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García-Romero C, Carrillo Bilbao GA, Navarro JC, Martin-Solano S, Saegerman C. Arboviruses in Mammals in the Neotropics: A Systematic Review to Strengthen Epidemiological Monitoring Strategies and Conservation Medicine. Viruses 2023; 15:417. [PMID: 36851630 PMCID: PMC9962704 DOI: 10.3390/v15020417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) are a diverse group of ribonucleic acid (RNA) viruses, with the exception of African swine fever virus, that are transmitted by hematophagous arthropods to a vertebrate host. They are the important cause of many diseases due to their ability to spread in different environments and their diversity of vectors. Currently, there is no information on the geographical distribution of the diseases because the routes of transmission and the mammals (wild or domestic) that act as potential hosts are poorly documented or unknown. We conducted a systematic review from 1967 to 2021 to identify the diversity of arboviruses, the areas, and taxonomic groups that have been monitored, the prevalence of positive records, and the associated risk factors. We identified forty-three arboviruses in nine mammalian orders distributed in eleven countries. In Brazil, the order primates harbor the highest number of arbovirus records. The three most recorded arboviruses were Venezuelan equine encephalitis, Saint Louis encephalitis and West Nile virus. Serum is the most used sample to obtain arbovirus records. Deforestation is identified as the main risk factor for arbovirus transmission between different species and environments (an odds ratio of 1.46 with a 95% confidence interval: 1.34-1.59). The results show an increase in the sampling effort over the years in the neotropical region. Despite the importance of arboviruses for public health, little is known about the interaction of arboviruses, their hosts, and vectors, as some countries and mammalian orders have not yet been monitored. Long-term and constant monitoring allows focusing research on the analysis of the interrelationships and characteristics of each component animal, human, and their environment to understand the dynamics of the diseases and guide epidemiological surveillance and vector control programs. The biodiversity of the Neotropics should be considered to support epidemiological monitoring strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinthya García-Romero
- Maestría en Biodiversidad y Cambio Climático, Facultad de Ciencias del Medio Ambiente, Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica, Quito 170521, Ecuador
- Instituto de Investigación en Zoonosis (CIZ), Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito 170521, Ecuador
| | - Gabriel Alberto Carrillo Bilbao
- Instituto de Investigación en Zoonosis (CIZ), Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito 170521, Ecuador
- Research Unit of Epidemiology and Risk Analysis Applied to Veterinary Sciences (UREAR-ULiege), Fundamental and Applied Research for Animal and Health (FARAH) Center, Department of Infections and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, B-4000 Liège, Belgium
- Facultad de Filosofía, Letras y Ciencias de la Educación, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito 170521, Ecuador
| | - Juan-Carlos Navarro
- Grupo de Investigación en Enfermedades Emergentes, Ecoepidemiología y Biodiversidad, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Internacional SEK, Quito 170521, Ecuador
| | - Sarah Martin-Solano
- Instituto de Investigación en Zoonosis (CIZ), Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito 170521, Ecuador
- Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Humana (GISAH), Carrera Ingeniería en Biotecnología, Departamento de Ciencias de la Vida y la Agricultura, Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas—ESPE, P.O. Box 171-5-231B, Sangolquí 171103, Ecuador
| | - Claude Saegerman
- Research Unit of Epidemiology and Risk Analysis Applied to Veterinary Sciences (UREAR-ULiege), Fundamental and Applied Research for Animal and Health (FARAH) Center, Department of Infections and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, B-4000 Liège, Belgium
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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: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [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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Abstract
It is unclear whether West Nile virus (WNV) circulates endemically in Portugal. Despite the country’s adequate climate for transmission, Portugal has only reported four human WNV infections so far. We performed a review of WNV-related data (1966–2020), explored mosquito (2016–2019) and land type distributions (1992–2019), and used climate data (1981–2019) to estimate WNV transmission suitability in Portugal. Serological and molecular evidence of WNV circulation from animals and vectors was largely restricted to the south. Land type and climate-driven transmission suitability distributions, but not the distribution of WNV-capable vectors, were compatible with the North-South divide present in serological and molecular evidence of WNV circulation. Our study offers a comprehensive, data-informed perspective and review on the past epidemiology, surveillance and climate-driven transmission suitability of WNV in Portugal, highlighting the south as a subregion of importance. Given the recent WNV outbreaks across Europe, our results support a timely change towards local, active surveillance. Lourenço et al. review historical data and quantify the transmission potential of West Nile virus in Portugal. They report a North-South divide in infection patterns, a higher ecological capacity in the south, and an increasing positive effect of climate change over the last 40 years.
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Silva M, Morais P, Maia C, de Sousa CB, de Almeida APG, Parreira R. A diverse assemblage of RNA and DNA viruses found in mosquitoes collected in southern Portugal. Virus Res 2019; 274:197769. [DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2019.197769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Revised: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Camp JV, Karuvantevida N, Chouhna H, Safi E, Shah JN, Nowotny N. Mosquito biodiversity and mosquito-borne viruses in the United Arab Emirates. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:153. [PMID: 30944019 PMCID: PMC6448230 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3417-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In the last 50 years, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has experienced rapid population growth and urbanization. Urbanization is known to influence biodiversity, and there appears to be a link between the emergence of arboviruses and urban growth. Very little is known about the UAE mosquito species richness and dominant vectors. We performed a mosquito survey comparing peri-urban sites in Dubai and Al Ain to a protected, natural site in Fujairah emirate. We measured mosquito biodiversity and species composition, and screened mosquito pools for common arboviruses to measure arbovirus activity in the region. Results We report ten species of mosquitoes from the UAE, with highest species diversity in the natural site, a protected wadi near the eastern coast. The predominant mosquito was Culex perexiguus, and was associated with peri-urban habitats. The site with lowest mosquito species diversity but relatively high species richness was the peri-urban site of Al Ain Zoo, where we identified Bagaza virus and Barkedji virus, two flaviviruses, in pools of Cx. perexiguus. Conclusions Decreased mosquito biodiversity was associated with increased levels of urbanization. The predominance of two species at peri-urban sites was related to the availability of their larval habitats. Arboviruses were associated with the presence of a single predominant mosquito species, Cx. perexiguus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy V Camp
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Noushad Karuvantevida
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Houda Chouhna
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ebtesam Safi
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Junid N Shah
- Natural Resources Conservation Section, Environment Department, Dubai Municipality, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Norbert Nowotny
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria. .,Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
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Alho AM, Meireles J, Schnyder M, Cardoso L, Belo S, Deplazes P, de Carvalho LM. Dirofilaria immitis and Angiostrongylus vasorum: The current situation of two major canine heartworms in Portugal. Vet Parasitol 2018; 252:120-126. [PMID: 29559132 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2018.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2017] [Accepted: 01/12/2018] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Cardiopulmonary nematodes are life-threatening pet parasites increasingly reported throughout Europe, with overlapping endemic areas. Dirofilaria immitis is a mosquito-borne whilst Angiostrongylus vasorum is a snail-borne pathogen. Both adult nematodes reside in the pulmonary arteries and right cardiac ventricle of domestic and wild canids, causing a wide spectrum of clinical presentations ranging from cough, dyspnoea and exercise intolerance to severe vascular and pulmonary disease with hearth failure that may lead to death. Information about the prevalence and distribution of cardiopulmonary parasites is essential for the control of animal diseases and, in the case of D. immitis, for the control of potentially associated illnesses in humans. However, in Portugal, heartworm studies are limited to few surveys and case reports, possibly underestimating the relevance of these nematodes. The present work reviews the data on cardiopulmonary dirofilariosis and angiostrongylosis in dogs in Portugal, providing a comprehensive update of the epidemiological situation during the past 20 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Margarida Alho
- CIISA, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - José Meireles
- CIISA, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Manuela Schnyder
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Luís Cardoso
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta de Prados, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Silvana Belo
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Peter Deplazes
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Luís Madeira de Carvalho
- CIISA, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal
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Tran A, L'Ambert G, Balança G, Pradier S, Grosbois V, Balenghien T, Baldet T, Lecollinet S, Leblond A, Gaidet-Drapier N. An Integrative Eco-Epidemiological Analysis of West Nile Virus Transmission. ECOHEALTH 2017; 14:474-489. [PMID: 28584951 PMCID: PMC5662683 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-017-1249-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2016] [Accepted: 04/26/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
West Nile disease, caused by the West Nile virus (WNV), is a mosquito-borne zoonotic disease affecting humans and horses that involves wild birds as amplifying hosts. The mechanisms of WNV transmission remain unclear in Europe where the occurrence of outbreaks has dramatically increased in recent years. We used a dataset on the competence, distribution, abundance, diversity and dispersal of wild bird hosts and mosquito vectors to test alternative hypotheses concerning the transmission of WNV in Southern France. We modelled the successive processes of introduction, amplification, dispersal and spillover of WNV to incidental hosts based on host-vector contact rates on various land cover types and over four seasons. We evaluated the relative importance of the mechanisms tested using two independent serological datasets of WNV antibodies collected in wild birds and horses. We found that the same transmission processes (seasonal virus introduction by migratory birds, Culex modestus mosquitoes as amplifying vectors, heterogeneity in avian host competence, absence of 'dilution effect') best explain the spatial variations in WNV seroprevalence in the two serological datasets. Our results provide new insights on the pathways of WNV introduction, amplification and spillover and the contribution of bird and mosquito species to WNV transmission in Southern France.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annelise Tran
- CIRAD, UPR AGIRs, Montpellier, France.
