scholarly journals Establishment of Culex modestus in Belgium and a Glance into the Virome of Belgian Mosquito Species

mSphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lanjiao Wang ◽  
Ana Lucia Rosales Rosas ◽  
Lander De Coninck ◽  
Chenyan Shi ◽  
Johanna Bouckaert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Large Population ◽  
Coi Gene ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Usutu Virus ◽  
Surveillance Programs ◽  
Surrounding Areas ◽  
The City

ABSTRACT Culex modestus mosquitoes are considered potential transmission vectors of West Nile virus and Usutu virus. Their presence has been reported across several European countries, including one larva detected in Belgium in 2018. In this study, mosquitoes were collected in the city of Leuven and surrounding areas in the summers of 2019 and 2020. Species identification was performed based on morphological features and partial sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. The 107 mosquitoes collected in 2019 belonged to eight mosquito species, Culex pipiens (24.3%), Cx. modestus (48.6%), Cx. torrentium (0.9%), Culiseta annulata (0.9%), Culiseta morsitans (0.9%), Aedes sticticus (14.0%), Aedes cinereus (9.3%), and Anopheles plumbeus (0.9%), suggesting the presence of an established Cx. modestus population in Belgium. The collection of Cx. modestus mosquitoes at the same locations in 2020 confirmed their establishment in the region. Haplotype network analysis of the COI sequences for Cx. modestus showed that the Belgian population is rather diverse, suggesting that it may have been established in Belgium for some time. The Belgian Cx. modestus population was most closely related to populations from the United Kingdom and Germany. Characterization of the virome of the collected mosquitoes resulted in the identification of at least 33 eukaryotic viral species. Nine (nearly) complete genomes belonging to 6 viral species were identified, all of which were closely related to known viruses. In conclusion, here, we report the presence of Cx. modestus in the surrounding areas of Leuven, Belgium. As this species is considered to be a vector of several arboviruses, the implementation of vector surveillance programs to monitor this species is recommended. IMPORTANCE Culex modestus mosquitoes are considered to be a potential “bridge” vector, being able to transmit pathogens between birds as well as from birds to mammals, including humans. In Belgium, this mosquito species was considered absent until the finding of one larva in 2018 and subsequent evidence of a large population in 2019 to 2020 described here. We collected mosquitoes in the summers of 2019 and 2020 in the city of Leuven and surrounding areas. The mosquito species was identified by morphological and molecular methods, demonstrating the presence of Cx. modestus in this region. The ability of mosquitoes to transmit pathogens can depend on several factors, one of them being their natural virus composition. Therefore, we identified the mosquito-specific viruses harbored by Belgian mosquitoes. As Cx. modestus is able to transmit viruses such as West Nile virus and Usutu virus, the establishment of this mosquito species may increase the risk of virus transmission in the region. It is thus advisable to implement mosquito surveillance programs to monitor this species.

scholarly journals Screening of Mosquitoes for West Nile Virus and Usutu Virus in Croatia, 2015–2020

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 45
Author(s):  
Ana Klobucar ◽  
Vladimir Savic ◽  
Marcela Curman Posavec ◽  
Suncica Petrinic ◽  
Urska Kuhar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Culex Pipiens ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Usutu Virus ◽  
Culex Pipiens Complex ◽  
Mammalian Origin ◽  
Mosquito Pool ◽  
The City ◽  
Generation Sequencing

In the period from 2015 to 2020, an entomological survey for the presence of West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) in mosquitoes was performed in northwestern Croatia. A total of 20,363 mosquitoes were sampled in the City of Zagreb and Međimurje county, grouped in 899 pools and tested by real-time RT-PCR for WNV and USUV RNA. All pools were negative for WNV while one pool each from 2016 (Aedes albopictus), 2017 (Culex pipiens complex), 2018 (Cx. pipiens complex), and 2019 (Cx. pipiens complex), respectively, was positive for USUV. The 2018 and 2019 positive pools shared 99.31% nucleotide homology within the USUV NS5 gene and both clustered within USUV Europe 2 lineage. The next-generation sequencing of one mosquito pool (Cx. pipiens complex) collected in 2018 in Zagreb confirmed the presence of USUV and revealed several dsDNA and ssRNA viruses of insect, bacterial and mammalian origin.

scholarly journals Seasonal Phenological Patterns and Flavivirus Vectorial Capacity of Medically Important Mosquito Species in a Wetland and an Urban Area of Attica, Greece

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 176
Author(s):  
Stavroula Beleri ◽  
Georgios Balatsos ◽  
Vasilios Karras ◽  
Nikolaos Tegos ◽  
Fani Sereti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Vectorial Capacity ◽  
Adult Mosquito ◽  
Surveillance Program ◽  
The South ◽  
Public Health Importance ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Usutu Virus

