Yellow Fever Virus inHaemagogus leucocelaenusandAedes serratusMosquitoes, Southern Brazil, 2008

Abstract

Yellow fever virus (YFV) was isolated from Haemagogus leucocelaenus mosquitoes during an epizootic in 2001 in the Rio Grande do Sul State in southern Brazil. In October 2008, a yellow fever outbreak was reported there, with nonhuman primate deaths and human cases. This latter outbreak led to intensification of surveillance measures for early detection of YFV and support for vaccination programs. We report entomologic surveillance in 2 municipalities that recorded nonhuman primate deaths. Mosquitoes were collected at ground level, identified, and processed for virus isolation and molecular analyses. Eight YFV strains were isolated (7 from pools of Hg. leucocelaenus mosquitoes and another from Aedes serratus mosquitoes); 6 were sequenced, and they grouped in the YFV South American genotype I. The results confirmed the role of Hg. leucocelaenus mosquitoes as the main YFV vector in southern Brazil and suggest that Ae. serratus mosquitoes may have a potential role as a secondary vector.

Yellow fever in Brazil: thoughts and hypotheses on the emergence in previously free areas

“…1,10,19 More recently, during the 2008 and 2009 outbreaks, it was commonly captured infected in the municipalities of Rio Grande do Sul and São Paulo, where human cases and epizootic cases in monkeys (Alouatta caraya) were reported. 2,12 These fi ndings support the hypothesis that this species plays a role in yellow fever transmission in Brazilian southern areas, especially due to absence of Hg. janthinomys.…”

“…23 Lineage 1D, which has emerged and circulated in Brazil since 1998 in the state of Pará (Northern Brazil), caused yellow fever epidemics until 2007. 15,16,19,20 It later gave rise to lineage 1E, which replaced it, as reported by Sousa et al 12 and Cardoso et al 2 …”

Frequency of histopathological changes in Howler monkeys ( Alouatta sp.) naturally infected with yellow fever virus in Brazil

“…Nearly all the NHPs infected with YF during the study period were recorded in rural areas of Rio Grande do Sul in 2008, a state that experienced an epizootic of great magnitude (14) . The disease has been described in Brazil only in its sylvatic cycle (3) (13) .…”

Zika virus in Brazil and the danger of infestation by Aedes (Stegomyia) mosquitoes

“…Haemagogus janthinomys, Haemagogus leucocelaenus, and Ae. serratus were found to be infected with YFV in Brazil (66) (67) . In the Federal District, Ae.…”