for humans and threatened zoo vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arturo Hernandez-Colina
- Department of Livestock and One Health, Institute of Infection, Veterinary & Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, Cheshire, CH64 7TE, UK.
- North of England Zoological Society (Chester Zoo), Caughall Road, Chester, CH2 1LH, UK.
| | - Merit Gonzalez-Olvera
- Department of Livestock and One Health, Institute of Infection, Veterinary & Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, Cheshire, CH64 7TE, UK
- North of England Zoological Society (Chester Zoo), Caughall Road, Chester, CH2 1LH, UK
| | - Emily Lomax
- Department of Livestock and One Health, Institute of Infection, Veterinary & Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, Cheshire, CH64 7TE, UK
| | - Freya Townsend
- Department of Livestock and One Health, Institute of Infection, Veterinary & Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, Cheshire, CH64 7TE, UK
| | - Amber Maddox
- Department of Livestock and One Health, Institute of Infection, Veterinary & Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, Cheshire, CH64 7TE, UK
| | - Jenny C Hesson
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Zoonosis Science Centre, Uppsala University, 751 23, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Kenneth Sherlock
- Department of Livestock and One Health, Institute of Infection, Veterinary & Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, Cheshire, CH64 7TE, UK
| | - Dawn Ward
- Flamingo Land, Kirby Misperton, Malton, YO17 6UX, UK
| | - Lindsay Eckley
- North of England Zoological Society (Chester Zoo), Caughall Road, Chester, CH2 1LH, UK
| | - Mark Vercoe
- North of England Zoological Society (Chester Zoo), Caughall Road, Chester, CH2 1LH, UK
| | - Javier Lopez
- North of England Zoological Society (Chester Zoo), Caughall Road, Chester, CH2 1LH, UK
| | - Matthew Baylis
- Department of Livestock and One Health, Institute of Infection, Veterinary & Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, Cheshire, CH64 7TE, UK
- Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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Abstract
Culex modestus mosquitoes are considered potential transmission vectors of West Nile virus and Usutu virus. Their presence has been reported across several European countries, including one larva detected in Belgium in 2018. In this study, mosquitoes were collected in the city of Leuven and surrounding areas in the summers of 2019 and 2020. Species identification was performed based on morphological features and partial sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. The 107 mosquitoes collected in 2019 belonged to eight mosquito species, Culex pipiens (24.3%), Cx. modestus (48.6%), Cx. torrentium (0.9%), Culiseta annulata (0.9%), Culiseta morsitans (0.9%), Aedes sticticus (14.0%), Aedes cinereus (9.3%), and Anopheles plumbeus (0.9%), suggesting the presence of an established Cx. modestus population in Belgium. The collection of Cx. modestus mosquitoes at the same locations in 2020 confirmed their establishment in the region. Haplotype network analysis of the COI sequences for Cx. modestus showed that the Belgian population is rather diverse, suggesting that it may have been established in Belgium for some time. The Belgian Cx. modestus population was most closely related to populations from the United Kingdom and Germany. Characterization of the virome of the collected mosquitoes resulted in the identification of at least 33 eukaryotic viral species. Nine (nearly) complete genomes belonging to 6 viral species were identified, all of which were closely related to known viruses. In conclusion, here, we report the presence of Cx. modestus in the surrounding areas of Leuven, Belgium. As this species is considered to be a vector of several arboviruses, the implementation of vector surveillance programs to monitor this species is recommended. IMPORTANCECulex modestus mosquitoes are considered to be a potential “bridge” vector, being able to transmit pathogens between birds as well as from birds to mammals, including humans. In Belgium, this mosquito species was considered absent until the finding of one larva in 2018 and subsequent evidence of a large population in 2019 to 2020 described here. We collected mosquitoes in the summers of 2019 and 2020 in the city of Leuven and surrounding areas. The mosquito species was identified by morphological and molecular methods, demonstrating the presence of Cx. modestus in this region. The ability of mosquitoes to transmit pathogens can depend on several factors, one of them being their natural virus composition. Therefore, we identified the mosquito-specific viruses harbored by Belgian mosquitoes. As Cx. modestus is able to transmit viruses such as West Nile virus and Usutu virus, the establishment of this mosquito species may increase the risk of virus transmission in the region. It is thus advisable to implement mosquito surveillance programs to monitor this species.
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Hernández-Triana LM, Garza-Hernández JA, Ortega Morales AI, Prosser SWJ, Hebert PDN, Nikolova NI, Barrero E, de Luna-Santillana EDJ, González-Alvarez VH, Mendez-López R, Chan-Chable RJ, Fooks AR, Rodríguez-Pérez MA. An Integrated Molecular Approach to Untangling Host-Vector-Pathogen Interactions in Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) From Sylvan Communities in Mexico. Front Vet Sci 2021; 7:564791. [PMID: 33778029 PMCID: PMC7988227 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.564791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
There are ~240 species of Culicidae in Mexico, of which some are vectors of arthropod-borne viruses such as Zika virus, dengue virus, chikungunya virus, and West Nile virus. Thus, the identification of mosquito feeding preferences is paramount to understanding of vector–host–pathogen interactions that, in turn, can aid the control of disease outbreaks. Typically, DNA and RNA are extracted separately for animal (insects and blood meal hosts) and viral identification, but this study demonstrates that multiple organisms can be analyzed from a single RNA extract. For the first time, residual DNA present in standard RNA extracts was analyzed by DNA barcoding in concert with Sanger and next-generation sequencing (NGS) to identify both the mosquito species and the source of their meals in blood-fed females caught in seven sylvan communities in Chiapas State, Mexico. While mosquito molecular identification involved standard barcoding methods, the sensitivity of blood meal identification was maximized by employing short primers with NGS. In total, we collected 1,634 specimens belonging to 14 genera, 25 subgenera, and 61 morphospecies of mosquitoes. Of these, four species were new records for Mexico (Aedes guatemala, Ae. insolitus, Limatus asulleptus, Trichoprosopon pallidiventer), and nine were new records for Chiapas State. DNA barcode sequences for >300 bp of the COI gene were obtained from 291 specimens, whereas 130 bp sequences were recovered from another 179 specimens. High intraspecific divergence values (>2%) suggesting cryptic species complexes were observed in nine taxa: Anopheles eiseni (5.39%), An. pseudopunctipennis (2.79%), Ae. podographicus (4.05%), Culex eastor (4.88%), Cx. erraticus (2.28%), Toxorhynchites haemorrhoidalis (4.30%), Tr. pallidiventer (4.95%), Wyeomyia adelpha/Wy. guatemala (7.30%), and Wy. pseudopecten (4.04%). The study increased the number of mosquito species known from 128 species to 138 species for Chiapas State, and 239 for Mexico as a whole. Blood meal analysis showed that Aedes angustivittatus fed on ducks and chicken, whereas Psorophora albipes fed on humans. Culex quinquefasciatus fed on diverse hosts including chicken, human, turkey, and Mexican grackle. No arbovirus RNA was detected by reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction in the surveyed specimens. This study demonstrated, for the first time, that residual DNA present in RNA blood meal extracts can be used to identify host vectors, highlighting the important role of molecular approaches in both vector identification and revealing host–vector–pathogen interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis M Hernández-Triana
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Virology Department, Rabies and Wildlife Zoonoses Research Group, Addlestone, United Kingdom
| | | | - Aldo I Ortega Morales
- Departamento de Parasitología, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Unidad Laguna, Periférico Raúl López Sánchez y Carretera a Santa Fe, Torreón, Mexico
| | - Sean W J Prosser
- Center for Biodiversity Genomics, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Paul D N Hebert
- Center for Biodiversity Genomics, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Nadya I Nikolova
- Center for Biodiversity Genomics, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Elsa Barrero
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Virology Department, Rabies and Wildlife Zoonoses Research Group, Addlestone, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Ramón Mendez-López
- Departamento de Parasitología, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Unidad Laguna, Periférico Raúl López Sánchez y Carretera a Santa Fe, Torreón, Mexico
| | - Rahuel J Chan-Chable
- Departamento de Parasitología, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Unidad Laguna, Periférico Raúl López Sánchez y Carretera a Santa Fe, Torreón, Mexico
| | - Anthony R Fooks
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Virology Department, Rabies and Wildlife Zoonoses Research Group, Addlestone, United Kingdom
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Bellekom B, Hackett TD, Lewis OT. A Network Perspective on the Vectoring of Human Disease. Trends Parasitol 2021; 37:391-400. [PMID: 33419670 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2020.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Blood-sucking insects are important vectors of disease, with biting Diptera (flies) alone transmitting diseases that cause an estimated 700 000 human deaths a year. Insect vectors also bite nonhuman hosts, linking them into host-biting networks. While the major vectors of prominent diseases, such as malaria, yellow fever, dengue, and Zika, are intensively studied, there has been limited focus on the wider interactions of biting insects with nonhuman hosts. Drawing on network analysis and visualisation approaches from food-web ecology, we discuss the value of a network perspective for understanding host-insect-disease interactions, with a focus on Diptera vectors. Potential applications include highlighting pathways of disease transmission, highlighting reservoirs of infection, and identifying emerging and previously unrecognised vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Bellekom
- Department of Zoology, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK.