- CIRAD, UPR TETIS, Montpellier, France.
- CYROI, Sainte-Clotilde, Reunion Island, France.
| | | | | | - Sophie Pradier
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | | | | | | | | | - Agnès Leblond
- Université de Lyon, Marcy-l'Etoile, France
- INRA, Saint Genès Champanelle, France
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8
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Modelling West Nile virus transmission risk in Europe: effect of temperature and mosquito biotypes on the basic reproduction number. Sci Rep 2017; 7:5022. [PMID: 28694450 PMCID: PMC5504010 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-05185-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2017] [Accepted: 05/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus which has caused repeated outbreaks in humans in southern and central Europe, but thus far not in northern Europe. The main mosquito vector for WNV, Culex pipiens, consists of two behaviourally distinct biotypes, pipiens and molestus, which can form hybrids. Differences between biotypes, such as vector competence and host preference, could be important in determining the risk of WNV outbreaks. Risks for WNV establishment can be modelled with basic reproduction number (R0) models. However, existing R0 models have not differentiated between biotypes. The aim of this study was, therefore, to explore the role of temperature-dependent and biotype-specific effects on the risk of WNV establishment in Europe. We developed an R0 model with temperature-dependent and biotype-specific parameters, and calculated R0 values using the next-generation matrix for several scenarios relevant for Europe. In addition, elasticity analysis was done to investigate the contribution of each biotype to R0. Global warming and increased mosquito-to-host ratios can possibly result in more intense WNV circulation in birds and spill-over to humans in northern Europe. Different contributions of the Cx. pipiens biotypes to R0 shows the importance of including biotype-specific parameters in models for reliable WNV risk assessments.
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Trari B, Dakki M, Harbach RE. An updated checklist of the Culicidae (Diptera) of Morocco, with notes on species of historical and current medical importance. JOURNAL OF VECTOR ECOLOGY : JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR VECTOR ECOLOGY 2017; 42:94-104. [PMID: 28504435 DOI: 10.1111/jvec.12243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2016] [Accepted: 11/17/2016] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
An updated checklist of the mosquito species (Diptera: Culicidae) recorded in Morocco from 1916 to 2016 is provided, including synonyms and synonymous usage for each species. Forty-three species belonging to seven genera are recorded so far: Anopheles (9), Aedes (12) Coquillettidia (2), Culex (12), Culiseta (5), Orthopodomyia (1) and Uranotaenia (2). Traditional and equivalent names in the polyphyletic concept of Aedes are provided for the aedine species. The historical importance and current potential threat of mosquitoes to human health in Morocco is reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bouchra Trari
- Unité de Recherche et Développement, Institut Supérieur des Professions Infirmières et Techniques de Santé, Rabat, Morocco
- Département de Zoologie et Biologie Générale, Faculté des Sciences, Université Mohamed V, Rabat, Morocco
- Laboratoire de Zoologie, Université Mohamed V, Institut Scientifique, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Mohamed Dakki
- Laboratoire de Zoologie, Université Mohamed V, Institut Scientifique, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Ralph E Harbach
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, UK
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Bravo-Barriga D, Gomes B, Almeida APG, Serrano-Aguilera FJ, Pérez-Martín JE, Calero-Bernal R, Reina D, Frontera E, Pinto J. The mosquito fauna of the western region of Spain with emphasis on ecological factors and the characterization of Culex pipiens forms. JOURNAL OF VECTOR ECOLOGY : JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR VECTOR ECOLOGY 2017; 42:136-147. [PMID: 28504431 DOI: 10.1111/jvec.12248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2016] [Accepted: 01/17/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED This study updates the diversity, distribution, and seasonal trends of mosquitoes in a western region of Spain, assesses ecological determinants of Culex pipiens s.l., and determines form composition of Cx. pipiens s.s. POPULATIONS A total of 1,495 mosquitoes of 16 species was collected during 2012-2013, of which Cx. pipiens s.l. and Cx. theileri were the most abundant. Five new records for An. maculipennis s.s., Orthopodomyia pulcripalpis, Aedes (Ochlerotatus) punctor, Cx. europaeus, and Cx. modestus were found for this region. Cx. pipiens density varied across weather and habitat patterns, correlating positively with high temperatures and with a preference for urbanized areas and rural areas within a proximity of ovine farms. Moreover, molecular identification by CQ11FL was performed in 467 Cx. pipiens s.s., detecting both pipiens (66%) and molestus (8.4%) forms coexisting in different habitats (urban, peri-urban and rural) aboveground with a high degree of hybridization (25.7%). The abundance of Cx. pipiens in urban areas and farms, with the presence of hybrids, may increase their capacity to act as bridge vectors for the transmission of arboviral infections. These data will be helpful for further implementation of entomological programs focused on risk assessment for arboviruses or other mosquito-borne pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Bravo-Barriga
- Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, University of Extremadura, Caceres, Spain
| | - Bruno Gomes
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Unidade de Parasitologia Médica, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Antonio P G Almeida
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Unidade de Parasitologia Médica, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
- Center for Viral Zoonoses, Department of Medical Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Francisco J Serrano-Aguilera
- Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, University of Extremadura, Caceres, Spain
| | - Juan E Pérez-Martín
- Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, University of Extremadura, Caceres, Spain
| | - Rafael Calero-Bernal
- Parasitology Service National Centre for Microbiology, Carlos III Institute of Health, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - David Reina
- Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, University of Extremadura, Caceres, Spain
| | - Eva Frontera
- Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, University of Extremadura, Caceres, Spain
| | - João Pinto
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Unidade de Parasitologia Médica, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
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11
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Batovska J, Lynch SE, Cogan NOI, Brown K, Darbro JM, Kho EA, Blacket MJ. Effective mosquito and arbovirus surveillance using metabarcoding. Mol Ecol Resour 2017; 18:32-40. [PMID: 28417591 PMCID: PMC5811807 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.12682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2016] [Revised: 02/13/2017] [Accepted: 04/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Effective vector and arbovirus surveillance requires timely and accurate screening techniques that can be easily upscaled. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is a high-throughput technology that has the potential to modernize vector surveillance. When combined with DNA barcoding, it is termed 'metabarcoding.' The aim of our study was to establish a metabarcoding protocol to characterize pools of mosquitoes and screen them for virus. Pools contained 100 morphologically identified individuals, including one Ross River virus (RRV) infected mosquito, with three species present at different proportions: 1, 5, 94%. Nucleic acid extracted from both crude homogenate and supernatant was used to amplify a 269-bp section of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) locus. Additionally, a 67-bp region of the RRV E2 gene was amplified from synthesized cDNA to screen for RRV. Amplicon sequencing was performed using an Illumina MiSeq, and bioinformatic analysis was performed using a DNA barcode database of Victorian mosquitoes. Metabarcoding successfully detected all mosquito species and RRV in every positive sample tested. The limits of species detection were also examined by screening a pool of 1000 individuals, successfully identifying the species and RRV from a single mosquito. The primers used for amplification, number of PCR cycles and total number of individuals present all have effects on the quantification of species in mixed bulk samples. Based on the results, a number of recommendations for future metabarcoding studies are presented. Overall, metabarcoding shows great promise for providing a new alternative approach to screening large insect surveillance trap catches.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Batovska
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, Vic, Australia
| | - S E Lynch
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, Vic, Australia
| | - N O I Cogan
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, Vic, Australia.,School of Applied Systems Biology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic, Australia
| | - K Brown
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, Vic, Australia
| | - J M Darbro
- Mosquito Control Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - E A Kho
- Mosquito Control Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - M J Blacket
