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de Sousa AA, Cruz ACR, da Silva FS, da Silva SP, Neto JPN, Barros MC, Fraga EDC, Sampaio I. Sequencing and Analysis of the Mitochondrial Genome of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) from the Brazilian Amazon Region. INSECTS 2023; 14:938. [PMID: 38132611 PMCID: PMC10744036 DOI: 10.3390/insects14120938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Aedes aegypti is a mosquito native to the African continent, which is now widespread in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. In many regions, it represents a major challenge to public health, given its role in the cycle of transmission of important arboviruses, such as Dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya. Considering the epidemiological importance of Ae. aegypti, the present study sequenced the partial mitochondrial genome of a sample collected in the municipality of Balsas, in the Brazilian state of Maranhão, followed by High Throughput Sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. The mitochondrial sequence obtained here was 15,863 bp long, and contained 37 functional subunits (thirteen PCGs, twenty-two tRNAs and two rRNAs) in addition to a partial final portion rich in A+T. The data obtained here contribute to the enrichment of our knowledge of the taxonomy and evolutionary biology of this prominent disease vector. These findings represent an important advancement in the understanding of the characteristics of the populations of northeastern Brazil and provide valuable insights into the taxonomy and evolutionary biology of this prominent disease vector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrelina Alves de Sousa
- Post-Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, Pará, Brazil;
| | - Ana Cecília Ribeiro Cruz
- Evandro Chagas Institute (IEC/SVS/MS), Department of Arbovirology and Hemorrhagic Fevers, Ananindeua 67030-000, Pará, Brazil; (A.C.R.C.); (F.S.d.S.); (S.P.d.S.); (J.P.N.N.)
- Post-Graduate Program in Parasite Biology in the Amazon, Center of Biological and Health Sciences, Pará State University, Belém 66095-662, Pará, Brazil
| | - Fábio Silva da Silva
- Evandro Chagas Institute (IEC/SVS/MS), Department of Arbovirology and Hemorrhagic Fevers, Ananindeua 67030-000, Pará, Brazil; (A.C.R.C.); (F.S.d.S.); (S.P.d.S.); (J.P.N.N.)
- Post-Graduate Program in Parasite Biology in the Amazon, Center of Biological and Health Sciences, Pará State University, Belém 66095-662, Pará, Brazil
| | - Sandro Patroca da Silva
- Evandro Chagas Institute (IEC/SVS/MS), Department of Arbovirology and Hemorrhagic Fevers, Ananindeua 67030-000, Pará, Brazil; (A.C.R.C.); (F.S.d.S.); (S.P.d.S.); (J.P.N.N.)
| | - Joaquim Pinto Nunes Neto
- Evandro Chagas Institute (IEC/SVS/MS), Department of Arbovirology and Hemorrhagic Fevers, Ananindeua 67030-000, Pará, Brazil; (A.C.R.C.); (F.S.d.S.); (S.P.d.S.); (J.P.N.N.)
- Post-Graduate Program in Parasite Biology in the Amazon, Center of Biological and Health Sciences, Pará State University, Belém 66095-662, Pará, Brazil
| | - Maria Claudene Barros
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Biology (GENBIMOL), Maranhão State University, Caxias 65604-380, Maranhão, Brazil; (M.C.B.); (E.d.C.F.)
| | - Elmary da Costa Fraga
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Biology (GENBIMOL), Maranhão State University, Caxias 65604-380, Maranhão, Brazil; (M.C.B.); (E.d.C.F.)
| | - Iracilda Sampaio
- Laboratory of Evolution, Institute of Coastal Studies, Federal University of Pará, Bragança 68600-000, Pará, Brazil
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Loaiza JR, Bennett KL, Miller MJ, De León LF. Unraveling the genomic complexity of sylvatic mosquitoes in changing Neotropical environments. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2023; 81:102944. [PMID: 37099930 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2023.102944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
Sylvatic New World mosquitoes (e.g. Old-growth Forest species) can transmit viruses among non-human primates. This could be a continuous source of viral cycling and spillover events from animals to humans, particularly in changing environments. However, most species of Neotropical sylvatic mosquitoes (genera Aedes, Haemagogus, and Sabethes), which include vector and non-vector species, currently lack genomic resources because there is no reliable and accurate approach for creating de novo reference genomes for these insects. This is a major knowledge gap in the biology of these mosquitoes, restricting our ability to predict and mitigate the emergence and spread of novel arboviruses in Neotropical regions. We discuss recent advances and potential solutions for generating hybrid de novo assemblies from vector and non-vector species using pools of consanguineous offspring. We also discussed research opportunities likely to emerge from these genomic resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose R Loaiza
- Centro de Biodiversidad y Descubrimiento de Drogas, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP), Ciudad del Saber, Clayton 0843-01103, Republic of Panama.