Seasonal patterns of mosquito population density and their vectorial capacity constitute major elements to understand the epidemiology of mosquito-borne diseases. Using adult mosquito traps, we compared the population dynamics of major mosquito species (Culex pipiens, Aedes albopictus, Anopheles spp.) in an urban and a wetland rural area of Attica Greece. Pools of the captured Cx. pipiens were analyzed to determine infection rates of the West Nile virus (WNV) and the Usutu virus (USUV). The data provided were collected under the frame of the surveillance program carried out in two regional units (RUs) of the Attica region (East Attica and South Sector of Attica), during the period 2017–2018. The entomological surveillance of adult mosquitoes was performed on a weekly basis using a network of BG-sentinel traps (BGs), baited with CO2 and BG-Lure, in selected, fixed sampling sites. A total of 46,726 adult mosquitoes were collected, with larger variety and number of species in East Attica (n = 37,810), followed by the South Sector of Attica (n = 8916). The collected mosquitoes were morphologically identified to species level and evaluated for their public health importance. Collected Cx. pipiens adults were pooled and tested for West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) presence by implementation of a targeted molecular methodology (real-time PCR). A total of 366 mosquito pools were analyzed for WNV and USUV, respectively, and 38 (10.4%) positive samples were recorded for WNV, while no positive pool was detected for USUV. The majority of positive samples for WNV were detected in the East Attica region, followed by the South Sector of Attica, respectively. The findings of the current study highlight the WNV circulation in the region of Attica and the concomitant risk for the country, rendering mosquito surveillance actions and integrated mosquito management programs as imperative public health interventions.

scholarly journals A Comparison of Adult Mosquito Trapping Methods to Assess Potential West Nile Virus Mosquito Vectors in Greece during the Onset of the 2018 Transmission Season

Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 329
Author(s):  
Marina Bisia ◽  
Claire L. Jeffries ◽  
Ioanna Lytra ◽  
Antonios Michaelakis ◽  
Thomas Walker
Keyword(s):  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Early Period ◽  
Blood Feeding ◽  
Adult Mosquito ◽  
Entomological Surveillance ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Additional Species ◽  
Transmission Season ◽  
Surveillance Programs

West Nile virus (WNV) threatens the health of humans and equines worldwide. Culex (Cx.) pipiens complex mosquitoes are major vectors but numerous other species have been implicated. Due to variations in blood-feeding behaviour, Cx. pipiens biotypes and hybrids influence transmission, from enzootic cycles (between mosquitoes and birds), to spill-over transmission to humans and equines. In this study, mosquitoes were collected in May–June 2018 during the early period of the transmission season from two regional units of Greece, where WNV cases had been reported in the previous four years (Palaio Faliro and Argolida). A total of 1062 mosquitoes were collected with Biogents Sentinel 2 traps collecting both a greater number of all mosquito species and the Cx. pipiens complex than CDC miniature light traps or Heavy Duty EVS traps. Molecular identification confirmed additional species including Aedes albopictus. The proportion of Cx. pipiens biotypes in Palaio Faliro was 54.5% pipiens, 20.0% molestus and 25.5% hybrids. In Argolida, the collection comprised 68.1% pipiens biotype, 8.3% molestus biotype and 23.6% hybrids. Screening resulted in WNV detection in three females of the pipiens biotype and in one hybrid. As hybrids play a role in spill-over transmission, these findings highlight the importance of entomological surveillance programs incorporating molecular xenomonitoring as an early warning before human cases at the onset of the transmission season.

scholarly journals Co‐Infections: Simultaneous Detections of West Nile Virus and Usutu Virus in Birds from Germany

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pauline Dianne Santos ◽  
Friederike Michel ◽  
Claudia Wylezich ◽  
Dirk Höper ◽  
Markus Keller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
West Nile Virus ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Usutu Virus

scholarly journals Population dynamics of mosquito species in a West Nile virus endemic area in Madagascar

Parasite ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
pp. 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luciano Michaël Tantely ◽  
Catherine Cêtre-Sossah ◽  
Tsiriniaina Rakotondranaivo ◽  
Eric Cardinale ◽  
Sébastien Boyer
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Endemic Area ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
West Nile

scholarly journals Is West Nile virus a potential cause of central nervous system infection in Brazil?

2010 ◽  
Vol 68 (5) ◽  
pp. 761-763 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristiane N Soares ◽  
Mauro J. Cabral Castro ◽  
José M Peralta ◽  
Marcos R.G. de Freitas ◽  
Marzia Puccioni-Sohler
Keyword(s):  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Rio De Janeiro ◽  
Viral Encephalitis ◽  
Neutralization Test ◽  
Dengue Infection ◽  
Central Nervous System Infection ◽  
Viral Meningitis ◽  
Unknown Etiology ◽  
West Nile ◽  
The City

Meningitis and encephalitis are complications of West Nile virus (WNV) infection. Although WNV is endemic in North America, the virus has recently been reported in Colombia and Argentina. Investigation of WNV in Brazil is important since this virus has never been studied previously in this country. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the presence of WNV infection in viral encephalitis/meningitis cases of unknown etiology in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. METHOD: Thirty-seven adults with viral meningitis/encephalitis had their serum and CSF tested for WNV antibodies using the ELISA method. RESULTS: Only one case was WNV-positive, but this case was also positive for dengue. The plaque reduction neutralization test distinguished infections, and was negative for WNV. CONCLUSION: WNV can be confused with dengue infection. Their symptoms and neurological picture are similar. We did not find WNV in any patients with encephalitis and meningitis in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Up to now, it has not been detected in Brazil