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, Vic, Australia
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12
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Mixão V, Bravo Barriga D, Parreira R, Novo MT, Sousa CA, Frontera E, Venter M, Braack L, Almeida APG. Comparative morphological and molecular analysis confirms the presence of the West Nile virus mosquito vector, Culex univittatus, in the Iberian Peninsula. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:601. [PMID: 27884174 PMCID: PMC5123335 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1877-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2016] [Accepted: 11/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Culex univittatus and Culex perexiguus mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) are competent arbovirus vectors, but with unclear morphological differentiation. In Europe, and in the Iberian Peninsula in particular, the presence of either or both species is controversial. However, in order to conduct adequate surveillance for arboviruses in this region, it is crucial to clarify whether Cx. univittatus is present or not, as well as to critically assess existing differentiation tools. This study aimed to clarify this situation, by morphological and molecular phylogenetic comparison of Iberian specimens deemed as Cx. univittatus, with others of South African origin, i.e. from the type-locality region. METHODS Thus, morphological characteristics useful to distinguish both species, such as midfemur pale line, hindfemur R ratio, seta g R1 ratio, seta f shape, length of ventral arm of phalosome and number of setae on IX tergal abdominal segment, were observed. A phylogenetic analysis based on cox1 mtDNA, of which there were no sequences from Cx. univittatus yet available in the GenBank database, was performed. RESULTS This analysis showed that Iberian and South African specimens are morphologically similar, except for the length of the ventral arm of the phalosome, which was higher in the Iberian specimens. Although the Iberian specimens could not be accurately identified using BOLD Systems, phylogenetic analysis still grouped these closer to South African Cx. univittatus, than to Cx. perexiguus from Turkey and Pakistan, despite the observed segregation of both taxa as two individual monophyletic clusters with shared common ancestry. CONCLUSIONS This survey demonstrates that the West Nile virus vector Cx. univittatus is present in the Iberian Peninsula.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verónica Mixão
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, UEI Medical Parasitology, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Daniel Bravo Barriga
- Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, University of Extremadura, Caceres, Spain
| | - Ricardo Parreira
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, UEI Medical Microbiology, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Maria Teresa Novo
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, UEI Medical Parasitology, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Carla Alexandra Sousa
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, UEI Medical Parasitology, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Eva Frontera
- Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, University of Extremadura, Caceres, Spain
| | - Marietjie Venter
- Centre for Viral Zoonoses, Department of Medical Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Leo Braack
- Centre for Viral Zoonoses, Department of Medical Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - António Paulo Gouveia Almeida
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, UEI Medical Parasitology, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Lisbon, Portugal.
- Centre for Viral Zoonoses, Department of Medical Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
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Comparative study on the effectiveness of different mosquito traps in arbovirus surveillance with a focus on WNV detection. Acta Trop 2016; 153:93-100. [PMID: 26466982 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2015.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2015] [Revised: 09/29/2015] [Accepted: 10/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The selection of the ideal trap for arbovirus surveillance is an issue of primary importance to increase the sensitivity of virus detection and the cost-effectiveness of the entomological surveillance. During the summer 2011, the effectiveness of five types of mosquito traps (CDC gravid trap, CO2(-)baited trap, BG-Sentinel™ and two experimental prototypes) to attract females potentially infected with West Nile virus were assessed. The study was carried out in three natural wetland sites located in the Emilia-Romagna Region (Northern Italy), using a Latin square scheme. Single night collections of adult females were performed and determination of species and physiological state (gravid, nulliparous or parous) was made upon return to the laboratory. The species most frequently collected in the gravid trap was Culex pipiens sl. L., being gravid females the large majority of the individuals. Species diversity was much higher in CO2(-)baited traps, which may therefore enable a more comprehensive description of the vector species composition and their role in arboviruses circulation. Our findings indicate that gravid traps can be a valid tool and should be integrated in the West Nile virus surveillance system in the Emilia-Romagna region, mainly based on collections made with CO2-baited traps.
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Sivan A, Shriram AN, Sunish IP, Vidhya PT. Host-feeding pattern of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in heterogeneous landscapes of South Andaman, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. Parasitol Res 2015. [PMID: 26220560 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-015-4634-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Mosquito foraging behavior is a determinant of host-vector contact and has an impact on the risk of arboviral epidemics. Therefore, blood-feeding patterns is a useful tool for assessing the role in pathogen transmission by vector mosquitoes. Competent vectors of dengue and chikungunya viz. Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are widely prevalent in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago. Considering the vector potential, medical importance of both these mosquito species and lack of information on host-feeding patterns, blood meal analysis of both these vector mosquitoes was undertaken. Biogents Sentinel traps were used for sampling blooded mosquitoes, for identifying the source of blood meal by agar gel-precipitin test. We identified vertebrate source of 147 and 104 blood meals in Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus from heterogeneous landscapes in South Andaman district. Results revealed that Ae. aegypti (88 %) and Ae. albopictus (49 %) fed on human and a small proportion on mammals and fowls, indicative of predominance of anthropophilism. Ae. aegypti predominantly fed on human blood (94.2 %-densely built urban, 89.8 %-low vegetation coverage, and 78.3 %-medium vegetation coverage). Anthropophilism in Ae. albopictus was maximal in densely built urban (90.5 %) and progressively decreased from low vegetation-vegetation/forested continuum (66.7, 36.4, and 8.7 %), indicating plasticity in feeding across these landscapes. Epidemiological significance of the findings is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arun Sivan
- Regional Medical Research Centre (Indian Council of Medical Research), Post Bag No.13, Port Blair, 744 101, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India,
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Szentpáli-Gavallér K, Antal L, Tóth M, Kemenesi G, Soltész Z, Dán A, Erdélyi K, Bányai K, Bálint A, Jakab F, Bakonyi T. Monitoring of West Nile virus in mosquitoes between 2011-2012 in Hungary. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2015; 14:648-55. [PMID: 25229703 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2013.1549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is a widely distributed mosquito-borne flavivirus. WNV strains are classified into several genetic lineages on the basis of phylogenetic differences. Whereas lineage 1 viruses are distributed worldwide, lineage 2 WNV was first detected outside of Africa in Hungary in 2004. Since then, WNV-associated disease and mortality in animal and human hosts have been documented periodically in Hungary. After the first detection of WNV from a pool of Culex pipiens mosquitoes in 2010, samples were collated from several sources and tested in a 2-year monitoring program. Collection areas were located in the Southern Transdanubium, in northeastern Hungary, in eastern Hungary, and in southeastern Hungary. During the 2 years, 23,193 mosquitoes in 645 pools were screened for WNV virus presence with RT-PCR. Three pools were found positive for WNV in 2011 (one pool of Ochlerotatus annulipes collected in Fényeslitke in June, one pool of Coquillettidia richiardii collected in Debrecen, Fancsika-tó, in July, and one pool of Cx. pipiens captured near Red-Footed Falcon colonies at Kardoskút in September). The minimal infection rate (MIR=proportion of infected mosquitoes per 1000 mosquitoes) of all mosquito pools was 0.25, whereas the MIR of infected species was 2.03 for O. annulipes, 0.63 for C. richiardii, and 2.70 for C.x pipiens. Molecular data have demonstrated that the same lineage 2 WNV strain has circulated in wild birds, horses, humans, and mosquitoes in Hungary since 2004. Mosquito-based surveillance successfully complemented the ongoing, long-term passive surveillance system and it was useful for the early detection of WNV circulation.