| | - Kelly L Bennett
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew J Miller
- RENECO International Wildlife Consultants LLC, Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Luis F De León
- Centro de Biodiversidad y Descubrimiento de Drogas, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP), Ciudad del Saber, Clayton 0843-01103, Republic of Panama; Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA
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3
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do Nascimento BLS, da Silva FS, Nunes-Neto JP, de Almeida Medeiros DB, Cruz ACR, da Silva SP, da Silva e Silva LH, de Oliveira Monteiro HA, Dias DD, Vieira DBR, Rosa JW, Brandão RCF, Chiang JO, Martins LC, da Costa Vasconcelos PF. First Description of the Mitogenome and Phylogeny of Culicinae Species from the Amazon Region. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12121983. [PMID: 34946932 PMCID: PMC8701802 DOI: 10.3390/genes12121983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The Culicidae family is distributed worldwide and comprises about 3587 species subdivided into the subfamilies Anophelinae and Culicinae. This is the first description of complete mitochondrial DNA sequences from Aedes fluviatilis, Aedeomyia squamipennis, Coquillettidia nigricans, Psorophora albipes, and Psorophora ferox. The mitogenomes showed an average length of 15,046 pb and 78.02% AT content, comprising 37 functional subunits (13 protein coding genes, 22 tRNAs, and two rRNAs). The most common start codons were ATT/ATG, and TAA was the stop codon for all PCGs. The tRNAs had the typical leaf clover structure, except tRNASer1. Phylogeny was inferred by analyzing the 13 PCGs concatenated nucleotide sequences of 48 mitogenomes. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analysis placed Ps. albipes and Ps. ferox in the Janthinosoma group, like the accepted classification of Psorophora genus. Ae. fluviatilis was placed in the Aedini tribe, but was revealed to be more related to the Haemagogus genus, a result that may have been hampered by the poor sampling of Aedes sequences. Cq. nigricans clustered with Cq. chrysonotum, both related to Mansonia. Ae. squamipennis was placed as the most external lineage of the Culicinae subfamily. The yielded topology supports the concept of monophyly of all groups and ratifies the current taxonomic classification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruna Laís Sena do Nascimento
- Department of Arbovirology and Hemorrhagic Fevers, Ananindeua, Evandro Chagas Institute—IEC/SVS/MS, Belém 67030-000, Brazil; (B.L.S.d.N.); (F.S.d.S.); (D.B.d.A.M.); (A.C.R.C.); (S.P.d.S.); (H.A.d.O.M.); (D.B.R.V.); (J.W.R.J.); (R.C.F.B.); (J.O.C.); (L.C.M.)
- Biological and Health Sciences Center, Parasitary Biology in the Amazon Posgraduation Program, State of Pará University, Belém 66095-662, Brazil; (L.H.d.S.e.S.); (D.D.D.); (P.F.d.C.V.)
| | - Fábio Silva da Silva
- Department of Arbovirology and Hemorrhagic Fevers, Ananindeua, Evandro Chagas Institute—IEC/SVS/MS, Belém 67030-000, Brazil; (B.L.S.d.N.); (F.S.d.S.); (D.B.d.A.M.); (A.C.R.C.); (S.P.d.S.); (H.A.d.O.M.); (D.B.R.V.); (J.W.R.J.); (R.C.F.B.); (J.O.C.); (L.C.M.)
- Biological and Health Sciences Center, Parasitary Biology in the Amazon Posgraduation Program, State of Pará University, Belém 66095-662, Brazil; (L.H.d.S.e.S.); (D.D.D.); (P.F.d.C.V.)
| | - Joaquim Pinto Nunes-Neto
- Department of Arbovirology and Hemorrhagic Fevers, Ananindeua, Evandro Chagas Institute—IEC/SVS/MS, Belém 67030-000, Brazil; (B.L.S.d.N.); (F.S.d.S.); (D.B.d.A.M.); (A.C.R.C.); (S.P.d.S.); (H.A.d.O.M.); (D.B.R.V.); (J.W.R.J.); (R.C.F.B.); (J.O.C.); (L.C.M.)