| | - Talya D Hackett
- Department of Zoology, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK
| | - Owen T Lewis
- Department of Zoology, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK
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Modeling host-feeding preference and molecular systematics of mosquitoes in different ecological niches in Canada. Acta Trop 2021; 213:105734. [PMID: 33159902 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 10/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Several mosquito-borne viruses (mobovirus) cause infections in Canada. Ecological data on mosquito species and host range in Canada remains elusive. The main aim of the current study is to determine the host range and molecular systematics of mosquito species in Canada. Mosquitoes were collected using BG-Sentinel traps and aspirators at 10 trapping sites in Canada during 2018 and 2019. Mosquitoes collected were identified via morphology and molecular techniques. Mosquito sequences were aligned by MUSCLE algorithm and evolutionary systematics were drawn using MEGA and SDT software. Moreover, the source of blood meals was identified using a DNA barcoding technique. A total of 5,708 female mosquitoes over 34 different taxa were collected. DNA barcodes and evolutionary tree analysis confirmed the identification of mosquito species in Canada. Of the total collected samples, 201 specimens were blood-fed female mosquitoes in 20 different taxa. Four mosquito species represented about half (51.47%) of all collected blood-fed specimens: Aede cinereus (39 specimens, 19.11%), Aedes triseriatus (23, 11.27%), Culex pipiens (22, 10.78%), and Anopheles punctipennis (21, 10.29%). The most common blood meal sources were humans (49 mosquito specimens, 24% of all blood-fed mosquito specimen), pigs (44, 21.5%), American red squirrels (28, 13.7%), white-tailed deers (28, 13.7%), and American crows (16, 7.8%). Here, we present the first analysis of the host-feeding preference of different mosquito species in Canada via molecular techniques. Our results on mosquito distribution and behavior will aid in the development of effective mitigation and control strategies to prevent or reduce human/animal health issues in regards to moboviruses.
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First Record of Mosquito-Borne Kyzylagach Virus in Central Europe. Viruses 2020; 12:v12121445. [PMID: 33339099 PMCID: PMC7765487 DOI: 10.3390/v12121445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA of Kyzylagach virus (KYZV), a Sindbis-like mosquito-borne alphavirus from Western equine encephalitis virus complex, was detected in four pools (out of 221 pools examined), encompassing 10,784 female Culex modestus mosquitoes collected at a fishpond in south Moravia, Czech Republic, with a minimum infection rate of 0.04%. This alphavirus was never detected in Central Europe before.
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Autochthonous Transmission of West Nile Virus by a New Vector in Iran, Vector-Host Interaction Modeling and Virulence Gene Determinants. Viruses 2020; 12:v12121449. [PMID: 33339336 PMCID: PMC7766443 DOI: 10.3390/v12121449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Using molecular techniques and bioinformatics tools, we studied the vector-host interactions and the molecular epidemiology of West Nile virus (WNV) in western Iran. Mosquitoes were collected during 2017 and 2018. DNA typing assays were used to study vector-host interactions. Mosquitoes were screened by RT-PCR for the genomes of five virus families. WNV-positive samples were fully sequenced and evolutionary tree and molecular architecture were constructed by Geneious software and SWISS-MODEL workspace, respectively. A total of 5028 mosquito specimens were collected and identified. The most prevalent species was Culex (Cx.) pipiens complex (57.3%). Analysis of the blood-feeding preferences of blood-fed mosquitoes revealed six mammalian and one bird species as hosts. One mosquito pool containing non-blood-fed Cx. theileri and one blood-fed Culex pipiens pipiens (Cpp.) biotype pipiens were positive for WNV. A phylogram indicated that the obtained WNV sequences belonged to lineage 2, subclade 2 g. Several amino acid substitutions suspected as virulence markers were observed in the Iranian WNV strains. The three-dimensional structural homology model of the E-protein identified hot spot domains known to facilitate virus invasion and neurotropism. The recent detection of WNV lineage 2 in mosquitoes from several regions of Iran in consecutive years suggests that the virus is established in the country.
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Rudolf I, Šikutová S, Šebesta O, Mendel J, Malenovský I, Kampen H, Medlock J, Schaffner F. Overwintering of Culex modestus and Other Mosquito Species in a Reedbed Ecosystem, Including Arbovirus Findings. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MOSQUITO CONTROL ASSOCIATION 2020; 36:257-260. [PMID: 33647121 DOI: 10.2987/20-6949.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The overwintering strategy of the mosquito Culex modestus, an important West Nile virus (WNV) vector in Europe, was explored under field conditions in reedbed (Phragmites australis) ecosystems in early 2019. A total of 30 Cx. modestus females were found in a BG-Sentinel trap placed in a plastic greenhouse as well as in a reference BG-Sentinel trap placed under the open sky, both set up within the reedbeds and inspected every 2-3 days from February 27 to April 10, 2019. Moreover, 186 females of Cx. pipiens, 3 females of Anopheles hyrcanus, and 3 females of Culiseta annulata were trapped in the monitored time span. While all Cx. modestus females tested negative for the presence of WNV and other arboviruses circulating in Central Europe, we confirmed WNV lineage 2 and Ťahyna virus infection in several pools of the collected Cx. pipiens, demonstrating arbovirus overwintering. This pilot study highlights the need for large-scale monitoring activities covering different regions to identify the overwintering strategy of both mosquito-borne viruses and their vectors in Central Europe.