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Ferreira CAC, de Pinho Mixão V, Novo MTLM, Calado MMP, Gonçalves LAP, Belo SMD, de Almeida APG. First molecular identification of mosquito vectors of Dirofilaria immitis in continental Portugal. Parasit Vectors 2015; 8:139. [PMID: 25886610 PMCID: PMC4369802 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-0760-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2014] [Accepted: 02/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Canine dirofilariasis due to Dirofilaria immitis is known to be endemic in continental Portugal. However, information about the transmitting mosquito species is still scarce, with only Culex theileri identified to date, albeit with L1-2, through dissection. This study was carried out to investigate the potential vectors of Dirofilaria spp. in continental Portugal. Methods Mosquitoes were collected in three distinct seasons (Summer, Autumn and Spring), 2011–2013, in three districts. CDC traps and indoor resting collections were carried out in the vicinity of kennels. Mosquitoes were kept under controlled conditions for 7 days to allow the development of larval stages of Dirofilaria spp.. DNA extraction was performed separately for both head+thorax and abdomen in order to differentiate infective and infected specimens, respectively, in pools, grouped according to the species and collection site (1–40 specimen parts/pool), and examined by PCR using pan-filarial specific primers. Mosquito densities were compared using non-parametric tests. Dirofilaria development units (DDU) were estimated. Results In total, 9156 female mosquitoes, from 11 different species, were captured. Mosquito densities varied among the 3 districts, according to capture method, and were generally higher in the second year of collections. From 5866 specimens screened by PCR, 23 head+thorax and 41 abdomens pools, corresponding to 54 mosquitoes were found positive for D. immitis DNA. These belonged to 5 species: Culex (Cux) theileri (estimated rate of infection (ERI)=0.71%), Cx. (Cux) pipiens f. pipiens and f. molestus (ERI=0.5%), Anopheles (Ano) maculipennis s.l. (ERI=3.12%), including An. (Ano) atroparvus, Aedes (Och) caspius (ERI=3.73%) and Ae. (Och) detritus s.l. (ERI=4.39%). All but Cx. pipiens, had at least one infective specimen. No D. repens infected specimens were found. Infection rates were: 3.21% in Coimbra, 1.22% in Setúbal and 0.54% in Santarém. DDU were at least 117/year in the study period. Conclusions Culex theileri, Cx. pipiens, An. maculipennis s.l. An. atroparvus, Ae.caspius and Ae. detritus s.l. were identified as potential vectors of D. immitis in three districts of Portugal, from Spring to Autumn, in 5 of the 6 collection dates in 2011–2013. Implications for transmission, in the context of climate changes, and need for prophylactic measures, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cátia Alexandra Costa Ferreira
- Medical Parasitology Unit, Medical Parasitology & Microbiology Unit-UPMM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008, Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Verónica de Pinho Mixão
- Medical Parasitology Unit, Medical Parasitology & Microbiology Unit-UPMM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008, Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Maria Teresa Lourenço Marques Novo
- Medical Parasitology Unit, Medical Parasitology & Microbiology Unit-UPMM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008, Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Maria Manuela Palmeiro Calado
- Medical Parasitology Unit, Medical Parasitology & Microbiology Unit-UPMM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008, Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Luzia Augusta Pires Gonçalves
- International Public Health and Biostatistics Unit, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008, Lisboa, Portugal. .,Centro de Estatística e Aplicações da Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Bloco C6 - Piso 4, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Silvana Maria Duarte Belo
- Medical Parasitology Unit, Medical Parasitology & Microbiology Unit-UPMM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008, Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - António Paulo Gouveia de Almeida
- Medical Parasitology Unit, Medical Parasitology & Microbiology Unit-UPMM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008, Lisboa, Portugal. .,Zoonosis Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
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17
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Pautasso A, Desiato R, Bertolini S, Vitale N, Radaelli MC, Mancini M, Rizzo F, Mosca A, Calzolari M, Prearo M, Mandola ML, Maurella C, Mignone W, Chiavacci L, Casalone C. Mosquito surveillance in northwestern Italy to monitor the occurrence of tropical vector-borne diseases. Transbound Emerg Dis 2014; 60 Suppl 2:154-61. [PMID: 24589116 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.12123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Mosquito-borne arboviruses (MBV) represent an important health problem, causing diseases and deaths both in human and animals mainly in tropical and subtropical countries. In recent years, they have emerged also in temperate regions where they have caused epidemics. Of mounting concern among public health authorities in Europe are zoonotic mosquito-borne viruses belonging to the Flavivirus genus. The aim of this study was to carry out active surveillance on mosquitoes in two regions of northwestern Italy (Liguria and Piedmont) to gain a better knowledge of the mosquito populations by identifying potential vectors of arboviruses and to investigate arbovirus infection. A network of 61 CO₂ CDC traps was placed in the study area; sampling was conducted from May to October 2011. A total of 46,677 mosquitoes was collected, identified to species level, and classified according to their vector competence. Mosquitoes collected from 16 traps, selected according to risk-based factors, were tested by biomolecular analysis to detect flavivirus infection. This study highlights the importance of entomological surveillance in northwestern Italy because most of the mosquitoes collected were found to have high vector competence. Moreover, the risk-based virological surveillance allowed to detect the presence of mosquito flavivirus RNA, phylogenetically closely related to the MMV Spanish isolate, in three pools and USUV RNA in one pool in new areas where it has not been reported previously. The availability of continuous data on mosquito populations provides invaluable information for use in cases of an epidemic emergency. Maintenance of this integrated system for the next years will provide stronger data that can inform the design of a risk-based surveillance for the early detection of the occurrence of outbreaks of tropical MBDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Pautasso
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino, Italy
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18
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Bellini R, Zeller H, Van Bortel W. A review of the vector management methods to prevent and control outbreaks of West Nile virus infection and the challenge for Europe. Parasit Vectors 2014; 7:323. [PMID: 25015004 PMCID: PMC4230500 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2014] [Accepted: 06/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus infection is a growing concern in Europe. Vector management is often the primary option to prevent and control outbreaks of the disease. Its implementation is, however, complex and needs to be supported by integrated multidisciplinary surveillance systems and to be organized within the framework of predefined response plans. The impact of the vector control measures depends on multiple factors and the identification of the best combination of vector control methods is therefore not always straightforward. Therefore, this contribution aims at critically reviewing the existing vector control methods to prevent and control outbreaks of West Nile virus infection and to present the challenges for Europe.Most West Nile virus vector control experiences have been recently developed in the US, where ecological conditions are different from the EU and vector control is organized under a different regulatory frame. The extrapolation of information produced in North America to Europe might be limited because of the seemingly different epidemiology in the European region. Therefore, there is an urgent need to analyse the European experiences of the prevention and control of outbreaks of West Nile virus infection and to perform robust cost-benefit analysis that can guide the implementation of the appropriate control measures. Furthermore, to be effective, vector control programs require a strong organisational backbone relying on a previously defined plan, skilled technicians and operators, appropriate equipment, and sufficient financial resources. A decision making guide scheme is proposed which may assist in the process of implementation of vector control measures tailored on specific areas and considering the available information and possible scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romeo Bellini
- Centro Agricoltura Ambiente "G,Nicoli", Via Argini Nord 3351, Crevalcore 40014, Italy.
