bims-mosdis 2020-10-04 papers

bims-mosdis

Biomed News

on Mosquito distribution and disease

Issue of 2020–10–04
twenty papers selected by
Richard Halfpenny, Staffordshire University

Surveillance of invasive Aedes mosquitoes along Swiss traffic axes reveals different dispersal modes for Aedes albopictus and Ae. japonicus.
Incrimination of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus as vectors of dengue virus serotypes 1, 2 and 3 from four states of Northeast India.
Evidence of Zika virus horizontal and vertical transmission in Aedes albopictus from Spain but not infectious virus in saliva of the progeny.
Infection of highly insecticide-resistant malaria vector Anopheles coluzzii with entomopathogenic bacteria Chromobacterium violaceum reduces its survival, blood feeding propensity and fecundity.
Distribution of insecticide resistance and molecular mechanisms involved in the West Nile vector Culex pipiens in Morocco.
Genome variation and population structure among 1142 mosquitoes of the African malaria vector species Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles coluzzii.
Seasonal Dynamics and Spatial Distribution of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in a Temperate Region in Europe, Southern Portugal.
Sunshine versus gold: The effect of population age on genetic structure of an invasive mosquito.
Extensive new Anopheles cryptic species involved in human malaria transmission in western Kenya.
Risk factors for Aedes aegypti household pupal persistence in longitudinal entomological household surveys in urban and rural Kenya.
Anopheline and human drivers of malaria risk in northern coastal, Ecuador: a pilot study.
Mitogenome diversity of Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus: Detection of multiple introduction events in Portugal.
First Report of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in District Mirpur, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan.
Spatial and temporal patterns of Ross River virus in south east Queensland, Australia: identification of hot spots at the rural-urban interface.
Aedes albopictus D7 Salivary Protein Prevents Host Hemostasis and Inflammation.
Dengue awareness, preventive behaviours and Aedes breeding opportunities among slums and slum-like pockets in Delhi, India: a formative assessment.
The mosquitoes of Finland: updated distributions and bionomics.
Diversity of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) collected in different types of larvitraps in an Amazon rural settlement.
Variation in Anopheles distribution and predictors of malaria infection risk across regions of Madagascar.
Autochthonous dengue in two Dutch tourists visiting Département Var, southern France, July 2020.

PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2020 Sep 28. 14(9): e0008705

Surveillance of invasive Aedes mosquitoes along Swiss traffic axes reveals different dispersal modes for Aedes albopictus and Ae. japonicus.

Pie Müller, Lukas Engeler, Laura Vavassori, Tobias Suter, Valeria Guidi, Martin Gschwind, Mauro Tonolla, Eleonora Flacio.

Over the past three decades, Europe has witnessed an increased spread of invasive aedine mosquito species, most notably Aedes albopictus, a key vector of chikungunya, dengue and Zika virus. While its distribution in southern Europe is well documented, its dispersal modes across the Alps remain poorly investigated, preventing a projection of future scenarios beyond its current range in order to target mosquito control. To monitor the presence and frequency of invasive Aedes mosquitoes across and beyond the Alps we set oviposition and BG-Sentinel traps at potential points of entry with a focus on motorway service areas across Switzerland. We placed the traps from June to September and controlled them for the presence of mosquitoes every other week between 2013 and 2018. Over the six years of surveillance we identified three invasive Aedes species, including Ae. albopictus, Ae. japonicus and Ae. koreicus. Based on the frequency and distribution patterns we conclude that Ae. albopictus and Ae. koreicus are being passively spread primarily along the European route E35 from Italy to Germany, crossing the Alps, while Ae. japonicus has been expanding its range from northern Switzerland across the country most likely through active dispersal.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0008705
Access Microbiol. 2020 ;2(4): acmi000101

Incrimination of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus as vectors of dengue virus serotypes 1, 2 and 3 from four states of Northeast India.

Sumi Chetry, Saurav Jyoti Patgiri, Dibya Ranjan Bhattacharyya, Prafulla Dutta, N Pradeep Kumar.

  Dengue is an important vector borne disease with a great public health concern worldwide. Northeast India has experienced dengue almost every year for a decade. As studies on dengue vectors from this region are limited, we undertook an investigation to detect natural infection of the dengue virus (DENV) in potential dengue vectors of this region. Adult Aedes mosquitoes which were collected were subjected to RT-PCR for detection of infecting dengue serotype. Minimum infection rate was also determined for each positive pool. Out of the total 6229 adult Aedes mosquitoes collected, Aedes aegypti (63.3 %) was abundant in comparison to Aedes albopictus (36.7 %). These specimens (515 mosquito pools) were subjected to RT-PCR for detection of DENV-1, 2, 3 and 4. RT-PCR revealed the existence of DENV in both male as well as female mosquito pools suggesting natural transovarial transmission of DENV in this region. A total of 54 pools tested were positive for DENV-1, 2, 3 serotypes. This study revealed the occurence of DENV in both the potential dengue vectors from this region along with evidence of transovarial transmission which helps in persistence of the virus in nature.