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González MA, Prosser SW, Hernández-Triana LM, Alarcón-Elbal PM, Goiri F, López S, Ruiz-Arrondo I, Hebert PDN, García-Pérez AL. Avian Feeding Preferences of Culex pipiens and Culiseta spp. Along an Urban-to-Wild Gradient in Northern Spain. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.568835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Chapman GE, Sherlock K, Hesson JC, Blagrove MSC, Lycett GJ, Archer D, Solomon T, Baylis M. Laboratory transmission potential of British mosquitoes for equine arboviruses. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:413. [PMID: 32787904 PMCID: PMC7425075 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04285-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There has been no evidence of transmission of mosquito-borne arboviruses of equine or human health concern to date in the UK. However, in recent years there have been a number of outbreaks of viral diseases spread by vectors in Europe. These events, in conjunction with increasing rates of globalisation and climate change, have led to concern over the future risk of mosquito-borne viral disease outbreaks in northern Europe and have highlighted the importance of being prepared for potential disease outbreaks. Here we assess several UK mosquito species for their potential to transmit arboviruses important for both equine and human health, as measured by the presence of viral RNA in saliva at different time points after taking an infective blood meal. RESULTS The following wild-caught British mosquitoes were evaluated for their potential as vectors of zoonotic equine arboviruses: Ochlerotatus detritus for Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) and Ross River virus (RRV), and Culiseta annulata and Culex pipiens for Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). Production of RNA in saliva was demonstrated at varying efficiencies for all mosquito-virus pairs. Ochlerotatus detritus was more permissive for production of RRV RNA in saliva than VEEV RNA. For RRV, 27.3% of mosquitoes expectorated viral RNA at 7 days post-infection when incubated at 21 °C and 50% at 24 °C. Strikingly, 72% of Cx. pipiens produced JEV RNA in saliva after 21 days at 18 °C. For some mosquito-virus pairs, infection and salivary RNA titres reduced over time, suggesting unstable infection dynamics. CONCLUSIONS This study adds to the number of Palaearctic mosquito species that demonstrate expectoration of viral RNA, for arboviruses of importance to human and equine health. This work adds to evidence that native mosquito species should be investigated further for their potential to vector zoonotic mosquito-borne arboviral disease of equines in northern Europe. The evidence that Cx. pipiens is potentially an efficient laboratory vector of JEV at temperatures as low as 18 °C warrants further investigation, as this mosquito is abundant in cooler regions of Europe and is considered an important vector for West Nile Virus, which has a comparable transmission ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gail E. Chapman
- Epidemiology and Population Health, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Ken Sherlock
- Epidemiology and Population Health, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Jenny C. Hesson
- Epidemiology and Population Health, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Marcus S. C. Blagrove
- Epidemiology and Population Health, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Gareth J. Lycett
- Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Debra Archer
- Epidemiology and Population Health, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Tom Solomon
- Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | - Matthew Baylis
- Epidemiology and Population Health, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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Birnberg L, Aranda C, Talavera S, Núñez AI, Escosa R, Busquets N. Laboratory colonization and maintenance of Anopheles atroparvus from the Ebro Delta, Spain. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:394. [PMID: 32746901 PMCID: PMC7398269 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04268-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Historically, Anopheles atroparvus has been considered one of the most important malaria vectors in Europe. Since malaria was eradicated from the European continent, the interest in studying its vectors reduced significantly. Currently, to better assess the potential risk of malaria resurgence on the continent, there is a growing need to update the data on susceptibility of indigenous Anopheles populations to imported Plasmodium species. In order to do this, as a first step, an adequate laboratory colony of An. atroparvus is needed. Methods Anopheles atroparvus mosquitoes were captured in rice fields from the Ebro Delta (Spain). Field-caught specimens were maintained in the laboratory under simulated field-summer conditions. Adult females were artificially blood-fed on fresh whole rabbit blood for oviposition. First- to fourth-instar larvae were fed on pulverized fish and turtle food. Adults were maintained with a 10% sucrose solution ad libitum. Results An An. atroparvus population from the Ebro Delta was successfully established in the laboratory. During the colonization process, feeding and hatching rates increased, while a reduction in larval mortality rate was observed. Conclusions The present study provides a detailed rearing and maintenance protocol for An. atroparvus and a publicly available reference mosquito strain within the INFRAVEC2 project for further research studies involving vector-parasite interactions. ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Lotty Birnberg
- Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Institut de recerca en Tecnologies Agroalimentaries (IRTA), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carles Aranda
- Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Institut de recerca en Tecnologies Agroalimentaries (IRTA), Barcelona, Spain.,Servei de Control de Mosquits del Consell Comarcal del Baix Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sandra Talavera
- Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Institut de recerca en Tecnologies Agroalimentaries (IRTA), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana I Núñez
- Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Institut de recerca en Tecnologies Agroalimentaries (IRTA), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raúl Escosa
- Consorci de Polítiques Ambientals de les Terres de l'Ebre (COPATE), Tarragona, Spain
| | - Núria Busquets
- Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Institut de recerca en Tecnologies Agroalimentaries (IRTA), Barcelona, Spain.