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Ocal M, Orsten S, Inkaya AC, Yetim E, Acar NP, Alp S, Kasap OE, Gunay F, Arsava EM, Alten B, Ozkul A, Us D, Niedrig M, Ergunay K. Ongoing activity of Toscana virus genotype A and West Nile virus lineage 1 strains in Turkey: a clinical and field survey. Zoonoses Public Health 2013; 61:480-91. [PMID: 25285941 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2013] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Toscana virus (TOSV), West Nile virus (WNV) and tickborne encephalitis virus (TBEV) are among major viral pathogens causing febrile disease and meningitis/encephalitis. The impact of these viruses was investigated at a referral centre in Ankara Province, Central Anatolia in 2012, where previous reports suggested virus circulation but with scarce information on clinical cases and vector activity. Serum and/or cerebrospinal fluid samples from 94 individuals were evaluated, in addition to field-collected arthropod specimens that included 767 sandflies and 239 mosquitoes. Viral nucleic acids in clinical samples and arthropods were sought via specific and generic nested/real-time PCRs, and antibody responses in clinical samples were investigated via commercial indirect immunofluorescence tests (IIFTs) and virus neutralization. A WNV antigen assay was also employed for mosquitoes. WNV neuroinvasive disease has been identified in a 63-year-old male via RNA detection, and the WNV strain was characterized as lineage 1. TOSV infections were diagnosed in six individuals (6.3%) via RNA or IgM detection. Partial sequences in a 23-year-old female, presented with fever and transient pancytopenia, were characterized as TOSV genotype A. Febrile disease with arthralgia and/or peripheral cranial nerve involvement was noted in cases with TOSV infections. Previous WNV and TOSV exposures have been observed in 5.3% and 2.1% of the subjects, respectively. No confirmed TBEV exposure could be identified. Morphological identification of the field-collected mosquitoes revealed Culex pipiens sensu lato (74.4%), Anopheles maculipennis (20.9%), An. claviger (2.1%) and others. Sandfly species were determined as Phlebotomus papatasi (36.2%), P. halepensis (27.3%), P. major s. l. (19.3%), P. sergenti (8.9%), P. perfiliewi (4.4%), P. simici (2.6%) and others. Viral infections in arthropods could not be demonstrated. TOSV genotype A and WNV lineage 1 activity have been demonstrated as well as serologically proven exposure in patients. Presence of sandfly and mosquito species capable of virus transmission has also been revealed.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Ocal
- Virology Unit, Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
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Marka A, Diamantidis A, Papa A, Valiakos G, Chaintoutis SC, Doukas D, Tserkezou P, Giannakopoulos A, Papaspyropoulos K, Patsoula E, Badieritakis E, Baka A, Tseroni M, Pervanidou D, Papadopoulos NT, Koliopoulos G, Tontis D, Dovas CI, Billinis C, Tsakris A, Kremastinou J, Hadjichristodoulou C. West Nile virus state of the art report of MALWEST Project. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2013; 10:6534-610. [PMID: 24317379 PMCID: PMC3881129 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph10126534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2013] [Revised: 11/11/2013] [Accepted: 11/12/2013] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
During the last three years Greece is experiencing the emergence of West Nile virus (WNV) epidemics. Within this framework, an integrated surveillance and control programme (MALWEST project) with thirteen associate partners was launched aiming to investigate the disease and suggest appropriate interventions. One out of seven work packages of the project is dedicated to the State of the Art report for WNV. Three expert working groups on humans, animals and mosquitoes were established. Medical databases (PubMed, Scopus) were searched together with websites: e.g., WHO, CDC, ECDC. In total, 1,092 relevant articles were initially identified and 258 of them were finally included as references regarding the current knowledge about WNV, along with 36 additional sources (conference papers, reports, book chapters). The review is divided in three sections according to the fields of interest: (1) WNV in humans (epidemiology, molecular characteristics, transmission, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, surveillance); (2) WNV in animals (epidemiological and transmission characteristics concerning birds, horses, reptiles and other animal species) and (3) WNV in mosquitoes (control, surveillance). Finally, some examples of integrated surveillance programmes are presented. The introduction and establishment of the disease in Greece and other European countries further emphasizes the need for thorough research and broadening of our knowledge on this viral pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andriani Marka
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens 11527, Greece; E-mail:
| | - Alexandros Diamantidis
- Laboratory of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, Volos 38446, Greece; E-mails: (A.D.); (N.T.P.)
| | - Anna Papa
- National Reference Center for Arboviruses, Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece; E-mail:
| | - George Valiakos
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, Karditsa 43100, Greece; E-mails: (G.V); (A.G.); (K.P.); (C.B.)
| | - Serafeim C. Chaintoutis
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece; E-mails: (S.C.C.); (C.I.D.)
| | - Dimitrios Doukas
- Laboratory of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, Karditsa 43100, Greece; E-mails: (D.D.); (D.T.)
| | - Persefoni Tserkezou
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens 11527, Greece; E-mail:
| | - Alexios Giannakopoulos
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, Karditsa 43100, Greece; E-mails: (G.V); (A.G.); (K.P.); (C.B.)
| | - Konstantinos Papaspyropoulos
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, Karditsa 43100, Greece; E-mails: (G.V); (A.G.); (K.P.); (C.B.)
| | - Eleni Patsoula
- Department of Parasitology, Entomology and Tropical Diseases, National School of Public Health, Athens 11521, Greece; E-mail:
| | - Evangelos Badieritakis
- Laboratory of Biological Control of Pesticides, Benaki Phytopathological Institute, Athens 14561, Greece; E-mails: (E.B.); (G.K.)
| | - Agoritsa Baka
- Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (KEELPNO), Athens 15123, Greece; E-mails: (A.B.); (M.T.); (D.P.); (J.K.)
| | - Maria Tseroni
- Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (KEELPNO), Athens 15123, Greece; E-mails: (A.B.); (M.T.); (D.P.); (J.K.)
| | - Danai Pervanidou
- Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (KEELPNO), Athens 15123, Greece; E-mails: (A.B.); (M.T.); (D.P.); (J.K.)
| | - Nikos T. Papadopoulos
- Laboratory of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, Volos 38446, Greece; E-mails: (A.D.); (N.T.P.)
| | - George Koliopoulos
- Laboratory of Biological Control of Pesticides, Benaki Phytopathological Institute, Athens 14561, Greece; E-mails: (E.B.); (G.K.)
| | - Dimitrios Tontis
- Laboratory of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, Karditsa 43100, Greece; E-mails: (D.D.); (D.T.)
| | - Chrysostomos I. Dovas
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece; E-mails: (S.C.C.); (C.I.D.)
| | - Charalambos Billinis
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, Karditsa 43100, Greece; E-mails: (G.V); (A.G.); (K.P.); (C.B.)
| | - Athanassios Tsakris
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: ; Tel.: +30-2410-565-007; Fax: +30-2410-565-051
| | - Jenny Kremastinou
- Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (KEELPNO), Athens 15123, Greece; E-mails: (A.B.); (M.T.); (D.P.); (J.K.)
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Ergunay K, Gunay F, Oter K, Kasap OE, Orsten S, Akkutay AZ, Erdem H, Ozkul A, Alten B. Arboviral surveillance of field-collected mosquitoes reveals circulation of West Nile virus lineage 1 strains in Eastern Thrace, Turkey. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2013; 13:744-52. [PMID: 23919608 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2012.1288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Arbovirus screening in invertebrate vectors is an important component of the vector-borne disease surveillance programs. Turkey has been shown to harbor medically important mosquito-borne arboviruses such as West Nile Virus (WNV). However, limited information about infections in vectors are currently available. This study was performed to provide preliminary data from Eastern Thrace region, Turkey, where no arbovirus vector surveillance has previously been performed. MATERIALS AND METHODS Mosquito sampling was undertaken at 23 sites in Edirne province during July, 2012. All specimens were identified morphologically, and selected individuals were subjected to DNA barcoding via cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) sequencing. Consensus PCR for Flavivirus, Alphavirus, and Phlebovirus genera and WNV-specific nested and real-time reverse transcription PCR were employed for mosquito pool screening and/or confirmation. Viral sequences detected in pools were characterized via sequencing. RESULTS A total of 9261 mosquitoes were captured and distributed into 232 pools from the following species: Ochlerotatus caspius (90.9%), Culex pipiens sensu lato (s.l.) (4.7%), Anopheles pseudopictus (3%), and Anopheles maculipennis s.l. (1.3%). Specimens morphologically classified as Cx. pipiens s.l. were identified as Cx. pipiens pipiens via barcoding. Thirty-seven mosquito pools (15.9%) were positive in pan-flavivirus and WNV-specific assays. Viral sequences in positive pools were characterized as WNV lineage 1 clade 1a and demonstrated 1-4% divergence. No flavivirus sequences other than WNV were detected in the mosquito pools. WNV infection rates in Oc. caspius and Cx. pipiens s.l. pools were 15.6% and 36.3%, respectively. Comparison of current and previously identified WNV sequences from Turkey revealed 94.00-96.34% similarity. DISCUSSION WNV RNA was identified for the first time in Cx. pipiens s.l. and Oc. caspius mosquitoes in Eastern Thrace, Turkey. Our findings indicate the circulation of WNV lineage 1 strains in potential vector species and provide an epidemiological link between WNV activity in mosquitoes and vertebrate infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koray Ergunay
- 1 Department of Medical Microbiology, Virology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University , Sihhiye Ankara, Turkey
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Ferreira DD, Cook S, Lopes Â, de Matos AP, Esteves A, Abecasis A, de Almeida APG, Piedade J, Parreira R. Characterization of an insect-specific flavivirus (OCFVPT) co-isolated from Ochlerotatus caspius collected in southern Portugal along with a putative new Negev-like virus. Virus Genes 2013; 47:532-45. [PMID: 23877720 DOI: 10.1007/s11262-013-0960-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2013] [Accepted: 07/10/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
We describe the isolation and characterization of an insect-specific flavivirus (ISF) from Ochlerotatus caspius (Pallas, 1771) mosquitoes collected in southern Portugal. The RNA genome of this virus, tentatively designated OCFVPT, for O. caspius flavivirus from Portugal, encodes a polyprotein showing all the features expected for a flavivirus. As frequently observed for ISF, the viral genomes seems to encode a putative Fairly Interesting Flavivirus ORF (FIFO)-like product, the synthesis of which would occur as a result of a -1 translation frameshift event. OCFVPT was isolated in the C6/36 Stegomyia albopicta (= Aedes albopictus) cell line where it replicates rapidly, but failed to replicate in Vero cells in common with other ISFs. Unlike some of the latter, however, the OCFVPT genome does not seem to be integrated in the mosquito cells we tested. Phylogenetic analyses based on partial ISF NS5 nucleotide sequences placed OCFVPT among recently published viral strains documented from mosquitoes collected in the Iberian Peninsula, while analyses of ORF/E/NS3/or NS5 amino acid sequences cluster OCFVPT with HANKV (Hanko virus), an ISF recently isolated from O. caspius mosquitoes collected in Finland. Taking into account the genetic relatedness with this virus, OCFVPT is not expected to be overtly cytopathic to C6/36 cells. The cytopathic effects associated with its presence in culture supernatants are postulated to be the result of the replication of a co-isolated putative new Negev-like virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Duque Ferreira