Keywords:  Aedes aegypti; Aedes albopictus; Dengue virus; Northeast India; Transovarial transmission

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1099/acmi.0.000101
Emerg Microbes Infect. 2020 Oct 02. 1-22

Evidence of Zika virus horizontal and vertical transmission in Aedes albopictus from Spain but not infectious virus in saliva of the progeny.

Ana I Nuñez, Sandra Talavera, Lotty Birnberg, Raquel Rivas, Núria Pujol, Marta Verdún, Carles Aranda, Miguel Berdugo, Núria Busquets.

  Aedes albopictus mosquitoes have been experimentally demonstrated to be a competent vector for Zika virus (ZIKV) in different countries, but there are still some gaps related to the importance of Ae. albopictus in ZIKV transmission. Recent studies on Spanish Ae. albopictus populations showed controversial results for ZIKV transmission and no studies have been performed yet to detect infectious ZIKV in saliva of progeny of infected female mosquitoes. Herein, the horizontal transmission (HT) and vertical transmission (VT) of ZIKV in field-collected Ae. albopictus mosquitoes from Spain were evaluated for ZIKV strains (African I and Asian lineages) to better estimate the risk of ZIKV transmission by Ae. albopictus. The two field-collected Ae. albopictus populations assayed were infected by all tested ZIKV strains, however differences in terms of vector competence were detected depending on strain-population combination. Moreover, a higher susceptibility to the African I lineage strain than to the Asian lineage strain was observed in both mosquito populations. On the other hand, VT was demonstrated for both ZIKV lineages, detecting the virus in both males and females of the progeny of infected females, although importantly ZIKV dissemination and transmission were not detected in the infected females from the offspring. The results of the present study demonstrate that Spanish Ae. albopictus populations could sustain virus transmission in case of ZIKV introduction, but VT would play a poor role in the ZIKV epidemiology. Overall, our results provide helpful information to health authorities to establish efficient surveillance and vector control programs for ZIKV.

Keywords:   Aedes albopictus, vector competence; Zika virus; vertical transmission

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1080/22221751.2020.1830718
Malar J. 2020 Oct 02. 19(1): 352

Infection of highly insecticide-resistant malaria vector Anopheles coluzzii with entomopathogenic bacteria Chromobacterium violaceum reduces its survival, blood feeding propensity and fecundity.

Edounou Jacques Gnambani, Etienne Bilgo, Adama Sanou, Roch K Dabiré, Abdoulaye Diabaté.

   BACKGROUND: This is now a concern that malaria eradication will not be achieved without the introduction of novel control tools. Microbiological control might be able to make a greater contribution to vector control in the future. The interactions between bacteria and mosquito make mosquito microbiota really promising from a disease control perspective. Here, the impact of Chromobacterium violaceum infections, isolated from both larvae and adult of wild-caught Anopheles gambiae sensu lato mosquitoes in Burkina Faso, was evaluated on mosquito survival, blood feeding and fecundity.
METHODS: To assess entomopathogenic effects of C. violaceum infection on mosquitoes, three different types of bioassays were performed in laboratory. These bioassays aimed to evaluate the impact of C. violaceum infection on mosquito survival, blood feeding and fecundity, respectively. During bioassays mosquitoes were infected through the well-established system of cotton ball soaked with 6% glucose containing C. violaceum.
RESULTS: Chromobacterium violaceum kills pyrethroid resistant Anopheles coluzzii (LT80 of 8.78 days ± 0.18 at 108 bacteria cell/ml of sugar meal). Interestingly, this bacterium had other negative effects on mosquito lifespan by significantly reducing (~ 59%, P < 0.001) the mosquito feeding willingness from day 4-post infection (~ 81% would seek a host to blood feed) to 9- day post infection (22 ± 4.62% would seek a host to blood feed). Moreover, C. violaceum considerably jeopardized the egg laying (~ 16 eggs laid/mosquito with C. violaceum infected mosquitoes vs ~ 129 eggs laid/mosquito with control mosquitoes) and hatching of mosquitoes (a reduction of ~ 22% of hatching rate with C. violaceum infected mosquitoes). Compared to the bacterial uninfected mosquitoes, mosquitoes infected with C. violaceum showed significantly higher retention rates of immature eggs and follicles.
CONCLUSION: These data showed important properties of Burkina Faso C. violaceum strains, which are highly virulent against insecticide-resistant An. coluzzii, and reduce both mosquito blood feeding and fecundity propensities. However, additional studies as the sequencing of C. violaceum genome and the potential toxins secreted will provide useful information render it a potential candidate for the biological control strategies of malaria and other disease vectors.