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Amin M, Zaim M, Edalat H, Basseri HR, Yaghoobi-Ershadi MR, Rezaei F, Azizi K, Salehi-Vaziri M, Ghane M, Yousefi S, Dabaghmanesh S, Kheirandish S, Najafi ME, Mohammadi J. Seroprevalence Study on West Nile Virus (WNV) Infection, a Hidden Viral Disease in Fars Province, Southern Iran. J Arthropod Borne Dis 2020; 14:173-184. [PMID: 33365345 PMCID: PMC7738928 DOI: 10.18502/jad.v14i2.3735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: West Nile Virus, a mosquito-borne flavivirus, causes a variety of symptoms in human, from asymptomatic infection to neuroinvasive disease. Several studies have been conducted on the seroprevalence of WNV infection in different areas from Iran. This study was performed to find the presence of antiviral antibodies in human serum among some high risk population and awareness of health care staff about symptom of the WNV infection. Methods: Study performed in five geographical districts based on high population of immigrant and domestic birds and prevalence of the antiviral antibodies in horses which was reported previously. Totally 150 human blood samples were collected during 2018. The samples collected from patients referred to the clinics. The ELISA method used to detect IgG and IgM antibody against WNV. Logistic regression models used to analyze the effect of sex, age, keeping birds and urban/rural residence on the risk of infection. The awareness of health care staff about symptom of infection surveyed. Results: From all blood donors, 41 samples (27.33%) showed positive to IgG antibody. From which 56.10% were males and remaining females. None of the mentioned factors had a significant relationship. Health care staff had less attention to the infection. Conclusion: Although the prevalence of antibodies was relatively high, due to the similarity to other viral diseases, health care staff had less attention to the disease. The study showed that people in these areas have been exposed to the virus. Further research activities are recommended for control of this arbovirus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoumeh Amin
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Morteza Zaim
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamideh Edalat
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Reza Basseri
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Yaghoobi-Ershadi
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farhad Rezaei
- Department of Medical Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Kourosh Azizi
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mostafa Salehi-Vaziri
- Department of Arboviruses and Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (National Ref Lab), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohsen Ghane
- Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Science, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Saideh Yousefi
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sorna Dabaghmanesh
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Sedigheh Kheirandish
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Mohammad Esmaeil Najafi
- Environmental Health Unit, Faculty of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Jalal Mohammadi
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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Sauer FG, Jaworski L, Lühken R, Kiel E. Impacts of sampling rhythm and exposition on the effectiveness of artificial resting shelters for mosquito collection in northern Germany. JOURNAL OF VECTOR ECOLOGY : JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR VECTOR ECOLOGY 2020; 45:142-146. [PMID: 32492276 DOI: 10.1111/jvec.12383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Felix G Sauer
- Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Aquatic Ecology and Nature Conservation, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Linda Jaworski
- Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Aquatic Ecology and Nature Conservation, Oldenburg, Germany
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Renke Lühken
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- Universität Hamburg, Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ellen Kiel
- Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Aquatic Ecology and Nature Conservation, Oldenburg, Germany
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England ME, Pearce-Kelly P, Brugman VA, King S, Gubbins S, Sach F, Sanders CJ, Masters NJ, Denison E, Carpenter S. Culicoides species composition and molecular identification of host blood meals at two zoos in the UK. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:139. [PMID: 32178710 PMCID: PMC7076997 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04018-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Culicoides biting midges are biological vectors of arboviruses including bluetongue virus (BTV), Schmallenberg virus (SBV) and African horse sickness virus (AHSV). Zoos are home to a wide range of 'at risk' exotic and native species of animals. These animals have a high value both in monetary terms, conservation significance and breeding potential. To understand the risk these viruses pose to zoo animals, it is necessary to characterise the Culicoides fauna at zoos and determine which potential vector species are feeding on which hosts. METHODS Light-suction traps were used at two UK zoos: the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) London Zoo (LZ) and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo (WZ). Traps were run one night each week from June 2014 to June 2015. Culicoides were morphologically identified to the species level and any blood-fed Culicoides were processed for blood-meal analysis. DNA from blood meals was extracted and amplified using previously published primers. Sequencing was then carried out to determine the host species. RESULTS A total of 11,648 Culicoides were trapped and identified (n = 5880 from ZSL WZ; n = 5768 from ZSL LZ), constituting 25 different species. The six putative vectors of BTV, SBV and AHSV in northern Europe were found at both zoos and made up the majority of the total catch (n = 10,701). A total of 31 host sequences were obtained from blood-fed Culicoides. Culicoides obsoletus/C. scoticus, Culicoides dewulfi, Culicoides parroti and Culicoides punctatus were found to be biting a wide range of mammals including Bactrian camels, Indian rhinoceros, Asian elephants and humans, with Culicoides obsoletus/C. scoticus also biting Darwin's rhea. The bird-biting species, Culicoides achrayi, was found to be feeding on blackbirds, blue tits, magpies and carrion crows. CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, this is the first study to directly confirm blood-feeding of Culicoides on exotic zoo animals in the UK and shows that they are able to utilise a wide range of exotic as well as native host species. Due to the susceptibility of some zoo animals to Culicoides-borne arboviruses, this study demonstrates that in the event of an outbreak of one of these viruses in the UK, preventative and mitigating measures would need to be taken.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion E England
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Woking, Surrey, GU24 0NF, UK.
| | - Paul Pearce-Kelly
- Zoological Society of London, Outer Circle, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4BJ, UK
| | - Victor A Brugman
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Simon King
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Woking, Surrey, GU24 0NF, UK
| | - Simon Gubbins
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Woking, Surrey, GU24 0NF, UK
| | - Fiona Sach
- Zoological Society of London, Outer Circle, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4BJ, UK
| | | | - Nic J Masters
- Zoological Society of London, Outer Circle, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4BJ, UK
| | - Eric Denison
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Woking, Surrey, GU24 0NF, UK
| | - Simon Carpenter
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Woking, Surrey, GU24 0NF, UK
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Hernández-Triana LM, Brugman VA, Pramual P, Barrero E, Nikolova NI, Ruiz-Arrondo I, Kaiser A, Krüger A, Lumley S, Osório HC, Ignjatović-Ćupina A, Petrić D, Laure Setier-Rio M, Bødker R, Johnson N. Genetic diversity and population structure of Culex modestus across Europe: does recent appearance in the United Kingdom reveal a tendency for geographical spread? MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2020; 34:86-96. [PMID: 31603254 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Revised: 09/15/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In mainland Europe, the mosquito species Culex modestus Ficalbi (1890) is a bridge vector for West Nile virus (WNV) from its natural bird-mosquito cycle to mammals. The present study assessed the genetic diversity of Cx. modestus, as well as related Culex species, using the mitochondrial COI DNA barcoding region and compared this with the population structure across Europe. A haplotype network was mapped to determine genealogical relationships among specimens. The intraspecific genetic diversity within individual Culex species was below 2%, whereas the interspecific genetic divergence varied from 2.99% to 13.74%. In total, 76 haplotypes were identified among 198 sequences. A median-joining network determined from 198 COI sequences identified two major lineages that were separated by at least four mutation steps. A high level of intraspecific genetic diversity was not detected in Cx. modestus in samples submitted from different European populations, which indicates that morphologically identified specimens represent a single species and not a species complex. Therefore, it is deduced that different populations of Cx. modestus will show a similar potential to transmit WNV, lending support to concerns that the population present in southeast England represents a risk of transmission to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - V A Brugman
- Vecotech Ltd, London, U.K
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, U.K
| | - P Pramual
- Department of Biology and Biodiversity and Traditional Knowledge Research Unit, Faculty of Science, Mahasarakham University, Kantharawichai District, Maha Sarakham, Thailand
