Vector Competence of Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus and Culex quinquefasciatus from Brazil and New Caledonia for Three Zika Virus Lineages

Abstract

Zika virus (ZIKV) has caused severe epidemics in South America beginning in 2015, following its spread through the Pacific. We comparatively assessed the vector competence of ten populations of Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus from Brazil and two of Ae. aegypti and one of Culex quinquefasciatus from New Caledonia to transmit three ZIKV isolates belonging to African, Asian and American lineages. Recently colonized mosquitoes from eight distinct sites from both countries were orally challenged with the same viral load (107 TCID50/mL) and examined after 7, 14 and 21 days. Cx. quinquefasciatus was refractory to infection with all virus strains. In contrast, although competence varied with geographical origin, Brazilian and New Caledonian Ae. aegypti could transmit the three ZIKV lineages, with a strong advantage for the African lineage (the only one reaching saliva one-week after challenge). Brazilian Ae. albopictus populations were less competent than Ae. aegypti populations. Ae. albopictus generally exhibited almost no transmission for Asian and American lineages, but was efficient in transmitting the African ZIKV. Viral surveillance and mosquito control measures must be strengthened to avoid the spread of new ZIKV lineages and minimize the transmission of viruses currently circulating.

Low Aedes aegypti Vector Competence for Zika Virus from Viremic Rhesus Macaques

“…This data suggests that, once infected, the chances of ZIKV spreading to secondary tissues and being transmitted by Ae. aegypti are high, mainly if an elevated viral replication in the mosquito gut is achieved [ 19 , 25 , 31 ].…”

“…aegypti populations used in the present work. Indeed, when challenged with artificial bloodmeals containing ≥10 6 PFU of ZIKV/mL, like other assessments of vector competence [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ], the Urca Ae. aegypti has exhibited very high IR, DR and TR [ 21 , 29 , 57 ].…”

“…After 3, 7 and 14 days post-mosquito ingestion of bloodmeal (d.p.m.i. ), batches of approximately 30 mosquitoes were submitted to forced salivation and examined as previously described [ 25 ]. Briefly, mosquito saliva was individually collected for 30 min following brief anesthesia on an ice bath and removal of the wings and legs.…”

“…Vector competence for ZIKV in Ae. aegypti is highly heterogeneous among different geographical origins of mosquito populations and virus lineages and isolates [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ]. Technical differences between laboratory evaluations are also believed to strongly contribute to the apparent heterogeneity [ 13 , 20 , 27 , 28 ].…”

“…albopictus mosquitoes and therefore affecting vector competence [ 31 ]. The great majority of assessments of vector competence for ZIKV have used artificial bloodmeals containing thawed virus instead of feeding mosquitoes on viremic vertebrate hosts [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 25 , 27 ]. Nonetheless, it was demonstrated that an artificial bloodmeal is less infectious to Ae.…”