Keywords:  Anopheles coluzzii; Blood feeding; Burkina faso; Chromobacterium violaceum; Fecundity; Malaria

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-020-03420-4
Pest Manag Sci. 2020 Oct 03.

Distribution of insecticide resistance and molecular mechanisms involved in the West Nile vector Culex pipiens in Morocco.

Soukaina Arich, Najlaa Assaid, Hassan Taki, Mylène Weill, Pierrick Labbé, M'Hammed Sarih.

   BACKGROUND: Mosquitoes of the Culex pipiens complex are the vectors of several arboviruses, and are thus subjected to insecticide control worldwide. However, overuse of insecticides selects for resistance. While assessing the resistance status of the vectors is required for effective and sustainable disease control, resistance has so far only been sparsely studied in Morocco. In this study, we establish a first countrywide assessment of the levels of resistance to various insecticides and potential responsible mechanisms involved. Cx. pipiens larvae have been collected from natural populations of five regions of Morocco, and their taxonomic status has been determined (molecular forms). The level of their susceptibility to insecticides was assessed by single-diagnostic-dose bioassays. Molecular identification of known resistance alleles was investigated to determine the frequency of target-site mutations.
RESULTS: This study confirms that Moroccan populations are an interbreeding mix of pipiens and molestus forms, with large gene flow for the resistance alleles. We also found that Cx. pipiens mosquitoes are resistant to all insecticide families, all over Morocco: resistance is high for insecticides used in mosquito control, but also present for other pesticides. Resistance alleles are similarly more frequent for mosquito control insecticides. However, their distribution is heterogeneous in the five regions, with significant genetic differentiation between populations, revealing the crucial role of local insecticide treatment practices.
CONCLUSION: This study provides reference countrywide data that highlight the need for further research to refine the distribution of resistance in Morocco and to understand the role of agriculture/urban residuals in its spread.

Keywords:  arbovirus vectors; metabolic resistance; molestus; pipiens; target-site resistance

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.6127
Genome Res. 2020 Oct;30(10): 1533-1546

Genome variation and population structure among 1142 mosquitoes of the African malaria vector species Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles coluzzii.

Anopheles gambiae 1000 Genomes Consortium

Mosquito control remains a central pillar of efforts to reduce malaria burden in sub-Saharan Africa. However, insecticide resistance is entrenched in malaria vector populations, and countries with a high malaria burden face a daunting challenge to sustain malaria control with a limited set of surveillance and intervention tools. Here we report on the second phase of a project to build an open resource of high-quality data on genome variation among natural populations of the major African malaria vector species Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles coluzzii We analyzed whole genomes of 1142 individual mosquitoes sampled from the wild in 13 African countries, as well as a further 234 individuals comprising parents and progeny of 11 laboratory crosses. The data resource includes high-confidence single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) calls at 57 million variable sites, genome-wide copy number variation (CNV) calls, and haplotypes phased at biallelic SNPs. We use these data to analyze genetic population structure and characterize genetic diversity within and between populations. We illustrate the utility of these data by investigating species differences in isolation by distance, genetic variation within proposed gene drive target sequences, and patterns of resistance to pyrethroid insecticides. This data resource provides a foundation for developing new operational systems for molecular surveillance and for accelerating research and development of new vector control tools. It also provides a unique resource for the study of population genomics and evolutionary biology in eukaryotic species with high levels of genetic diversity under strong anthropogenic evolutionary pressures.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/gr.262790.120
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Sep 27. pii: E7083. [Epub ahead of print]17(19):

Seasonal Dynamics and Spatial Distribution of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in a Temperate Region in Europe, Southern Portugal.

Hugo C Osório, Jorge Rocha, Rita Roquette, Nélia M Guerreiro, Líbia Zé-Zé, Fátima Amaro, Manuel Silva, Maria João Alves.