- Biological and Health Sciences Center, Parasitary Biology in the Amazon Posgraduation Program, State of Pará University, Belém 66095-662, Brazil; (L.H.d.S.e.S.); (D.D.D.); (P.F.d.C.V.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Daniele Barbosa de Almeida Medeiros
- Department of Arbovirology and Hemorrhagic Fevers, Ananindeua, Evandro Chagas Institute—IEC/SVS/MS, Belém 67030-000, Brazil; (B.L.S.d.N.); (F.S.d.S.); (D.B.d.A.M.); (A.C.R.C.); (S.P.d.S.); (H.A.d.O.M.); (D.B.R.V.); (J.W.R.J.); (R.C.F.B.); (J.O.C.); (L.C.M.)
| | - Ana Cecília Ribeiro Cruz
- Department of Arbovirology and Hemorrhagic Fevers, Ananindeua, Evandro Chagas Institute—IEC/SVS/MS, Belém 67030-000, Brazil; (B.L.S.d.N.); (F.S.d.S.); (D.B.d.A.M.); (A.C.R.C.); (S.P.d.S.); (H.A.d.O.M.); (D.B.R.V.); (J.W.R.J.); (R.C.F.B.); (J.O.C.); (L.C.M.)
| | - Sandro Patroca da Silva
- Department of Arbovirology and Hemorrhagic Fevers, Ananindeua, Evandro Chagas Institute—IEC/SVS/MS, Belém 67030-000, Brazil; (B.L.S.d.N.); (F.S.d.S.); (D.B.d.A.M.); (A.C.R.C.); (S.P.d.S.); (H.A.d.O.M.); (D.B.R.V.); (J.W.R.J.); (R.C.F.B.); (J.O.C.); (L.C.M.)
| | - Lucas Henrique da Silva e Silva
- Biological and Health Sciences Center, Parasitary Biology in the Amazon Posgraduation Program, State of Pará University, Belém 66095-662, Brazil; (L.H.d.S.e.S.); (D.D.D.); (P.F.d.C.V.)
| | - Hamilton Antônio de Oliveira Monteiro
- Department of Arbovirology and Hemorrhagic Fevers, Ananindeua, Evandro Chagas Institute—IEC/SVS/MS, Belém 67030-000, Brazil; (B.L.S.d.N.); (F.S.d.S.); (D.B.d.A.M.); (A.C.R.C.); (S.P.d.S.); (H.A.d.O.M.); (D.B.R.V.); (J.W.R.J.); (R.C.F.B.); (J.O.C.); (L.C.M.)
| | - Daniel Damous Dias
- Biological and Health Sciences Center, Parasitary Biology in the Amazon Posgraduation Program, State of Pará University, Belém 66095-662, Brazil; (L.H.d.S.e.S.); (D.D.D.); (P.F.d.C.V.)
| | - Durval Bertram Rodrigues Vieira
- Department of Arbovirology and Hemorrhagic Fevers, Ananindeua, Evandro Chagas Institute—IEC/SVS/MS, Belém 67030-000, Brazil; (B.L.S.d.N.); (F.S.d.S.); (D.B.d.A.M.); (A.C.R.C.); (S.P.d.S.); (H.A.d.O.M.); (D.B.R.V.); (J.W.R.J.); (R.C.F.B.); (J.O.C.); (L.C.M.)
| | - José Wilson Rosa
- Department of Arbovirology and Hemorrhagic Fevers, Ananindeua, Evandro Chagas Institute—IEC/SVS/MS, Belém 67030-000, Brazil; (B.L.S.d.N.); (F.S.d.S.); (D.B.d.A.M.); (A.C.R.C.); (S.P.d.S.); (H.A.d.O.M.); (D.B.R.V.); (J.W.R.J.); (R.C.F.B.); (J.O.C.); (L.C.M.)
| | - Roberto Carlos Feitosa Brandão
- Department of Arbovirology and Hemorrhagic Fevers, Ananindeua, Evandro Chagas Institute—IEC/SVS/MS, Belém 67030-000, Brazil; (B.L.S.d.N.); (F.S.d.S.); (D.B.d.A.M.); (A.C.R.C.); (S.P.d.S.); (H.A.d.O.M.); (D.B.R.V.); (J.W.R.J.); (R.C.F.B.); (J.O.C.); (L.C.M.)
| | - Jannifer Oliveira Chiang
- Department of Arbovirology and Hemorrhagic Fevers, Ananindeua, Evandro Chagas Institute—IEC/SVS/MS, Belém 67030-000, Brazil; (B.L.S.d.N.); (F.S.d.S.); (D.B.d.A.M.); (A.C.R.C.); (S.P.d.S.); (H.A.d.O.M.); (D.B.R.V.); (J.W.R.J.); (R.C.F.B.); (J.O.C.); (L.C.M.)
| | - Livia Carício Martins
- Department of Arbovirology and Hemorrhagic Fevers, Ananindeua, Evandro Chagas Institute—IEC/SVS/MS, Belém 67030-000, Brazil; (B.L.S.d.N.); (F.S.d.S.); (D.B.d.A.M.); (A.C.R.C.); (S.P.d.S.); (H.A.d.O.M.); (D.B.R.V.); (J.W.R.J.); (R.C.F.B.); (J.O.C.); (L.C.M.)
| | - Pedro Fernando da Costa Vasconcelos
- Biological and Health Sciences Center, Parasitary Biology in the Amazon Posgraduation Program, State of Pará University, Belém 66095-662, Brazil; (L.H.d.S.e.S.); (D.D.D.); (P.F.d.C.V.)
