Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse): a potential vector of Zika virus in Singapore
Autor(es): Wong Pei-Sze Jeslyn, Li Mei-zhi Irene, Chong Chee-Seng, Ng Lee-Ching, Tan Cheong-Huat
Resumo: Zika virus (ZIKV) is a little known arbovirus until it caused a major outbreak in the Pacific Isl- of Yap in 2007. Although the virus has a wide geographic distribution, most of the known vectors are sylvatic Aedes mosquitoes from Africa where the virus was first isolated. Presently, Ae. aegypti is the only known vector to transmit the virus outside the African continent, though Ae. albopictus has long been a suspected vector. Currently, Ae. albopictus has been shown capable of transmitting more than 20 arboviruses - its notoriety as an important vector came to light during the recent chikungunya p-emic. The vulnerability of Singapore to emerging infectious arboviruses has stimulated our interest to determine the competence of local Ae. albopictus to transmit ZIKV. To determine the competence of Ae. albopictus to ZIKV, we orally infected local mosquito strains to a Ug-an strain virus. Fully engorged mosquitoes were maintained in an environmental chamber set at 29°C - 80-85%RH. Twelve mosquitoes were then sampled daily from day one to seven - on day 10 - 14 post infection (pi). Zika virus titre in the midgut - salivary gl-s of each mosquito were determined using tissue culture infectious dose50 assay, while transmissibility of the virus was determined by detecting viral antigen in the mosquito saliva by qRT-PCR. High dissemination - transmission rate of ZIKV were observed. By day 7-pi, all mosquitoes have disseminated infection - 73% of these mosquitoes have ZIKV in their saliva. By day 10-pi, all mosquitoes were potentially infectious. The study highlighted the potential of Ae. albopictus to transmit ZIKV - the possibility that the virus could be established locally. Nonetheless, the threat of ZIKV can be mitigated by existing dengue - chikungunya control program being implemented in Singapore.
Imprenta: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, v. 7, n. 8, p. e2348, 2013
Identificador do objeto digital: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002348
Descritores: Chikungunya virus - Arbovirus ; Chikungunya virus - Flaviviridae ; Chikungunya virus - Pathogenesis ; Chikungunya virus - Viral infections ; Chikungunya virus - Real Time PCR ; Chikungunya Virus - Virus ; Chikungunya virus - Transmission ; Chikungunya virus - Dengue ; Chikungunya virus - Public health
Data de publicação: 2013