| | - E Barrero
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone, U.K
| | - N I Nikolova
- Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - I Ruiz-Arrondo
- Center for Rickettsiosis and Arthropod-Borne Diseases, CIBIR, Logroño, La Rioja, Spain
| | - A Kaiser
- German Mosquito Control Association (KABS), Institute for Dipterology, Speyer, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
| | - A Krüger
- Bundeswehr Hospital Hamburg, Section Tropical Microbiology & Entomology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - S Lumley
- The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, Woking, U.K
| | - H C Osório
- Centre for Vectors and Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Águas de Moura, Portugal
| | - A Ignjatović-Ćupina
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Vojvodina Province, Serbia
| | - D Petrić
- Direction Recherche et Dèvelopment, Montpellier, Cedex, France
| | | | - R Bødker
- Technical University of Denmark, National Veterinary Institute, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - N Johnson
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone, U.K
- Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Surrey, Guildford, U.K
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Folly AJ, Dorey-Robinson D, Hernández-Triana LM, Phipps LP, Johnson N. Emerging Threats to Animals in the United Kingdom by Arthropod-Borne Diseases. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:20. [PMID: 32118054 PMCID: PMC7010938 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Worldwide, arthropod-borne disease transmission represents one of the greatest threats to public and animal health. For the British Isles, an island group on the north-western coast of continental Europe consisting of the United Kingdom (UK) and the Republic of Ireland, physical separation offers a barrier to the introduction of many of the pathogens that affect animals on the rest of the continent. Added to this are strict biosecurity rules at ports of entry and the depauperate vector biodiversity found on the islands. Nevertheless, there are some indigenous arthropod-borne pathogens that cause sporadic outbreaks, such as the tick-borne louping ill virus, found almost exclusively in the British Isles, and a range of piroplasmid infections that are poorly characterized. These provide an ongoing source of infection whose emergence can be unpredictable. In addition, the risk remains for future introductions of both exotic vectors and the pathogens they harbor, and can transmit. Current factors that are driving the increases of both disease transmission and the risk of emergence include marked changes to the climate in the British Isles that have increased summer and winter temperatures, and extended the period over which arthropods are active. There have also been dramatic increases in the distribution of mosquito-borne diseases, such as West Nile and Usutu viruses in mainland Europe that are making the introduction of these pathogens through bird migration increasingly feasible. In addition, the establishment of midge-borne bluetongue virus in the near continent has increased the risk of wind-borne introduction of infected midges and the inadvertent importation of infected cattle. Arguably the greatest risk is associated with the continual increase in the movement of people, pets and trade into the UK. This, in particular, is driving the introduction of invasive arthropod species that either bring disease-causing pathogens, or are known competent vectors, that increase the risk of disease transmission if introduced. The following review documents the current pathogen threats to animals transmitted by mosquitoes, ticks and midges. This includes both indigenous and exotic pathogens to the UK. In the case of exotic pathogens, the pathway and risk of introduction are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arran J. Folly
- Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency (Weybridge), Addlestone, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel Dorey-Robinson
- Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency (Weybridge), Addlestone, United Kingdom
| | | | - L. Paul Phipps
- Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency (Weybridge), Addlestone, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas Johnson
- Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency (Weybridge), Addlestone, United Kingdom
- Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
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Santos EB, Favretto MA, Navarro‐Silva MA. Community structure of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in the coast of Southern Brazil. AUSTRAL ENTOMOLOGY 2019; 58:826-835. [DOI: 10.1111/aen.12412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Emili B Santos
- Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Campus Curitibanos Km 3, Ulysses Gaboardi Road Curitibanos Santa Catarina State Brazil
| | - Mario A Favretto
- Secretaria Municipal de SaúdePrefeitura Municipal de Campos Novos Caetano Belincanta Neto Avenue Campos Novos Santa Catarina State Brazil
| | - Mario A Navarro‐Silva
- Departamento de ZoologiaUniversidade Federal do Paraná Jardim das Américas Curitiba Paraná State Brazil
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Kang DS, Martinez R, Hosein A, Shui Feng R, James L, Lovin DD, Cunningham JM, Miller CST, Eng MW, Chadee DD, Severson DW. Identification of Host Blood Meals of Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) Collected at the Aripo Savannas Scientific Reserve in Trinidad, West Indies. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2019; 56:1734-1738. [PMID: 31283827 PMCID: PMC7182913 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjz113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Surveillance for blood-fed female mosquitoes was performed between August 2015 and February 2016 at sites along the periphery of the Aripo Savannas Environmentally Reserve (ASSR) located in northeastern Trinidad, West Indies. We collected engorged female mosquitoes representing 13 species. DNA extractions from dissected abdomens were subjected to PCR amplification with three primer pairs targeting the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I and cytochrome b gene sequences. High-quality sequence information and host identification were obtained for 42 specimens representing eight mosquito species with at least one primer combination. A broad range of vertebrates including humans were identified, but the majority were nonhuman mammals, both domestic and wild. Domestic dogs were the most common host and may represent potential sentinel species for monitoring local enzootic arbovirus activity in Trinidad. Culex declarator Dyer and Knab and Culex nigripalpus Theobald were the most common blood-fed mosquito species comprising 79.1% of the total number identified. These species obtained blood meals from birds, nonhuman mammals, and human hosts, and therefore pose significant risks as potential bridge vectors for epizootic arbovirus transmission in the ASSR area as well as other sylvan areas in Trinidad. These data represent the first such results for Trinidad.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S Kang
- Department of Biological Sciences and Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
| | - Ray Martinez
- Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, Saint Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Aliya Hosein
- Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, Saint Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Rachel Shui Feng
- Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, Saint Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Lester James
- Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, Saint Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Diane D Lovin
- Department of Biological Sciences and Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
| | - Joanne M Cunningham
- Department of Biological Sciences and Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
| | | | - Matthew W Eng
- Department of Biological Sciences and Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
| | - Dave D Chadee
- Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, Saint Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - David W Severson
- Department of Biological Sciences and Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
- Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, Saint Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
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Hoshi T, Brugman VA, Sato S, Ant T, Tojo B, Masuda G, Kaneko S, Moji K, Medlock JM, Logan JG. Field testing of a lightweight, inexpensive, and customisable 3D-printed mosquito light trap in the UK. Sci Rep 2019; 9:11412. [PMID: 31388090 PMCID: PMC6684613 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-47511-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Mosquito surveillance is a fundamental component of planning and evaluating vector control programmes. However, logistical and cost barriers can hinder the implementation of surveillance, particularly in vector-borne disease-endemic areas and in outbreak scenarios in remote areas where the need is often most urgent. The increasing availability and reduced cost of 3D printing technology offers an innovative approach to overcoming these challenges. In this study, we assessed the field performance of a novel, lightweight 3D-printed mosquito light trap baited with carbon dioxide (CO2) in comparison with two gold-standard traps, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) light trap baited with CO2, and the BG Sentinel 2 trap with BG-Lure and CO2. Traps were run for 12 nights in a Latin square design at Rainham Marshes, Essex, UK in September 2018. The 3D-printed trap showed equivalent catch rates to the two commercially available traps. The 3D-printed trap designs are distributed free of charge in this article with the aim of assisting entomological field studies across the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomonori Hoshi
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom. .,Department of Eco-Epidemiology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan. .,School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan.