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Culicidae evolutionary history focusing on the Culicinae subfamily based on mitochondrial phylogenomics. Sci Rep 2020; 10:18823. [PMID: 33139764 PMCID: PMC7606482 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74883-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Mosquitoes are insects of medical importance due their role as vectors of different pathogens to humans. There is a lack of information about the evolutionary history and phylogenetic positioning of the majority of mosquito species. Here we characterized the mitogenomes of mosquito species through low-coverage whole genome sequencing and data mining. A total of 37 draft mitogenomes of different species were assembled from which 16 are newly-sequenced species. We datamined additional 49 mosquito mitogenomes, and together with our 37 mitogenomes, we reconstructed the evolutionary history of 86 species including representatives from 15 genera and 7 tribes. Our results showed that most of the species clustered in clades with other members of their own genus with exception of Aedes genus which was paraphyletic. We confirmed the monophyletic status of the Mansoniini tribe including both Coquillettidia and Mansonia genus. The Aedeomyiini and Uranotaeniini were consistently recovered as basal to other tribes in the subfamily Culicinae, although the exact relationships among these tribes differed between analyses. These results demonstrate that low-coverage sequencing is effective to recover mitogenomes, establish phylogenetic knowledge and hence generate basic fundamental information that will help in the understanding of the role of these species as pathogen vectors.
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Mitochondrial genome sequencing and phylogeny of Haemagogus albomaculatus, Haemagogus leucocelaenus, Haemagogus spegazzinii, and Haemagogus tropicalis (Diptera: Culicidae). Sci Rep 2020; 10:16948. [PMID: 33046768 PMCID: PMC7550346 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-73790-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The genus Haemagogus (Diptera: Culicidae) comprises species of great epidemiological relevance, involved in transmission cycles of the Yellow fever virus and other arboviruses in South America. So far, only Haemagogus janthinomys has complete mitochondrial sequences available. Given the unavailability of information related to aspects of the evolutionary biology and molecular taxonomy of this genus, we report here, the first sequencing of the mitogenomes of Haemagogus albomaculatus, Haemagogus leucocelaenus, Haemagogus spegazzinii, and Haemagogus tropicalis. The mitogenomes showed an average length of 15,038 bp, average AT content of 79.3%, positive AT-skews, negative GC-skews, and comprised 37 functional subunits (13 PCGs, 22 tRNA, and 02 rRNA). The PCGs showed ATN as start codon, TAA as stop codon, and signs of purifying selection. The tRNAs had the typical leaf clover structure, except tRNASer1. Phylogenetic analyzes of Bayesian inference and Maximum Likelihood, based on concatenated sequences from all 13 PCGs, produced identical topologies and strongly supported the monophyletic relationship between the Haemagogus and Conopostegus subgenera, and corroborated with the known taxonomic classification of the evaluated taxa, based on external morphological aspects. The information produced on the mitogenomes of the Haemagogus species evaluated here may be useful in carrying out future taxonomic and evolutionary studies of the genus.