  Aedes albopictus is an invasive mosquito that has colonized several European countries as well as Portugal, where it was detected for the first time in 2017. To increase the knowledge of Ae. albopictus population dynamics, a survey was carried out in the municipality of Loulé, Algarve, a Southern temperate region of Portugal, throughout 2019, with Biogents Sentinel traps (BGS traps) and ovitraps. More than 19,000 eggs and 400 adults were identified from May 9 (week 19) and December 16 (week 50). A positive correlation between the number of females captured in the BGS traps and the number of eggs collected in ovitraps was found. The start of activity of A. albopictus in May corresponded to an average minimum temperature above 13.0 °C and an average maximum temperature of 26.2 °C. The abundance peak of this A. albopictus population was identified from September to November. The positive effect of temperature on the seasonal activity of the adult population observed highlight the importance of climate change in affecting the occurrence, abundance, and distribution patterns of this species. The continuously monitoring activities currently ongoing point to an established population of A. albopictus in Loulé, Algarve, in a dispersion process to other regions of Portugal and raises concern for future outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases associated with this invasive mosquito species.

Keywords:  Aedes albopictus; Portugal; arboviruses; invasive mosquitoes; population dynamics

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17197083
Ecol Evol. 2020 Sep;10(18): 9588-9599

Sunshine versus gold: The effect of population age on genetic structure of an invasive mosquito.

Evlyn Pless, Kristen A Hopperstad, Nicholas Ledesma, Daniel Dixon, Jennifer A Henke, Jeffrey R Powell.

  The genetic diversity and structure of invasive species are affected by the time since invasion, but it is not well understood how. We compare likely the oldest populations of Aedes aegypti in continental North America with some of the newest to illuminate the range of genetic diversity and structure that can be found within the invasive range of this important disease vector. Aedes aegypti populations in Florida have probably persisted since the 1600-1700s, while populations in southern California derive from new invasions that occurred in the last 10 years. For this comparison, we genotyped 1,193 individuals from 28 sites at 12 highly variable microsatellites and a subset of these individuals at 23,961 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). This is the largest sample analyzed for genetic structure for either region, and it doubles the number of southern California populations previously analyzed. As predicted, the older populations (Florida) showed fewer indicators of recent founder effect and bottlenecks; in particular, these populations have dramatically higher genetic diversity and lower genetic structure. Geographic distance and driving distance were not good predictors of genetic distance in either region, especially southern California. Additionally, southern California had higher levels of genetic differentiation than any comparably sized documented region throughout the worldwide distribution of the species. Although population age and demographic history are likely driving these differences, differences in climate and transportation practices could also play a role.

Keywords:  Aedes aegypti; age of population; invasive species; mosquitoes; population genetics; population structure

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.6661
Sci Rep. 2020 Sep 30. 10(1): 16139

Extensive new Anopheles cryptic species involved in human malaria transmission in western Kenya.

Daibin Zhong, Elizabeth Hemming-Schroeder, Xiaoming Wang, Solomon Kibret, Guofa Zhou, Harrysone Atieli, Ming-Chieh Lee, Yaw A Afrane, Andrew K Githeko, Guiyun Yan.

A thorough understanding of malaria vector species composition and their bionomic characteristics is crucial to devise effective and efficient vector control interventions to reduce malaria transmission. It has been well documented in Africa that malaria interventions in the past decade have resulted in major changes in species composition from endophilic Anopheles gambiae to exophilic An. arabiensis. However, the role of cryptic rare mosquito species in malaria transmission is not well known. This study examined the species composition and distribution, with a particular focus on malaria transmission potential of novel, uncharacterized Anopheles cryptic species in western Kenya. Phylogenetic analysis based on ITS2 and COX1 genes revealed 21 Anopheles mosquito species, including two previously unreported novel species. Unusually high rates of Plasmodium sporozoite infections were detected in An. funestus, An. gambiae and eight cryptic rare species. Plasmodium falciparum, P. malariae and P. ovale sporozoite infections were identified with large proportion of mixed species infections in these vectors. This study, for the first time, reports extensive new Anopheles cryptic species involved in the malaria transmission in western Kenya. These findings underscore the importance of non-common Anopheles species in malaria transmission and the need to target them in routine vector control and surveillance efforts.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-73073-5
Parasit Vectors. 2020 Oct 01. 13(1): 499

Risk factors for Aedes aegypti household pupal persistence in longitudinal entomological household surveys in urban and rural Kenya.

Harun N Ngugi, Sindiso Nyathi, Amy Krystosik, Bryson Ndenga, Joel O Mbakaya, Peter Aswani, Peter S Musunzaji, Lucy W Irungu, Donal Bisanzio, Uriel Kitron, A Desiree LaBeaud, Francis Mutuku.