| | - Victor A Brugman
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom.,Vecotech Ltd, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
| | - Shigeharu Sato
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan.,Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Malaysia Sabah, Sabah, 88400, Malaysia
| | - Thomas Ant
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
| | - Bumpei Tojo
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
| | - Gaku Masuda
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
| | - Satoshi Kaneko
- Department of Eco-Epidemiology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan.,School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Moji
- Department of Eco-Epidemiology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan.,School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
| | - Jolyon M Medlock
- Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JG, United Kingdom
| | - James G Logan
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
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Gyawali N, Taylor-Robinson AW, Bradbury RS, Huggins DW, Hugo LE, Lowry K, Aaskov JG. Identification of the source of blood meals in mosquitoes collected from north-eastern Australia. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:198. [PMID: 31053094 PMCID: PMC6500030 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3455-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background More than 70 arboviruses have been identified in Australia and the transmission cycles of most are poorly understood. While there is an extensive list of arthropods from which these viruses have been recovered, far less is known about the non-human hosts that may be involved in the transmission cycles of these viruses and the relative roles of different mosquito species in cycles of transmission involving different hosts. Some of the highest rates of human infection with zoonotic arboviruses, such as Ross River (RRV) and Barmah Forest (BFV) viruses, occur in coastal regions of north-eastern Australia. Methods Engorged mosquitoes collected as a part of routine surveillance using CO2-baited light traps in the Rockhampton Region and the adjoining Shire of Livingstone in central Queensland, north-eastern Australia, were analysed for the source of their blood meal. A 457 or 623 nucleotide region of the cytochrome b gene in the blood was amplified by PCR and the amplicons sequenced. The origin of the blood was identified by comparing the sequences obtained with those in GenBank®. Results The most common hosts for the mosquitoes sampled were domestic cattle (26/54) and wild birds (14/54). Humans (2/54) were an infrequent host for this range of mosquitoes that are known to transmit arboviruses causing human disease, and in an area where infections with human pathogens like RRV and BFV are commonly recorded. The blood meals identified in the most abundant vector analysed, Culex annulirostris, were from 10 different vertebrate hosts. The notable detection of chimpanzee blood in two mosquitoes, presumably obtained from a nearby zoo, extends the known range of hosts for this species. Culex quinquefasciatus and Cx. sitiens fed almost exclusively on a variety of bird species. Conclusions While human-mosquito-human transmission of arboviruses like RRV can occur, this study highlights the potential importance of zoonotic cycles of transmission, including avian species, of arboviruses that are indigenous to Australia. Further studies on larger samples of blood-engorged mosquitoes are required to validate the trends observed herein. Moreover, serological and virological evidence that the hosts on which the mosquitoes are feeding are being infected with arboviruses of interest are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narayan Gyawali
- School of Health, Medical & Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, QLD, 4701, Australia. .,Institute of Health & Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4059, Australia. .,Mosquito Control Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, 4006, Australia.
| | - Andrew W Taylor-Robinson
- School of Health, Medical & Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia
| | - Richard S Bradbury
- School of Health, Medical & Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, QLD, 4701, Australia
| | - David W Huggins
- Public Environments, Livingstone Shire Council, Yeppoon, QLD, 4703, Australia
| | - Leon E Hugo
- Mosquito Control Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, 4006, Australia
| | - Kym Lowry
- Institute of Health & Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4059, Australia
| | - John G Aaskov
- Institute of Health & Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4059, Australia
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M Hernández-Triana L, A Brugman V, I Nikolova N, Ignacio Ruiz-Arrondo, Barrero E, Thorne L, Fernández de Marco M, Krüger A, Lumley S, Johnson N, R Fooks A. DNA barcoding of British mosquitoes (Diptera, Culicidae) to support species identification, discovery of cryptic genetic diversity and monitoring invasive species. Zookeys 2019; 832:57-76. [PMID: 30930645 PMCID: PMC6435598 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.832.32257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Correct mosquito species identification is essential for mosquito and disease control programs. However, this is complicated by the difficulties in morphologically identifying some mosquito species. In this study, variation of a partial sequence of the cytochrome c oxidase unit I (COI) gene was used for the molecular identification of British mosquito species and to facilitate the discovery of cryptic diversity, and monitoring invasive species. Three DNA extraction methods were compared to obtain DNA barcodes from adult specimens. In total, we analyzed 42 species belonging to the genera Aedes Meigen, 1818 (21 species), Anopheles Meigen, 1818 (7 species), Coquillettidia Theobald, 1904 (1 species), Culex Linnaeus, 1758 (6 species), Culiseta Felt, 1904 (7 species), and Orthopodomyia Theobald, 1904 (1 species). Intraspecific genetic divergence ranged from 0% to 5.4%, while higher interspecific divergences were identified between Aedesgeminus Peus, 1971/Culisetalitorea (Shute, 1928) (24.6%) and Ae.geminus/An.plumbeus Stephens, 1828 (22.5%). Taxonomic discrepancy was shown between An.daciae Linton, Nicolescu & Harbach, 2004 and An.messeae Falleroni, 1828 indicating the poor resolution of the COI DNA barcoding region in separating these taxa. Other species such as Ae.cantans (Meigen, 1818)/Ae.annulipes (Meigen, 1830) showed similar discrepancies indicating some limitation of this genetic marker to identify certain mosquito species. The combination of morphology and DNA barcoding is an effective approach for the identification of British mosquitoes, for invasive mosquitoes posing a threat to the UK, and for the detection of hidden diversity within species groups.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Victor A Brugman
- Vecotech Ltd., Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK.,Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Nadya I Nikolova
- Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, University of Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Ignacio Ruiz-Arrondo
- Center for Rickettsiosis and Arthropod-Borne Diseases, CIBIR, Logroño, La Rioja, Spain
| | - Elsa Barrero
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Leigh Thorne
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK
| | | | - Andreas Krüger
- Bunderswehr Hospital Hamburg, Bernhard-Nocht-Str. 74, D-20359 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sarah Lumley
- Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, UK
| | - Nicholas Johnson
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK.,Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH, UK
| | - Anthony R Fooks
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK.,Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, L7 3EA, UK