- Unidade de Microbiologia Médica, Grupo de Virologia, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008, Lisbon, Portugal
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Gomes B, Parreira R, Sousa CA, Novo MT, Almeida APG, Donnelly MJ, Pinto J. The Culex pipiens complex in continental Portugal: distribution and genetic structure. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MOSQUITO CONTROL ASSOCIATION 2012; 28:75-80. [PMID: 23401946 DOI: 10.2987/8756-971x-28.4s.75] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Portugal is a southern European country that displays favorable ecological conditions for the establishment of West Nile virus (WNV) transmission cycles. Competent mosquito vector species are present throughout the country. Among the species with reported cases of WNV isolation in Portugal, Culex pipiens is the most ubiquitous and abundant mosquito. This species exhibits two biological forms with differences in host preferences. The molestus form has a greater tendency to feed upon humans and other mammals whereas the pipiens form prefers avian hosts. In northern latitudes, both forms are physically separated, with molestus occupying underground habitats and pipiens being found aboveground. However, the warmer climatic conditions of southern regions such as Portugal may favor the sympatric occurrence of both forms hence promoting interform hybridization. Genetic introgression between molestus and pipiens forms may result in a higher propensity for admixed populations to serve as bridge-vectors of WNV between humans and birds. Here we revise our present knowledge on the distribution, role in WNV transmission and genetic structure of the Cx. pipiens complex in continental Portugal. We focus on recent findings of sympatric molestus and pipiens populations that display considerable levels of hybridization and discuss the epidemiological repercussions of this occurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Gomes
- Unidade de Parasitologia Médica, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
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24
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Gomes B, Alves J, Sousa CA, Santa-Ana M, Vieira I, Silva TL, Almeida APG, Donnelly MJ, Pinto J. Hybridization and population structure of the Culex pipiens complex in the islands of Macaronesia. Ecol Evol 2012; 2:1889-902. [PMID: 22957190 PMCID: PMC3433992 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2012] [Revised: 05/31/2012] [Accepted: 06/05/2012] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The Culex pipiens complex includes two widespread mosquito vector species, Cx. pipiens and Cx. quinquefasciatus. The distribution of these species varies in latitude, with the former being present in temperate regions and the latter in tropical and subtropical regions. However, their distribution range overlaps in certain areas and interspecific hybridization has been documented. Genetic introgression between these species may have epidemiological repercussions for West Nile virus (WNV) transmission. Bayesian clustering analysis based on multilocus genotypes of 12 microsatellites was used to determine levels of hybridization between these two species in Macaronesian islands, the only contact zone described in West Africa. The distribution of the two species reflects both the islands' biogeography and historical aspects of human colonization. Madeira Island displayed a homogenous population of Cx. pipiens, whereas Cape Verde showed a more intriguing scenario with extensive hybridization. In the islands of Brava and Santiago, only Cx. quinquefasciatus was found, while in Fogo and Maio high hybrid rates (∼40%) between the two species were detected. Within the admixed populations, second-generation hybrids (∼50%) were identified suggesting a lack of isolation mechanisms. The observed levels of hybridization may locally potentiate the transmission to humans of zoonotic arboviruses such as WNV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Gomes
- Unidade de Parasitologia Médica, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de LisboaRua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008, Lisbon, Portugal
- Centro de Malária e outras Doenças Tropicais, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de LisboaRua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Joana Alves
- Unidade de Parasitologia Médica, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de LisboaRua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008, Lisbon, Portugal
- Centro de Malária e outras Doenças Tropicais, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de LisboaRua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008, Lisbon, Portugal
- Direcção-Geral da Saúde Ministério da SaúdePalácio do Governo, CP 47, Praia, Cabo Verde
| | - Carla A Sousa
- Unidade de Parasitologia Médica, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de LisboaRua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008, Lisbon, Portugal
- Unidade de Parasitologia e Microbiologia Médicas, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de LisboaRua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Marta Santa-Ana
- Centro de Estudos da Macaronésia, Universidade da MadeiraCampus da Penteada, 9000-390, Funchal, Portugal
| | - Inês Vieira
- Unidade de Parasitologia Médica, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de LisboaRua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008, Lisbon, Portugal
- Centro de Malária e outras Doenças Tropicais, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de LisboaRua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Teresa L Silva
- Unidade de Parasitologia Médica, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de LisboaRua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008, Lisbon, Portugal
- Centro de Malária e outras Doenças Tropicais, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de LisboaRua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - António PG Almeida
- Unidade de Parasitologia Médica, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de LisboaRua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008, Lisbon, Portugal
- Unidade de Parasitologia e Microbiologia Médicas, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de LisboaRua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Martin J Donnelly
- Vector Group, Liverpool School of Tropical MedicinePembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - João Pinto
- Unidade de Parasitologia Médica, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de LisboaRua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008, Lisbon, Portugal
- Centro de Malária e outras Doenças Tropicais, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de LisboaRua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008, Lisbon, Portugal
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Muñoz J, Ruiz S, Soriguer R, Alcaide M, Viana DS, Roiz D, Vázquez A, Figuerola J. Feeding patterns of potential West Nile virus vectors in south-west Spain. PLoS One 2012; 7:e39549. [PMID: 22745781 PMCID: PMC3382169 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0039549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2012] [Accepted: 05/21/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mosquito feeding behaviour determines the degree of vector–host contact and may have a serious impact on the risk of West Nile virus (WNV) epidemics. Feeding behaviour also interacts with other biotic and abiotic factors that affect virus amplification and transmission. Methodology/Principal Findings We identified the origin of blood meals in five mosquito species from three different wetlands in SW Spain. All mosquito species analysed fed with different frequencies on birds, mammals and reptiles. Both ‘mosquito species’ and ‘locality’ explained a similar amount of variance in the occurrence of avian blood meals. However, ‘season of year’ was the main factor explaining the presence of human blood meals. The differences in diet resulted in a marked spatial heterogeneity in the estimated WNV transmission risk. Culex perexiguus, Cx. modestus and Cx. pipiens were the main mosquito species involved in WNV enzootic circulation since they feed mainly on birds, were abundant in a number of localities and had high vector competence. Cx. perexiguus may also be important for WNV transmission to horses, as are Cx. pipiens and Cx. theileri in transmission to humans. Estimates of the WNV transmission risk based on mosquito diet, abundance and vector competence matched the results of previous WNV monitoring programs in the area. Our sensitivity analyses suggested that mosquito diet, followed by mosquito abundance and vector competence, are all relevant factors in understanding virus amplification and transmission risk in the studied wild ecosystems. At some of the studied localities, the risk of enzootic circulation of WNV was relatively high, even if the risk of transmission to humans and horses was less. Conclusions/Significance Our results describe for first time the role of five WNV candidate vectors in SW Spain. Interspecific and local differences in mosquito diet composition has an important effect on the potential transmission risk of WNV to birds, horses and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Santiago Ruiz
- Servicio de Control de Mosquitos, Diputación de Huelva, Huelva, Spain
| | | | - Miguel Alcaide
- Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Seville, Spain
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | | | - David Roiz
- Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Seville, Spain
| | - Ana Vázquez
- CNM-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Spain
| | - Jordi Figuerola
- Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Seville, Spain
- * E-mail:
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Roiz D, Roussel M, Muñoz J, Ruiz S, Soriguer R, Figuerola J. Efficacy of mosquito traps for collecting potential West Nile mosquito vectors in a natural Mediterranean wetland. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2012; 86:642-8. [PMID: 22492149 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2012.11-0326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Surveillance, research, and control of mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile virus require efficient methods for sampling mosquitoes. We compared the efficacy of BG-Sentinel and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-CO(2) traps in terms of the abundances of host-seeking and blood-fed female mosquitoes and the origin of mosquito bloodmeals. Our results indicate that BG-Sentinel traps that use CO(2) and attractants are as effective as CDC-CO(2) traps for Culex mosquito species, Ochlerotatus caspius, and they are also highly efficient at capturing Anopheles atroparvus host-seeking and blood-fed females with or without CO(2). The CDC-CO(2) trap is the least efficient method for capturing blood-fed females. BG-Sentinel traps with attractants and CO(2) were significantly better at capturing mosquitoes that had fed on mammals than the unbaited BG-Sentinel and CDC-CO(2) traps in the cases of An. atroparvus and Cx. theileri. These results may help researchers to optimize trapping methods by obtaining greater sample sizes and saving time and money.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Roiz
- Estación Biologica de Doñana, Seville, Spain.