   BACKGROUND: Aedes aegypti is an efficient vector of several arboviruses of public health importance, including Zika and dengue. Currently vector management is the only available avenue for disease control. Development of efficient vector control strategies requires a thorough understanding of vector ecology. In this study, we identified households that are consistently productive for Ae. aegypti pupae and determined the ecological and socio-demographic factors associated with the persistence and abundance of pupae in households in rural and urban Kenya.
METHODS: We collected socio-demographic, environmental and entomological data monthly from July 2014 to June 2018 from 80 households across four sites in Kenya. Pupae count data were collected via entomological surveillance of households and paired with socio-demographic and environmental data. We calculated pupal persistence within a household as the number of months of pupal presence within a year. We used spatially explicit generalized additive mixed models (GAMMs) to identify the risk factors for pupal abundance, and a logistic regression to identify the risk factors for pupal persistence in households.
RESULTS: The median number of months of pupal presence observed in households was 4 and ranged from 0 to 35 months. We identified pupal persistence in 85 house-years. The strongest risk factors for high pupal abundance were the presence of bushes or tall grass in the peri-domicile area (OR: 1.60, 95% CI: 1.13-2.28), open eaves (OR: 2.57, 95% CI: 1.33-4.95) and high habitat counts (OR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.21-1.66). The main risk factors for pupal persistence were the presence of bushes or tall grass in the peri-domicile (OR: 4.20, 95% CI: 1.42-12.46) and high number of breeding sites (OR: 2.17, 95% CI: 1.03-4.58).
CONCLUSIONS: We observed Ae. aegypti pupal persistence at the household level in urban and rural and in coastal and inland Kenya. High counts of potential breeding containers, vegetation in the peri-domicile area and the presence of eaves were strongly associated with increased risk of pupal persistence and abundance. Targeting households that exhibit pupal persistence alongside the risk factors for pupal abundance in vector control interventions may result in more efficient use of limited resources.

Keywords:  Aedes aegypti; Chikungunya; Dengue; GAMMs; Pupal abundance; Pupal persistence; Spatial analysis; Vector ecology; Vector surveillance; Zika

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-020-04378-7
Malar J. 2020 Oct 02. 19(1): 354

Anopheline and human drivers of malaria risk in northern coastal, Ecuador: a pilot study.

James A Martin, Allison L Hendershot, Iván Alejandro Saá Portilla, Daniel J English, Madeline Woodruff, Claudia A Vera-Arias, Bibiana E Salazar-Costa, Juan José Bustillos, Fabián E Saénz, Sofía Ocaña-Mayorga, Cristian Koepfli, Neil F Lobo.

   BACKGROUND: Understanding local anopheline vector species and their bionomic traits, as well as related human factors, can help combat gaps in protection.
METHODS: In San José de Chamanga, Esmeraldas, at the Ecuadorian Pacific coast, anopheline mosquitoes were sampled by both human landing collections (HLCs) and indoor-resting aspirations (IAs) and identified using both morphological and molecular methods. Human behaviour observations (HBOs) (including temporal location and bed net use) were documented during HLCs as well as through community surveys to determine exposure to mosquito bites. A cross-sectional evaluation of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax infections was conducted alongside a malaria questionnaire.
RESULTS: Among 222 anopheline specimens captured, based on molecular analysis, 218 were Nyssorhynchus albimanus, 3 Anopheles calderoni (n = 3), and one remains unidentified. Anopheline mean human-biting rate (HBR) outdoors was (13.69), and indoors (3.38) (p = 0.006). No anophelines were documented resting on walls during IAs. HBO-adjusted human landing rates suggested that the highest risk of being bitten was outdoors between 18.00 and 20.00 h. Human behaviour-adjusted biting rates suggest that overall, long-lasting insecticidal bed nets (LLINs) only protected against 13.2% of exposure to bites, with 86.8% of exposure during the night spent outside of bed net protection. The malaria survey found 2/398 individuals positive for asymptomatic P. falciparum infections. The questionnaire reported high (73.4%) bed net use, with low knowledge of malaria.
CONCLUSION: The exophagic feeding of anopheline vectors in San Jose de Chamanga, when analysed in conjunction with human behaviour, indicates a clear gap in protection even with high LLIN coverage. The lack of indoor-resting anophelines suggests that indoor residual spraying (IRS) may have limited effect. The presence of asymptomatic infections implies the presence of a human reservoir that may maintain transmission.

Keywords:  Anopheles calderoni; Bionomics; Ecuador; Human behaviour; Indoor residual spraying (IRS); Long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs); Malaria; Nyssorhynchus albimanus; Plasmodium falciparum

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-020-03426-y
PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2020 Sep 30. 14(9): e0008657

Mitogenome diversity of Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus: Detection of multiple introduction events in Portugal.

Líbia Zé-Zé, Vítor Borges, Hugo Costa Osório, Jorge Machado, João Paulo Gomes, Maria João Alves.