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Santos CS, Pie MR, da Rocha TC, Navarro-Silva MA. Molecular identification of blood meals in mosquitoes (Diptera, Culicidae) in urban and forested habitats in southern Brazil. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0212517. [PMID: 30779816 PMCID: PMC6380548 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The study of host associations of mosquitoes (Diptera, Culicidae) provides valuable information to assist in our understanding of a variety of related issues, from their life-history to the entomological surveillance of pathogens. In this study, we identified and characterized mosquito blood meals from both urban and forested areas in the city of Paranaguá, state of Paraná, Brazil, by analyzing the amplification of host DNA ingested by mosquitoes under different storage conditions and digestion levels. Host DNA preservation was evaluated in fresh blood meals according to storage duration (30 to 180 days) and temperature (-20°C / -80°C) and, in digested blood, according the degree of digestion classified on the Sella scale. Molecular analysis of blood meals was based on DNA extraction and amplification of a fragment of the mitochondrial COI gene. We determined that, up to180 days of storage, the evaluated temperatures did not influence the preservation of fresh blood meals DNA, whereas the amplification success was increasingly reduced over the course of the digestion process. The species Anopheles cruzii, Aedes fluviatilis, Aedes scapularis, Psorophora ferox, Culex quinquefasciatus, Culex mollis, and Culex intrincatus, together with specimens representing four subgenera and one genus of Culicidae [Ae. (Ochlerotatus), Cx. (Culex), Cx. (Melanoconion), Cx. (Microculex), and Limatus, respectively] had their blood meals identified. Their diverse host use was evidenced by the identification of 19 species of vertebrate host, namely two amphibians, three mammals and 14 birds. Birds were the most commonly identified host in blood meals. These results not only show the diversity of mosquito hosts, but also underscore the challenges involved in monitoring arboviruses of public health importance, given potential combinations of host use for each mosquito species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Silva Santos
- Departamento de Zoologia, Laboratório de Morfologia e Fisiologia de Culicidae e Chironomidae, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
- * E-mail: (CSS);(MANS)
| | - Marcio Roberto Pie
- Departamento de Zoologia, Laboratório de Dinâmica Evolutiva e Sistemas Complexos, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Tatiana Carneiro da Rocha
- Departamento de Farmácia, Laboratório de Saúde Pública e Ambiental, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Mario Antonio Navarro-Silva
- Departamento de Zoologia, Laboratório de Morfologia e Fisiologia de Culicidae e Chironomidae, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
- * E-mail: (CSS);(MANS)
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Abstract
Background Different mosquito-borne pathogens are circulating in Iran including Sindbis virus, West Nile virus, filarioid worms and malaria parasites. However, the local transmission cycles of these pathogenic agents are poorly understood, especially because ecological data on vector species are scarce and there is limited knowledge about the host range; this understanding could help to direct species-specific vector control measurements or to prioritize research. Methods In the summers of 2015 and 2016, blood-fed mosquitoes were collected at 13 trapping sites on the coast of the Caspian Sea in northern Iran and at an additional trapping site in western Iran. Mosquitoes were generally collected with either a Biogents Sentinel trap or a Heavy Duty Encephalitis Vector Survey trap installed outside. A handheld aspirator was used at the trapping site in western Iran, in addition to a few samplings around the other trapping sites. On average, eight trapping periods were conducted per trapping site. The sources of blood meals were identified using a DNA barcoding approach targeting the cytochrome b or 16S rRNA gene fragment. Results The source of blood meals for 580 blood-fed mosquito specimens of 20 different taxa were determined, resulting in the identification of 13 different host species (9 mammals including humans, 3 birds and 1 reptile), whereby no mixed blood meals were detected. Five mosquito species represented more than 85.8% of all collected blood-fed specimens: Culex pipiens pipiens form pipiens (305 specimens, 55.7% of all mosquito specimens), Cx. theileri (60, 10.9%), Cx. sitiens (51, 9.3%), Cx. perexiguus (29, 5.3%) and Anopheles superpictus (25, 4.6%). The most commonly detected hosts of the four most abundant mosquito species were humans (Homo sapiens; 224 mosquito specimens, 40.9% of all mosquito specimens), cattle (Bos taurus; 171, 31.2%) and ducks (Anas spp.; 75, 13.7%). These four mosquito species had similar host-feeding patterns. The only exceptions were a relatively high proportion of birds for Cx. pipiens pipiens f. pipiens (23.2% of detected blood meal sources) and a high proportion of non-human mammals for Cx. theileri (73.4%). Trapping month, surrounding area, or trapping method had no statistically significant impact on the observed host-feeding patterns of Cx. pipiens pipiens f. pipiens. Conclusions Due to the diverse and overlapping host-feeding patterns, several mosquito species must be considered as potential enzootic and bridge vectors for diverse mosquito-borne pathogens in Iran. Most species can potentially transmit pathogens between mammals as well as between mammals and birds, which might be the result of a similar host selection or a high dependence on the host availability. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-018-3237-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Medlock JM, Hansford KM, Vaux AGC, Cull B, Gillingham E, Leach S. Assessment of the Public Health Threats Posed by Vector-Borne Disease in the United Kingdom (UK). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:E2145. [PMID: 30274268 PMCID: PMC6210260 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15102145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Revised: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, the known distribution of vector-borne diseases in Europe has changed, with much new information also available now on the status of vectors in the United Kingdom (UK). For example, in 2016, the UK reported their first detection of the non-native mosquito Aedes albopictus, which is a known vector for dengue and chikungunya virus. In 2010, Culex modestus, a principal mosquito vector for West Nile virus was detected in large numbers in the Thames estuary. For tick-borne diseases, data on the changing distribution of the Lyme borreliosis tick vector, Ixodes ricinus, has recently been published, at a time when there has been an increase in the numbers of reported human cases of Lyme disease. This paper brings together the latest surveillance data and pertinent research on vector-borne disease in the UK, and its relevance to public health. It highlights the need for continued vector surveillance systems to monitor our native mosquito and tick fauna, as well as the need to expand surveillance for invasive species. It illustrates the importance of maintaining surveillance capacity that is sufficient to ensure accurate and timely disease risk assessment to help mitigate the UK's changing emerging infectious disease risks, especially in a time of climatic and environmental change and increasing global connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolyon M Medlock
- Medical Entomology Group, Public Health England, Emergency Response Department, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 0JG, UK.
- Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Change and Health, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 0JG, UK.
- Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 0JG, UK.
| | - Kayleigh M Hansford
- Medical Entomology Group, Public Health England, Emergency Response Department, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 0JG, UK.
- Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Change and Health, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 0JG, UK.
| | - Alexander G C Vaux
- Medical Entomology Group, Public Health England, Emergency Response Department, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 0JG, UK.
| | - Ben Cull
- Medical Entomology Group, Public Health England, Emergency Response Department, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 0JG, UK.
| | - Emma Gillingham
- Medical Entomology Group, Public Health England, Emergency Response Department, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 0JG, UK.
- Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Change and Health, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 0JG, UK.
| | - Steve Leach
- Medical Entomology Group, Public Health England, Emergency Response Department, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 0JG, UK.
- Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 0JG, UK.
