Journal article
Vector competence of Australian Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus for an epidemic strain of Zika virus
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Vol.13(4), e0007281
2019
Abstract
Background: Recent epidemics of Zika virus (ZIKV) in the Pacific and the Americas have highlighted its potential as an emerging pathogen of global importance. Both Aedes (Ae.) aegypti and Ae. albopictus are known to transmit ZIKV but variable vector competence has been observed between mosquito populations from different geographical regions and different virus strains. Since Australia remains at risk of ZIKV introduction, we evaluated the vector competence of local Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus for a Brazilian epidemic ZIKV strain. In addition, we evaluated the impact of daily temperature fluctuations around a mean of 28°C on ZIKV transmission and extrinsic incubation period. Methodology/Principal findings: Mosquitoes were orally challenged with a Brazilian ZIKV strain (8.8 log CCID50/ml) and maintained at either 28°C constant or fluctuating temperature conditions. At 3, 7 and 14 days post-infection (dpi), ZIKV RNA copies were quantified in mosquito bodies, as well as wings and legs, using qRT-PCR, while virus antigen in saliva (a proxy for transmission) was detected using a cell culture ELISA. Despite high body and disseminated infection rates in both vectors, the transmission rates of ZIKV in saliva of Ae. aegypti (50-60%) were significantly higher than in Ae. albopictus (10%) at 14 dpi. Both species supported a high viral load in bodies, with no significant differences between constant and fluctuating temperature conditions. However, a significant difference in viral load in wings and legs between species was observed, with higher titres in Ae. aegypti maintained at constant temperature conditions. For ZIKV transmission to occur in Ae. aegypti, a disseminated virus load threshold of 7.59 log10 copies had to be reached. Conclusions/Significance: Australian Ae. aegypti are better able to transmit a Brazilian ZIKV strain than Ae. albopictus. The results are in agreement with the global consensus that Ae. aegypti is the major vector of ZIKV.
Details
- Title
- Vector competence of Australian Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus for an epidemic strain of Zika virus
- Authors
- L E Hugo (Author) - QIMR Berghofer Medical Research InstituteL Stassen (Author) - Queensland University of TechnologyJ La (Author) - Queensland University of TechnologyE Gosden (Author) - Queensland University of TechnologyO Ekwudu (Author) - Queensland University of TechnologyC Winterford (Author) - QIMR Berghofer Medical Research InstituteE Viennet (Author) - Australian Red Cross Blood ServiceHelen M Faddy (Author) - Australian Red Cross Blood ServiceG J Devine (Author) - QIMR Berghofer Medical Research InstituteF D Frentiu (Author) - Queensland University of Technology
- Publication details
- PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Vol.13(4), e0007281
- Publisher
- Public Library of Science
- Date published
- 2019
- DOI
- 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007281
- ISSN
- 1935-2727; 1935-2727
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2019 Hugo et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Health - Biomedicine; School of Health; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health and Sport Sciences - Legacy; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450992102621
- Output Type
- Journal article
- Research Statement
- false
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- Infectious Diseases
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