Aedes albopictus, along with Ae. aegypti, are key arbovirus vectors that have been expanding their geographic range over the last decades. In 2017, Ae. albopictus was detected for the first time at two distinct locations in Portugal. In order to understand how the Ae. albopictus populations recently introduced in Portugal are genetically related and which is their likely route of invasion, we performed an integrative cytochrome C oxidase I gene (COI)- and mitogenome-based phylogeographic analysis of mosquitoes samples collected in Portugal in 2017 and 2018 in the context of the global Ae. albopictus diversity. COI-based analysis (31 partial sequences obtained from 83 mosquitoes) revealed five haplotypes (1 to 5), with haplotype 1 (which is widely distributed in temperate areas worldwide) being detected in both locations. Haplotypes 2 and 3 were exclusively found in Southern region (Algarve), while haplotype 4 and 5 were only detected in the North of Portugal (Penafiel, Oporto region). Subsequent high discriminatory analyses based on Ae. albopictus mitogenome (17 novel sequences) not only confirmed a high degree of genetic variability within and between populations at both geographic locations (compatible with the Ae. albopictus mosquito populations circulating in Europe), but also revealed two mitogenome mutational signatures not previously reported at worldwide level. While our results generally sustain the occurrence of multiple introduction events, fine mitogenome sequence inspection further indicates a possible Ae. albopictus migration within the country, from the Northern introduction locality to the Southern region. In summary, the observed scenario of high Ae. albopictus genetic diversity in Portugal, together with the detection of mosquitoes in successive years since 2017 in Algarve and Penafiel, points that both Ae. albopictus populations seem to be already locally establish, as its presence has been reported for three consecutive years, raising the public health awareness for future mosquito-borne diseases outbreaks.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0008657
J Med Entomol. 2020 Sep 29. pii: tjaa202. [Epub ahead of print]

First Report of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in District Mirpur, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan.

Aliya Jabeen, Jamil A Ansari, Aamer Ikram, Mumtaz Ali Khan, Moin Iqbal Qaisrani, Saira Khan, Muhammad Safdar.

  Our article documents the presence of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) from urban and rural locations in the lower Himalaya Mountains, northern Pakistan. Larvae were collected from graveyards, junkyards, plant nurseries, parks, and houses. Used tires, bird drinking pots, and water storage containers were the most common containers used by this mosquito. In the absence of Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae), Ae. albopictus appears to be the primary vector of recent dengue virus outbreaks.

Keywords:   Aedes albopictus ; Azad Jammu and Kashmir; Mirpur; earthquake-affected area

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjaa202
BMC Infect Dis. 2020 Oct 02. 20(1): 722

Spatial and temporal patterns of Ross River virus in south east Queensland, Australia: identification of hot spots at the rural-urban interface.

Amanda K Murphy, Julie A Clennon, Gonzalo Vazquez-Prokopec, Cassie C Jansen, Francesca D Frentiu, Louise M Hafner, Wenbiao Hu, Gregor J Devine.

   BACKGROUND: Ross River virus (RRV) is responsible for the most common vector-borne disease of humans reported in Australia. The virus circulates in enzootic cycles between multiple species of mosquitoes, wildlife reservoir hosts and humans. Public health concern about RRV is increasing due to rising incidence rates in Australian urban centres, along with increased circulation in Pacific Island countries. Australia experienced its largest recorded outbreak of 9544 cases in 2015, with the majority reported from south east Queensland (SEQ). This study examined potential links between disease patterns and transmission pathways of RRV.
METHODS: The spatial and temporal distribution of notified RRV cases, and associated epidemiological features in SEQ, were analysed for the period 2001-2016. This included fine-scale analysis of disease patterns across the suburbs of the capital city of Brisbane, and those of 8 adjacent Local Government Areas, and host spot analyses to identify locations with significantly high incidence.
RESULTS: The mean annual incidence rate for the region was 41/100,000 with a consistent seasonal peak in cases between February and May. The highest RRV incidence was in adults aged from 30 to 64 years (mean incidence rate: 59/100,000), and females had higher incidence rates than males (mean incidence rates: 44/100,000 and 34/100,000, respectively). Spatial patterns of disease were heterogeneous between years, and there was a wide distribution of disease across both urban and rural areas of SEQ. Overall, the highest incidence rates were reported from predominantly rural suburbs to the north of Brisbane City, with significant hot spots located in peri-urban suburbs where residential, agricultural and conserved natural land use types intersect.
CONCLUSIONS: Although RRV is endemic across all of SEQ, transmission is most concentrated in areas where urban and peri-urban environments intersect. The drivers of RRV transmission across rural-urban landscapes should be prioritised for further investigation, including identification of specific vectors and hosts that mediate human spillover.