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Brugman VA, Medlock JM, Logan JG, Wilson AJ, Lindsay SW, Fooks AR, Mertens PPC, Johnson N, Carpenter ST. Bird-biting mosquitoes on farms in southern England. Vet Rec 2018; 183:474. [PMID: 30099408 PMCID: PMC6227795 DOI: 10.1136/vr.104830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Revised: 07/04/2018] [Accepted: 07/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Victor Albert Brugman
- Entomology group, The Pirbright Institute, Woking, UK.,Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Jolyon M Medlock
- Department of Medical Entomology & Zoonoses Ecology, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Salisbury, UK.,Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging Infections & Zoonoses, Salisbury, UK
| | - James G Logan
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - Steve W Lindsay
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.,Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, UK
| | - Anthony R Fooks
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Weybridge, UK.,Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Peter P C Mertens
- Entomology group, The Pirbright Institute, Woking, UK.,School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, The University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, UK
| | - Nicholas Johnson
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Weybridge, UK.,Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
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Reeves LE, Gillett-Kaufman JL, Kawahara AY, Kaufman PE. Barcoding blood meals: New vertebrate-specific primer sets for assigning taxonomic identities to host DNA from mosquito blood meals. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006767. [PMID: 30161128 PMCID: PMC6135518 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Revised: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The transmission dynamics of mosquito-vectored pathogens are, in part, mediated by mosquito host-feeding patterns. These patterns are elucidated using blood meal analysis, a collection of serological and molecular techniques that determine the taxonomic identities of the host animals from which blood meals are derived. Modern blood meal analyses rely on polymerase chain reaction (PCR), DNA sequencing, and bioinformatic comparisons of blood meal DNA sequences to reference databases. Ideally, primers used in blood meal analysis PCRs amplify templates from a taxonomically diverse range of vertebrates, produce a short amplicon, and avoid co-amplification of non-target templates. Few primer sets that fit these requirements are available for the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene, the species identification marker with the highest taxonomic coverage in reference databases. Here, we present new primer sets designed to amplify fragments of the DNA barcoding region of the vertebrate COI gene, while avoiding co-amplification of mosquito templates, without multiplexed or nested PCR. Primers were validated using host vertebrate DNA templates from mosquito blood meals of known origin, representing all terrestrial vertebrate classes, and field-collected mosquito blood meals of unknown origin. We found that the primers were generally effective in amplifying vertebrate host, but not mosquito DNA templates. Applied to the sample of unknown mosquito blood meals, > 98% (60/61) of blood meals samples were reliably identified, demonstrating the feasibility of identifying mosquito hosts with the new primers. These primers are beneficial in that they can be used to amplify COI templates from a diverse range of vertebrate hosts using standard PCR, thereby streamlining the process of identifying the hosts of mosquitoes, and could be applied to next generation DNA sequencing and metabarcoding approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence E. Reeves
- Entomology and Nematology Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Jennifer L. Gillett-Kaufman
- Entomology and Nematology Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Akito Y. Kawahara
- McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Phillip E. Kaufman
- Entomology and Nematology Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
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First genetic characterization of Usutu virus from Culex pipiens mosquitoes Serbia, 2014. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2018; 63:58-61. [PMID: 29778766 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2018.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Revised: 04/11/2018] [Accepted: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Since its first appearance in Europe, Usutu virus (USUV) diverged to several different genetic lineages. The virus was reported to date from multiple countries across Europe (Hungary, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Germany, Czech Republic and Belgium). Considering the more frequently published impact of the virus on humans it is crucial to investigate locally circulating genetic variants and trace its evolution. We retrospectively analyzed mosquito samples from Serbia Vojvodina region, collected during 2014. In this study we report the results of the screening of 23,753 female mosquitoes (753 pools) for USUV-specific nucleic-acid. Out of the 753 pools sampled, the presence of USUV RNA was confirmed in 3 pools of Culex pipiens mosquitoes, collected in August. Based on their partial NS5 sequence, all strains were identical, therefore we adjusted one representative strain for complete genome sequencing. Based on phylogenetic analysis the Serbian USUV sequences were most closely related to the virus that emerged in Austria in 2001, in Hungary in 2005 and was circulating until 2015 in Hungary. This data presents a wider geographic distribution of this genetic variant and provides the first genetic data from this region.
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The Role of Culex pipiens L. (Diptera: Culicidae) in Virus Transmission in Europe. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:ijerph15020389. [PMID: 29473903 PMCID: PMC5858458 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15020389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2018] [Revised: 02/15/2018] [Accepted: 02/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Over the past three decades, a range of mosquito-borne viruses that threaten public and veterinary health have emerged or re-emerged in Europe. Mosquito surveillance activities have highlighted the Culex pipiens species complex as being critical for the maintenance of a number of these viruses. This species complex contains morphologically similar forms that exhibit variation in phenotypes that can influence the probability of virus transmission. Critical amongst these is the choice of host on which to feed, with different forms showing different feeding preferences. This influences the ability of the mosquito to vector viruses and facilitate transmission of viruses to humans and domestic animals. Biases towards blood-feeding on avian or mammalian hosts have been demonstrated for different Cx. pipiens ecoforms and emerging evidence of hybrid populations across Europe adds another level of complexity to virus transmission. A range of molecular methods based on DNA have been developed to enable discrimination between morphologically indistinguishable forms, although this remains an active area of research. This review provides a comprehensive overview of developments in the understanding of the ecology, behaviour and genetics of Cx. pipiens in Europe, and how this influences arbovirus transmission.
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Vogels CB, Göertz GP, Pijlman GP, Koenraadt CJ. Vector competence of European mosquitoes for West Nile virus. Emerg Microbes Infect 2017; 6:e96. [PMID: 29116220 PMCID: PMC5717085 DOI: 10.1038/emi.2017.82] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2017] [Revised: 08/23/2017] [Accepted: 08/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is an arthropod-borne flavivirus of high medical and veterinary importance. The main vectors for WNV are mosquito species of the Culex genus that transmit WNV among birds, and occasionally to humans and horses, which are ‘dead-end’ hosts. Recently, several studies have been published that aimed to identify the mosquito species that serve as vectors for WNV in Europe. These studies provide insight in factors that can influence vector competence of European mosquito species for WNV. Here, we review the current knowledge on vector competence of European mosquitoes for WNV, and the molecular knowledge on physical barriers, anti-viral pathways and microbes that influence vector competence based on studies with other flaviviruses. By comparing the 12 available WNV vector competence studies with European mosquitoes we evaluate the effect of factors such as temperature, mosquito origin and mosquito biotype on vector competence. In addition, we propose a standardised methodology to allow for comparative studies across Europe. Finally, we identify knowledge gaps regarding vector competence that, once addressed, will provide important insights into WNV transmission and ultimately contribute to effective strategies to control WNV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chantal Bf Vogels
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Giel P Göertz
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Gorben P Pijlman
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Constantianus Jm Koenraadt
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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How often do mosquitoes bite humans in southern England? A standardised summer trial at four sites reveals spatial, temporal and site-related variation in biting rates. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:420. [PMID: 28915829 PMCID: PMC5602952 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2360-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2017] [Accepted: 09/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This field-based study examined the abundance and species complement of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) attracted to humans at four sites in the United Kingdom (UK). The study used a systematic approach to directly measure feeding by mosquitoes on humans at multiple sites and using multiple volunteers. Quantifying how frequently humans are bitten in the field by mosquitoes is a fundamental parameter in assessing arthropod-borne virus transmission. METHODS Human landing catches were conducted using a standardised protocol by multiple volunteers at four rural sites between July and August 2013. Collections commenced two hours prior to sunset and lasted for a total of four hours. To reduce bias occurring due to collection point or to the individual attractiveness of the volunteer to mosquitoes, each collection was divided into eight collection periods, with volunteers rotated by randomised Latin square design between four sampling points per site. While the aim was to collect mosquitoes prior to feeding, the source of blood meals from any engorged specimens was also identified by DNA barcoding. RESULTS Three of the four sites yielded human-biting mosquito populations for a total of 915 mosquitoes of fifteen species/species groups. Mosquito species composition and biting rates differed significantly between sites, with individual volunteers collecting between 0 and 89 mosquitoes (over 200 per hour) of up to six species per collection period. Coquillettidia richiardii (Ficalbi, 1889) was responsible for the highest recorded biting rates at any one site, reaching 161 bites per hour, whilst maximum biting rates of 55 bites per hour were recorded for Culex modestus (Ficalbi, 1889). Human-biting by Culex pipiens (L., 1758) form pipiens was also observed at two sites, but at much lower rates when compared to other species. CONCLUSIONS Several mosquito species are responsible for human nuisance biting pressure in southern England, although human exposure to biting may be largely limited to evening outdoor activities. This study indicates Cx. modestus can be a major human-biting species in the UK whilst Cx. pipiens f. pipiens may show greater opportunistic human-biting than indicated by earlier studies.
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