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27
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Parreira R, Cook S, Lopes Â, de Matos AP, de Almeida APG, Piedade J, Esteves A. Genetic characterization of an insect-specific flavivirus isolated from Culex theileri mosquitoes collected in southern Portugal. Virus Res 2012; 167:152-61. [PMID: 22579596 PMCID: PMC3919203 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2012.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2011] [Revised: 03/30/2012] [Accepted: 04/11/2012] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
We describe the full genetic characterization of an insect-specific flavivirus (ISF) from Culex theileri (Theobald) mosquitoes collected in Portugal. This represents the first isolation and full characterization of an ISF from Portuguese mosquitoes. The virus, designated CTFV, for Culex theileri flavivirus, was isolated in the C6/36 Stegomyia albopicta (=Aedes albopictus) cell line, and failed to replicate in vertebrate (Vero) cells in common with other ISFs. The CTFV genome encodes a single polyprotein with 3357 residues showing all the features expected for those of flaviviruses. Phylogenetic analyses based on all ISF sequences available to date, place CTFV among Culex-associated flaviviruses, grouping with recently published NS5 partial sequences documented from mosquitoes collected in the Iberian Peninsula, and with Quang Binh virus (isolated in Vietnam) as a close relative. No CTFV sequences were found integrated in their host's genome using a range of specific PCR primers designed to the prM/E, NS3, and NS5 region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Parreira
- Unidade de Microbiologia Médica, Grupo de Virologia, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal.
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Ventim R, Ramos JA, Osório H, Lopes RJ, Pérez-Tris J, Mendes L. Avian malaria infections in western European mosquitoes. Parasitol Res 2012; 111:637-45. [PMID: 22427023 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-012-2880-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2012] [Accepted: 02/23/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In the complex life cycle of avian malaria parasites (Plasmodium sp.), we still have a poor understanding on the vector-parasite relationships. This study described the community of potential avian malaria vectors in four Portuguese reedbeds. We tested if their geographical distribution differed, and investigated on their Plasmodium infections. The mosquitoes' feeding preferences were evaluated using CO(2), mice, and birds as baits. The most abundant species were Culex pipiens, Culex theileri, and Ochlerotatus caspius (and, in one site, Coquillettidia richiardii). Plasmodium lineages SGS1 and SYAT05 were found in unengorged Cx. pipiens and Cx. theileri, respectively, suggesting that these mosquitoes were competent vectors of those lineages. The species' abundance was significantly different among sites, which may help to explain the observed differences in the prevalence of SGS1. At the study sites, SGS1 was detected in the most abundant mosquito species and reached a high prevalence in the most abundant passerine species. Probably, this parasite needs abundant hosts in all phases of its cycle to keep a good reservoir of infection in all its stages. Cq. richiardii showed an opportunistic feeding behavior, while Cx. pipiens appeared to be more mammophilic than previously described, perhaps because the used avian bait was not its preferential target. In one of the study sites, mosquitoes seem to be attracted to the Spotless Starling Sturnus unicolor, an abundant bird species that may be an important local reservoir of avian malaria infections. To our knowledge, this is the first report of detection of avian Plasmodium DNA from European mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Ventim
- Institute of Marine Research (IMAR/CMA), Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Apartado 3046, 3001-401 Coimbra, Portugal.
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Freitas FB, Novo MT, Esteves A, de Almeida APG. Species Composition and WNV Screening of Mosquitoes from Lagoons in a Wetland Area of the Algarve, Portugal. Front Physiol 2012; 2:122. [PMID: 22347862 PMCID: PMC3276253 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2011.00122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2011] [Accepted: 12/27/2011] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate mosquito abundance, species diversity, larval and adult population dynamics in seven lagoons integrated in the wetland coastal system of the Algarve, Portugal, in the summer of 2007, as well as the screening of these for West Nile virus (WNV). WNV has been isolated from mosquitoes in this region, in the summer of 2004, next to the putative area of infection of two linked human WN cases. Adult mosquitoes were collected with CDC traps baited with CO(2), and potential breeding sites were surveyed for immature stages. Morphological identification of 1,432 adult mosquitoes and 85 larvae revealed the presence of 10 species: Anopheles atroparvus, Anopheles algeriensis, Coquillettidia richiardii, Culex modestus, Culex pipiens, Culex theileri, Culex univittatus, Culiseta longiareolata, Aedes caspius, and Aedes detritus. Adult mosquito peak densities were recorded in July, contrasting with null larval breeding in the same month in the surveyed biotopes. Most abundant species were C. pipiens (52%), C. theileri (29%), and A. caspius (11%). Lagoon Salgados and Quinta das Salinas, exhibited the highest similarity of culicid fauna, despite being most distant from each other, Female mosquitoes (1,249 specimens) screened by RT-PCR, did not reveal WNV products. However, previous detection of WNV activity in this area, susceptible to re-introductions, demands for continued vigilance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferdinando B. Freitas
- Unidade Ensino e Investigação de Parasitologia Médica/Unidade de Parasitologia e Microbiologia Médica, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de LisboaLisboa, Portugal
| | - Maria Teresa Novo
- Unidade Ensino e Investigação de Parasitologia Médica/Unidade de Parasitologia e Microbiologia Médica, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de LisboaLisboa, Portugal
| | - Aida Esteves
- Unidade Ensino e Investigação de Microbiologia Médica/Unidade de Parasitologia e Microbiologia Médica, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de LisboaLisboa, Portugal
| | - A. Paulo G. de Almeida
- Unidade Ensino e Investigação de Parasitologia Médica/Unidade de Parasitologia e Microbiologia Médica, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de LisboaLisboa, Portugal
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Bisanzio D, Giacobini M, Bertolotti L, Mosca A, Balbo L, Kitron U, Vazquez-Prokopec GM. Spatio-temporal patterns of distribution of West Nile virus vectors in eastern Piedmont Region, Italy. Parasit Vectors 2011; 4:230. [PMID: 22152822 PMCID: PMC3251540 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-4-230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2011] [Accepted: 12/09/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND West Nile Virus (WNV) transmission in Italy was first reported in 1998 as an equine outbreak near the swamps of Padule di Fucecchio, Tuscany. No other cases were identified during the following decade until 2008, when horse and human outbreaks were reported in Emilia Romagna, North Italy. Since then, WNV outbreaks have occurred annually, spreading from their initial northern foci throughout the country. Following the outbreak in 1998 the Italian public health authority defined a surveillance plan to detect WNV circulation in birds, horses and mosquitoes. By applying spatial statistical analysis (spatial point pattern analysis) and models (Bayesian GLMM models) to a longitudinal dataset on the abundance of the three putative WNV vectors [Ochlerotatus caspius (Pallas 1771), Culex pipiens (Linnaeus 1758) and Culex modestus (Ficalbi 1890)] in eastern Piedmont, we quantified their abundance and distribution in space and time and generated prediction maps outlining the areas with the highest vector productivity and potential for WNV introduction and amplification. RESULTS The highest abundance and significant spatial clusters of Oc. caspius and Cx. modestus were in proximity to rice fields, and for Cx. pipiens, in proximity to highly populated urban areas. The GLMM model showed the importance of weather conditions and environmental factors in predicting mosquito abundance. Distance from the preferential breeding sites and elevation were negatively associated with the number of collected mosquitoes. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was positively correlated with mosquito abundance in rice fields (Oc. caspius and Cx. modestus). Based on the best models, we developed prediction maps for the year 2010 outlining the areas where high abundance of vectors could favour the introduction and amplification of WNV. CONCLUSIONS Our findings provide useful information for surveillance activities aiming to identify locations where the potential for WNV introduction and local transmission are highest. Such information can be used by vector control offices to stratify control interventions in areas prone to the invasion of WNV and other mosquito-transmitted pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donal Bisanzio
- Department of Animal Production, Epidemiology and Ecology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Torino, Italy.