Keywords:  Arbovirus; Epidemic; Queensland; Ross River virus; Spatial; Urban

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-020-05411-x
Biomolecules. 2020 Sep 27. pii: E1372. [Epub ahead of print]10(10):

Aedes albopictus D7 Salivary Protein Prevents Host Hemostasis and Inflammation.

Ines Martin-Martin, Leticia Barion Smith, Andrezza Campos Chagas, Anderson Sá-Nunes, Gaurav Shrivastava, Paola Carolina Valenzuela-Leon, Eric Calvo.

  Mosquitoes inject saliva into the host skin to facilitate blood meal acquisition through active compounds that prevent hemostasis. D7 proteins are among the most abundant components of the mosquito saliva and act as scavengers of biogenic amines and eicosanoids. Several members of the D7 family have been characterized at the biochemical level; however, none have been studied thus far in Aedes albopictus, a permissive vector for several arboviruses that causes extensive human morbidity and mortality. Here, we report the binding capabilities of a D7 long form protein from Ae. albopictus (AlboD7L1) by isothermal titration calorimetry and compared its model structure with previously solved D7 structures. The physiological function of AlboD7L1 was demonstrated by ex vivo platelet aggregation and in vivo leukocyte recruitment experiments. AlboD7L1 binds host hemostasis agonists, including biogenic amines, leukotrienes, and the thromboxane A2 analog U-46619. AlboD7L1 protein model predicts binding of biolipids through its N-terminal domain, while the C-terminal domain binds biogenic amines. We demonstrated the biological function of AlboD7L1 as an inhibitor of both platelet aggregation and cell recruitment of neutrophils and eosinophils. Altogether, this study reinforces the physiological relevance of the D7 salivary proteins as anti-hemostatic and anti-inflammatory molecules that help blood feeding in mosquitoes.

Keywords:  D7 proteins; arthropods; blood feeding; isothermal titration calorimetry; leukocyte recruitment; leukotrienes; mosquito; platelet aggregation; saliva; salivary glands

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/biom10101372
Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2020 Oct 02. pii: traa103. [Epub ahead of print]

Dengue awareness, preventive behaviours and Aedes breeding opportunities among slums and slum-like pockets in Delhi, India: a formative assessment.

Yadlapalli S Kusuma, Anil K Goswami, Bontha V Babu.

   BACKGROUND: India is endemic for dengue. The present formative study reports awareness and practices of people regarding dengue and its prevention, personal protection behaviours and peoples' exposure to dengue-related health promotion activities.
METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of 1194 households randomly selected from 20 slum clusters in Delhi. Data were collected from an adult member of the household through an interviewer-administered, pre-tested questionnaire. An observation checklist was used to identify potential breeding sources.
RESULTS: People were aware that dengue is transmitted through mosquitoes and sources of breeding (clean, stagnant water -60.1%, domestic water containers -18.7%, coolers -15.0%). Each house had at least one potential source of mosquito breeding. Using mosquito repellents (83.3%) was the most common personal protection behaviour. Peoples' participation is limited in the mosquito prevention and health promotion activities carried out by the local municipality. Still, participation resulted in positive behavioural change.
CONCLUSIONS: While people were aware of dengue transmission, preventive measures against mosquito breeding were not satisfactory. People could not relate their existing knowledge on dengue to their household surroundings, and their awareness had not been translated to behavioural change. Community participation is limited, but is significant in the prevention and control of dengue.

Keywords:  awareness; breeding opportunities; dengue; personal protection; preventive behaviours

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1093/trstmh/traa103
Med Vet Entomol. 2020 Sep 30.

The mosquitoes of Finland: updated distributions and bionomics.

C L Culverwell, R J Uusitalo, E M Korhonen, O P Vapalahti, E Huhtamo, R E Harbach.

  Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) were collected in Finland between 2012 and 2018 to determine the species present and their distributions. In total, 52 466 specimens from 1031 collections formed the basis for the preparation of distribution maps for each of the 40 species that were collected. Anopheles maculipennis s.s., An. claviger, Aedes geminus and Ochlerotatus sticticus are confirmed on mainland Finland after previous records were uncertain or absent. Coquillettidia richiardii, Culiseta morsitans, Cs. ochroptera, Culex territans, Cx. torrentium, Oc. leucomelas, Oc. nigrinus, Oc. pullatus and Oc. punctodes occur more widely than previously reported. Three species, Ae. rossicus, Cs. subochrea and Oc. cyprius were not collected, although Ae. rossicus was subsequently found in Lapland by another researcher. No invasive species were collected. Ochlerotatus communis, an aggressive biter, was the most commonly encountered species. Larval collection data suggest that several species may have up to three generations per year in Finland, with Cx. torrentium and Cx. pipiens having at least two, and Oc. communis and Oc. punctor regularly found as larvae across the summer. These data, especially when coupled with historical records, are vital for monitoring species which have significant vector potential, particularly when faced with a warming climate.