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Fontenille D, Powell JR. From Anonymous to Public Enemy: How Does a Mosquito Become a Feared Arbovirus Vector? Pathogens 2020; 9:E265. [PMID: 32260491 PMCID: PMC7238163 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9040265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The past few decades have seen the emergence of several worldwide arbovirus epidemics (chikungunya, Zika), the expansion or recrudescence of historical arboviruses (dengue, yellow fever), and the modification of the distribution area of major vector mosquitoes such as Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus, raising questions about the risk of appearance of new vectors and new epidemics. In this opinion piece, we review the factors that led to the emergence of yellow fever in the Americas, define the conditions for a mosquito to become a vector, analyse the recent example of the new status of Aedes albopictus from neglected mosquito to major vector, and propose some scenarios for the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Didier Fontenille
- MIVEGEC unit, Université de Montpellier, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), CNRS, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier, France
| | - Jeffrey R. Powell
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, 21 Sachem Street, New Haven, CT 06511-8934, USA;
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Lorenz C, Alves JMP, Foster PG, Sallum MAM, Suesdek L. First record of translocation in Culicidae (Diptera) mitogenomes: evidence from the tribe Sabethini. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:721. [PMID: 31561749 PMCID: PMC6765231 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-6069-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The tribe Sabethini (Diptera: Culicidae) contains important vectors of the yellow fever virus and presents remarkable morphological and ecological diversity unequalled in other mosquito groups. However, there is limited information about mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) from these species. As mitochondrial genetics has been fundamental for posing evolutionary hypotheses and identifying taxonomical markers, in this study we sequenced the first sabethine mitogenomes: Sabethes undosus, Trichoprosopon pallidiventer, Runchomyia reversa, Limatus flavisetosus, and Wyeomyia confusa. In addition, we performed phylogenetic analyses of Sabethini within Culicidae and compared its mitogenomic architecture to that of other insects. Results Similar to other insects, the Sabethini mitogenome contains 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, and a control region. However, the gene order is not the same as that in other mosquitoes; the tyrosine (Y) and cysteine (C) tRNA genes have translocated. In general, mitogenome rearrangements within insects are uncommon events; the translocation reported here is unparalleled among Culicidae and can be considered an autapomorphy for the Neotropical sabethines. Conclusions Our study provides clear evidence of gene rearrangements in the mitogenomes of these Neotropical genera in the tribe Sabethini. Gene order can be informative at the taxonomic level of tribe. The translocations found, along with the mitogenomic sequence data and other recently published findings, reinforce the status of Sabethini as a well-supported monophyletic taxon. Furthermore, T. pallidiventer was recovered as sister to R. reversa, and both were placed as sisters of other Sabethini genera (Sabethes, Wyeomyia, and Limatus).
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Lorenz
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 715, São Paulo, CEP 05509-300, Brazil.
| | - João Marcelo Pereira Alves
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Science, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1374, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Peter Gordon Foster
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Rd, London, UK
| | - Maria Anice Mureb Sallum
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 715, São Paulo, CEP 05509-300, Brazil
| | - Lincoln Suesdek
- Butantan Institute, Av. Vital Brazil 1500, Butanta, São Paulo, SP, CEP 05503-900, Brazil.,Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar 470, Jardim América, São Paulo, SP, CEP 05403-000, Brazil
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Adawi M, Bragazzi NL, Watad A, Sharif K, Amital H, Mahroum N. Discrepancies Between Classic and Digital Epidemiology in Searching for the Mayaro Virus: Preliminary Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Google Trends. JMIR Public Health Surveill 2017; 3:e93. [PMID: 29196278 PMCID: PMC5732327 DOI: 10.2196/publichealth.9136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2017] [Revised: 10/12/2017] [Accepted: 10/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mayaro virus (MAYV), first discovered in Trinidad in 1954, is spread by the Haemagogus mosquito. Small outbreaks have been described in the past in the Amazon jungles of Brazil and other parts of South America. Recently, a case was reported in rural Haiti. Objective Given the emerging importance of MAYV, we aimed to explore the feasibility of exploiting a Web-based tool for monitoring and tracking MAYV cases. Methods Google Trends is an online tracking system. A Google-based approach is particularly useful to monitor especially infectious diseases epidemics. We searched Google Trends from its inception (from January 2004 through to May 2017) for MAYV-related Web searches worldwide. Results We noted a burst in search volumes in the period from July 2016 (relative search volume [RSV]=13%) to December 2016 (RSV=18%), with a peak in September 2016 (RSV=100%). Before this burst, the average search activity related to MAYV was very low (median 1%). MAYV-related queries were concentrated in the Caribbean. Scientific interest from the research community and media coverage affected digital seeking behavior. Conclusions MAYV has always circulated in South America. Its recent appearance in the Caribbean has been a source of concern, which resulted in a burst of Internet queries. While Google Trends cannot be used to perform real-time epidemiological surveillance of MAYV, it can be exploited to capture the public’s reaction to outbreaks. Public health workers should be aware of this, in that information and communication technologies could be used to communicate with users, reassure them about their concerns, and to empower them in making decisions affecting their health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Adawi
- Padeh and Ziv Hospitals, Bar-Ilan Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Zafat, Israel
| | - Nicola Luigi Bragazzi
- Postgraduate School of Public Health, Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society Nazareth Hospital, Nazareth, Israel
| | - Abdulla Watad
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Department of Medicine 'B', Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - Kassem Sharif
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Department of Medicine 'B', Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - Howard Amital
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Department of Medicine 'B', Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - Naim Mahroum
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Department of Medicine 'B', Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
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