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Lourenço PM, Sousa CA, Seixas J, Lopes P, Novo MT, Almeida APG. Anopheles atroparvus density modeling using MODIS NDVI in a former malarious area in Portugal. JOURNAL OF VECTOR ECOLOGY : JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR VECTOR ECOLOGY 2011; 36:279-291. [PMID: 22129399 DOI: 10.1111/j.1948-7134.2011.00168.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is dependent on environmental factors and considered as potentially re-emerging in temperate regions. Remote sensing data have been used successfully for monitoring environmental conditions that influence the patterns of such arthropod vector-borne diseases. Anopheles atroparvus density data were collected from 2002 to 2005, on a bimonthly basis, at three sites in a former malarial area in Southern Portugal. The development of the Remote Vector Model (RVM) was based upon two main variables: temperature and the Normalized Differential Vegetation Index (NDVI) from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Terra satellite. Temperature influences the mosquito life cycle and affects its intra-annual prevalence, and MODIS NDVI was used as a proxy for suitable habitat conditions. Mosquito data were used for calibration and validation of the model. For areas with high mosquito density, the model validation demonstrated a Pearson correlation of 0.68 (p<0.05) and a modelling efficiency/Nash-Sutcliffe of 0.44 representing the model's ability to predict intra- and inter-annual vector density trends. RVM estimates the density of the former malarial vector An. atroparvus as a function of temperature and of MODIS NDVI. RVM is a satellite data-based assimilation algorithm that uses temperature fields to predict the intra- and inter-annual densities of this mosquito species using MODIS NDVI. RVM is a relevant tool for vector density estimation, contributing to the risk assessment of transmission of mosquito-borne diseases and can be part of the early warning system and contingency plans providing support to the decision making process of relevant authorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro M Lourenço
- Departmento de Ciências e Engenharia do Ambiente, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Campus da Caparica 2829-516 Monte de Caparica, Portugal
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Almeida APG, Freitas FB, Novo MT, Sousa CA, Rodrigues JC, Alves R, Esteves A. Mosquito surveys and West Nile virus screening in two different areas of southern Portugal, 2004-2007. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2011; 10:673-80. [PMID: 20854020 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2009.0245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Longitudinal mosquito surveys were carried out in southern Portugal from 2004 to 2007, in a wetland area (Comporta, District of Setúbal) and around the perimeter of a dam irrigation plant that created the largest artificial lake in Europe, 250 km(2) (Alqueva, Districts of Evora and Beja). Our aim was to study the diversity, abundance, and seasonal dynamics of mosquitoes, comparing these two different areas, to screen mosquitoes for West Nile Virus (WNV), an arboviral agent already detected in Portugal, because these areas are populated with abundant avian fauna. Monthly collections of adult mosquitoes were carried out by Centers for Disease Control light-traps with CO(2) and by indoor resting collections. Mosquitoes were identified and screened for arboviruses by reverse transcriptase (RT)-polymerase chain reaction directed toward amplification of a 217-bp fragment of the NS5 gene. Mosquito peak densities were observed in July-August in Comporta and May-June, with a plateau in July-October, in Alqueva. However, densities were far higher in Comporta area (220,821 specimens) than in Alqueva area (9442 specimens), with a clear difference in species distribution, as in Comporta the predominant species was Culex theileri (85%), followed by Aedes caspius (6%), Anopheles atroparvus (4%), and Culex pipiens sensu latu (s.l.) (3%), whereas in Alqueva the predominant species was Cx. pipiens s.l. (56%), followed by An. atroparvus (18%), Cx. theileri (14%), and Culiseta longiareolata (9%). Female mosquitoes (8842 in 175 pools) of the species Ae. caspius, An. atroparvus, Culex mimeticus, Cx. pipiens Sensu latu (s.l.), Cx. theileri, and Culex univittatus were screened and found to be negative for WNV genomic RNA. Although there was no detection of WNV sequences in mosquitoes, vigilance should continue as the circulation of virus has been previously detected more than once in Portugal, in humans, animals, and mosquitoes, and in other surrounding Mediterranean countries.
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Zhang L, Huang E, Lin J, Gelbič I, Zhang Q, Guan Y, Huang T, Guan X. A novel mosquitocidal Bacillus thuringiensis strain LLP29 isolated from the phylloplane of Magnolia denudata. Microbiol Res 2010; 165:133-41. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2009.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2009] [Revised: 03/06/2009] [Accepted: 03/08/2009] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Gomes B, Sousa CA, Novo MT, Freitas FB, Alves R, Côrte-Real AR, Salgueiro P, Donnelly MJ, Almeida APG, Pinto J. Asymmetric introgression between sympatric molestus and pipiens forms of Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Comporta region, Portugal. BMC Evol Biol 2009; 9:262. [PMID: 19895687 PMCID: PMC2778655 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2148-9-262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2009] [Accepted: 11/06/2009] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Culex pipiens L. is the most widespread mosquito vector in temperate regions. This species consists of two forms, denoted molestus and pipiens, that exhibit important behavioural and physiological differences. The evolutionary relationships and taxonomic status of these forms remain unclear. In northern European latitudes molestus and pipiens populations occupy different habitats (underground vs. aboveground), a separation that most likely promotes genetic isolation between forms. However, the same does not hold in southern Europe where both forms occur aboveground in sympatry. In these southern habitats, the extent of hybridisation and its impact on the extent of genetic divergence between forms under sympatric conditions has not been clarified. For this purpose, we have used phenotypic and genetic data to characterise Cx. pipiens collected aboveground in Portugal. Our aims were to determine levels of genetic differentiation and the degree of hybridisation between forms occurring in sympatry, and to relate these with both evolutionary and epidemiological tenets of this biological group. Results Autogeny and stenogamy was evaluated in the F1 progeny of 145 individual Cx. pipiens females. Bayesian clustering analysis based on the genotypes of 13 microsatellites revealed two distinct genetic clusters that were highly correlated with the alternative traits that define pipiens and molestus. Admixture analysis yielded hybrid rate estimates of 8-10%. Higher proportions of admixture were observed in pipiens individuals suggesting that more molestus genes are being introgressed into the pipiens form than the opposite. Conclusion Both physiological/behavioural and genetic data provide evidence for the sympatric occurrence of molestus and pipiens forms of Cx. pipiens in the study area. In spite of the significant genetic differentiation between forms, hybridisation occurs at considerable levels. The observed pattern of asymmetric introgression probably relates to the different mating strategies adopted by each form. Furthermore, the differential introgression of molestus genes into the pipiens form may induce a more opportunistic biting behaviour in the latter thus potentiating its capacity to act as a bridge-vector for the transmission of arboviral infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Gomes
- Centro de Malária e outras Doenças Tropicais, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal.
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Lehrer S. Anopheles mosquito transmission of brain tumor. Med Hypotheses 2009; 74:167-8. [PMID: 19656635 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2009.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2009] [Revised: 07/02/2009] [Accepted: 07/03/2009] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Some investigators have postulated a viral cause of malignant glioma, possibly SV40 [Miller G. Brain cancer. A viral link to glioblastoma? Science 2009;323(5910):30-1] or cytomegalovirus (CMV). A source of other brain tumor viruses might be the anopheles mosquito, the vector of malaria. Evidence of an association of anopheles with brain tumors can be found in the relationship between malaria outbreaks in United States and reports of brain tumor incidence by state. There is a significant association between US malaria outbreaks in 2004 and the reports of brain tumor incidence 2000-2004 from 19 US states (p<0.001). Because increased numbers of both malaria cases and brain tumors could be due solely to the fact that some states, such as New York, have much larger populations than other states, such as North Dakota, multiple linear regression was performed with number of brain tumors as the dependent variable, malaria and population as independent variables. The effect of malaria was significant (p<0.001), and independent of the effect of population (p<0.001). Perhaps anopheles transmits an obscure virus that initially causes only a mild transitory illness but much later a brain tumor. If a mosquito-transmitted brain tumor virus could be identified, development of a brain tumor vaccine might be possible.
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