Keywords:  Culicidae; species maps

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1111/mve.12475
PLoS One. 2020 ;15(10): e0235726

Diversity of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) collected in different types of larvitraps in an Amazon rural settlement.

Jessica Feijó Almeida, Heliana Christy Matos Belchior, Claudia María Ríos-Velásquez, Felipe Arley Costa Pessoa.

Anthropogenic environments provide favorable conditions for some species, which is especially true of mosquitoes that present eclecticism at the moment of choice for the site of oviposition. In the present study, the diversity of mosquitoes was assessed by providing plastic containers, bamboo internodes, and tires in a forest, the forest edge, and peridomicile environments in a rural settlement area. Eighteen sampling points were chosen, delimited by a buffer of 200 m, placed in three environments: forest, forest edge, and peridomicile. In each environment, larvitraps were installed, separated by a minimum distance of 7 m and 1 m from the ground. A total of 10,131 immature mosquitoes of 20 species were collected. The most abundant species was Culex urichii (29.5%), followed by Trichoprosopon digitatum (27.1%), and Cx. (Melanoconion) spp. (10.4%). There was a difference in the composition of immature mosquito populations between larvitraps (p < 0.0005), and the plastic container hosted a greater diversity of species, whereas tires presented a greater abundance of individuals. The forest, forest edge, and peridomicile environments were also different with regard to diversity of immature mosquito populations (p < 0.0010). The forest edge was the environment with the greatest diversity of species, followed by the peridomicile and forest environments. In the forest and peridomicile, plastic container larvitraps had the greatest diversity, whereas the forest edge tire presented the largest number of individuals. Further, tire larvitraps collected the largest number of individuals in all environments. Ten species associated with the bamboo internode and tire were identified. The preference of species for artificial larvitraps, such as the plastic container and tire, even in wild environments was noted. These artificial objects may represent a risk factor for the population living in this region, as all vector species found in the study were present in plastic containers and tires.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0235726
Malar J. 2020 Sep 29. 19(1): 348

Variation in Anopheles distribution and predictors of malaria infection risk across regions of Madagascar.

Nicholas J Arisco, Benjamin L Rice, Luciano M Tantely, Romain Girod, Gauthier N Emile, Hervet J Randriamady, Marcia C Castro, Christopher D Golden.

   BACKGROUND: Deforestation and land use change is widespread in Madagascar, altering local ecosystems and creating opportunities for disease vectors, such as the Anopheles mosquito, to proliferate and more easily reach vulnerable, rural populations. Knowledge of risk factors associated with malaria infections is growing globally, but these associations remain understudied across Madagascar's diverse ecosystems experiencing rapid environmental change. This study aims to uncover socioeconomic, demographic, and ecological risk factors for malaria infection across regions through analysis of a large, cross-sectional dataset.
METHODS: The objectives were to assess (1) the ecological correlates of malaria vector breeding through larval surveys, and (2) the socioeconomic, demographic, and ecological risk factors for malaria infection in four ecologically distinct regions of rural Madagascar. Risk factors were determined using multilevel models for the four regions included in the study.
RESULTS: The presence of aquatic agriculture (both within and surrounding communities) is the strongest predictive factor of habitats containing Anopheles larvae across all regions. Ecological and socioeconomic risk factors for malaria infection vary dramatically across study regions and range in their complexity.
CONCLUSIONS: Risk factors for malaria transmission differ dramatically across regions of Madagascar. These results may help stratifying current malaria control efforts in Madagascar beyond the scope of existing interventions.

Keywords:  Disease ecology; Land use change; Malaria; Planetary health; Vector-borne disease

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-020-03423-1
Euro Surveill. 2020 Oct;25(39):

Autochthonous dengue in two Dutch tourists visiting Département Var, southern France, July 2020.

Tom D Vermeulen, Johan Reimerink, Chantal Reusken, Sandra Giron, Peter J de Vries.

  We report dengue virus (DENV) infection in two Dutch tourists who visited Département Var, southern France, in July and August 2020. As some autochthonous dengue cases have occurred in Europe in recent years, awareness among physicians and public health experts about possible intermittent presence of DENV in southern Europe is important to minimise delay in diagnosis and treatment. Quick diagnosis can lead to timely action to contain the spread of vector-borne diseases and minimise transmission.

Keywords:  Aedes albopictus; Dengue; France; autochthonous; the Netherlands; travel related disease

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.39.2001670