Surveillance on antibodies against West Nile virus, Usutu virus, tick-borne encephalitis virus and Tribeč virus in wild birds in Drienovská wetland, Slovakia

Biologia ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 74 (7) ◽  
pp. 813-820 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomáš Csank ◽  
Ľuboš Korytár ◽  
Terézia Pošiváková ◽  
Tamás Bakonyi ◽  
Juraj Pistl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Wild Birds ◽  
Encephalitis Virus ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Usutu Virus ◽  
Tick Borne Encephalitis ◽  
Tick Borne Encephalitis Virus

scholarly journals Increase in human West Nile and Usutu virus infections, Austria, 2018

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (43) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephan W. Aberle ◽  
Jolanta Kolodziejek ◽  
Christof Jungbauer ◽  
Karin Stiasny ◽  
Judith H. Aberle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Blood Donors ◽  
Blood Donation ◽  
Virus Infections ◽  
West Nile Fever ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Usutu Virus ◽  
Neuroinvasive Disease ◽  
Human West Nile Virus ◽  
Imported Cases

Between 28 June and 17 September 2018, 27 cases of human West Nile virus infections were recorded in Austria; four cases of West Nile neuroinvasive disease, 11 cases of West Nile fever, six infections detected by blood donation screening and six imported cases. In addition, 18 cases of human Usutu virus infections (all blood donors) were recorded. This is the highest number of annual infections recorded in Austria since the introduction of both viruses.

scholarly journals Epidemiology of West Nile virus in Africa: An underestimated threat

2022 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. e0010075
Author(s):  
Giulia Mencattelli ◽  
Marie Henriette Dior Ndione ◽  
Roberto Rosà ◽  
Giovanni Marini ◽  
Cheikh Tidiane Diagne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Disease Burden ◽  
Vector Competence ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Reference List ◽  
African Continent ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Scientific Papers ◽  
Epidemiological Pattern

Background West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus which has been posing continuous challenges to public health worldwide due to the identification of new lineages and clades and its ability to invade and establish in an increasing number of countries. Its current distribution, genetic variability, ecology, and epidemiological pattern in the African continent are only partially known despite the general consensus on the urgency to obtain such information for quantifying the actual disease burden in Africa other than to predict future threats at global scale. Methodology and principal findings References were searched in PubMed and Google Scholar electronic databases on January 21, 2020, using selected keywords, without language and date restriction. Additional manual searches of reference list were carried out. Further references have been later added accordingly to experts’ opinion. We included 153 scientific papers published between 1940 and 2021. This review highlights: (i) the co-circulation of WNV-lineages 1, 2, and 8 in the African continent; (ii) the presence of diverse WNV competent vectors in Africa, mainly belonging to the Culex genus; (iii) the lack of vector competence studies for several other mosquito species found naturally infected with WNV in Africa; (iv) the need of more competence studies to be addressed on ticks; (iv) evidence of circulation of WNV among humans, animals and vectors in at least 28 Countries; (v) the lack of knowledge on the epidemiological situation of WNV for 19 Countries and (vii) the importance of carrying out specific serological surveys in order to avoid possible bias on WNV circulation in Africa. Conclusions This study provides the state of art on WNV investigation carried out in Africa, highlighting several knowledge gaps regarding i) the current WNV distribution and genetic diversity, ii) its ecology and transmission chains including the role of different arthropods and vertebrate species as competent reservoirs, and iii) the real disease burden for humans and animals. This review highlights the needs for further research and coordinated surveillance efforts on WNV in Africa.

scholarly journals WEST NILE FEVER IN THE SARATOV REGION IN 2013-2015

2017 ◽  
Vol 62 (5) ◽  
pp. 219-226
Author(s):  
E. V. Kazorina ◽  
T. Yu. Krasovskaya ◽  
A. V. Kazantsev ◽  
E. V. Naydenova ◽  
I. N. Sharova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
West Nile Fever ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Saratov Region ◽  
Stable Domain ◽  
Field Samples ◽  
Live Stock ◽  
Regional Population ◽  
The City

West Nile virus (WNV) circulation in the territory of Saratov region and its role in the infectious pathology were investigated. For this purpose, in studies conducted in 2013-2015, suspensions of bloodsucking arthropods, organs of birds and small mammals were analyzed for the presence of WNV markers (antigens and/or RNA). The seroprevalence level in live-stock animals and population of the region was evaluated; clinical samples from patients with symptoms compatible with West Nile fever (WNF) were analyzed. As a result of the investigations, WNV markers were detected in field samples gathered in natural biotopes and in the city of Saratov. Immunity to WNV was detected in horses. A stable domain of persons with immunity to this agent was revealed among regional population. Patients with WNF have been annually registered in the region since 2012. The obtained results confirm active circulation of WNF in the Saratov region, as well as formation of stable natural and anthropourgic foci.

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