bims-mosdis 2022-07-31 papers

bims-mosdis

Biomed News

on Mosquito distribution and disease

Issue of 2022‒07‒31
twenty papers selected by
Richard Halfpenny
Staffordshire University

Larval Competition Between Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) in Argentina: Coexistence and Implications in the Distribution of the Asian Tiger Mosquito.
Insights into Plasmodium vivax Asymptomatic Malaria Infections and Direct Skin-Feeding Assays to Assess Onward Malaria Transmission in the Amazon.
Arbovirus risk perception as a predictor of mosquito-bite preventive behaviors in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices in Relation to Mosquito-Borne Diseases in Bangladesh.
The Invasive Mosquitoes of Canada: An Entomological, Medical, and Veterinary Review.
Phenotypic Variations of Aedes aegypti Populations and Egg Abundance According to Environmental Parameters in Two Dengue-Endemic Ecoregions in Paraguay.
DETERRENT EFFECTS OF GLYPHOSATE ON OVIPOSITION AND LARVAL DEVELOPMENT OF CULEX QUINQUEFASCIATUS.
Circular Policy: A New Approach to Vector and Vector-Borne Diseases' Management in Line with the Global Vector Control Response (2017-2030).
Epidemiology of Mosquito-Borne Viruses in Egypt: A Systematic Review.
Lack of robust evidence for a Wolbachia infection in Anopheles gambiae from Burkina Faso.
Multiple introductions and overwintering shape the progressive invasion of Aedes albopictus beyond the Alps.
Building International Capacity for Citizen Scientist Engagement in Mosquito Surveillance and Mitigation: The GLOBE Program's GLOBE Observer Mosquito Habitat Mapper.
Overview of dengue outbreaks in the southwestern Indian Ocean and analysis of factors involved in the shift toward endemicity in Reunion Island: A systematic review.
Operationalizing stakeholder engagement for gene drive research in malaria elimination in Africa-translating guidance into practice.
Evolving dynamics of Aedes-borne diseases in Africa: A cause for concern.
Species Diversity, Habitat Distribution, and Blood Meal Analysis of Haematophagous Dipterans Collected by CDC-UV Light Traps in the Dominican Republic.
Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika: Spatial and Temporal Distribution in Rio de Janeiro State, 2015-2019.
Chikungunya Virus Asian Lineage Infection in the Amazon Region Is Maintained by Asiatic and Caribbean-Introduced Variants.
Dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya viral circulation and hospitalization rates in Brazil from 2014 to 2019: An ecological study.
The First Case of Usutu Virus Neuroinvasive Disease in Austria, 2021.

J Med Entomol. 2022 Jul 28. pii: tjac102. [Epub ahead of print]

Larval Competition Between Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) in Argentina: Coexistence and Implications in the Distribution of the Asian Tiger Mosquito.

Arturo Andrés Lizuain, Lucia Maffey, Maximiliano Garzón, Marina Leporace, Danny Soto, Paula Diaz, Oscar Daniel Salomón, María Soledad Santini, Nicolás Schweigmann.

  Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus) and Aedes albopictus (Skuse) are worldwide vectors of dengue and yellow fever viruses. These species coexist in many countries and the biotic interactions between them can influence their abundances and distributions. In Argentina, Ae. aegypti is widely distributed in the north and center regions of the country, with temperate and subtropical climate, while both are sympatric only in the northeastern area of the subtropical region. Interspecific and intraspecific larval competition for food was evaluated to assess if their interaction influences on patterns of abundance and distribution. Finite rates of increase and survivorship for each species were estimated and the effects of mosquito density ratio and detritus availability were determined. The Lambda (λ´) index of population performance of both showed there is no competitive exclusion pattern. However, survival of Ae. albopictus was negatively affected by the presence of Ae. aegypti. These results suggest one possible explanation for the codominance pattern of both species display in rural regions of the southernmost distribution of Ae. albopictus in South America. They also show Ae. aegypti as a potential biotic barrier for the expansion of Ae. albopictus as was reported in regions of the United States.

Keywords:  invasive species; mosquito; vector ecology

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjac102
Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2022 Jul 13. 107(1): 154-161

Insights into Plasmodium vivax Asymptomatic Malaria Infections and Direct Skin-Feeding Assays to Assess Onward Malaria Transmission in the Amazon.

Marta Moreno, Katherine Torres, Carlos Tong, Stefano S García Castillo, Gabriel Carrasco-Escobar, Gerson Guedez, Lutecio Torres, Manuela Herrera-Varela, Layné Guerra, Mitchel Guzman-Guzman, Daniel Wong, Roberson Ramirez, Alejandro Llanos-Cuentas, Jan E Conn, Dionicia Gamboa, Joseph M Vinetz.

Understanding the reservoir and infectivity of Plasmodium gametocytes to vector mosquitoes is crucial to align strategies aimed at malaria transmission elimination. Yet, experimental information is scarce regarding the infectivity of Plasmodium vivax for mosquitoes in diverse epidemiological settings where the proportion of asymptomatically infected individuals varies at a microgeographic scale. We measured the transmissibility of clinical and subclinical P. vivax malaria parasite carriers to the major mosquito vector in the Amazon Basin, Nyssorhynchus darlingi (formerly Anopheles). A total of 105 participants with natural P. vivax malaria infection were recruited from a cohort study in Loreto Department, Peruvian Amazon. Four of 18 asymptomatic individuals with P. vivax positivity by blood smear infected colony-grown Ny. darlingi (22%), with 2.6% (19 of 728) mosquitoes infected. In contrast, 77% (44/57) of symptomatic participants were infectious to mosquitoes with 51% (890 of 1,753) mosquitoes infected. Infection intensity was greater in symptomatic infections (mean, 17.8 oocysts/mosquito) compared with asymptomatic infections (mean, 0.28 oocysts/mosquito), attributed to parasitemia/gametocytemia level. Paired experiments (N = 27) using direct skin-feeding assays and direct membrane mosquito-feeding assays showed that infectivity to mosquitoes was similar for both methods. Longitudinal studies with longer follow-up of symptomatic and asymptomatic parasite infections are needed to determine the natural variations of disease transmissibility.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.21-1217
PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2022 Jul 26. 16(7): e0010653

Arbovirus risk perception as a predictor of mosquito-bite preventive behaviors in Ponce, Puerto Rico.

Josée M Dussault, Gabriela Paz-Bailey, Liliana Sánchez-González, Laura E Adams, Dania M Rodríguez, Kyle R Ryff, Chelsea G Major, Olga Lorenzi, Vanessa Rivera-Amill.

Mosquito-borne arboviruses are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the Caribbean. In Puerto Rico, chikungunya, dengue, and Zika viruses have each caused large outbreaks during 2010-2022. To date, the majority of control measures to prevent these diseases focus on mosquito control and many require community participation. In 2018, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched the COPA project, a community-based cohort study in Ponce, Puerto Rico, to measure the impact of novel vector control interventions in reducing arboviral infections. Randomly selected households from 38 designated cluster areas were offered participation, and baseline data were collected from 2,353 households between May 2018 and May 2019. Household-level responses were provided by one representative per home. Cross-sectional analyses of baseline data were conducted to estimate 1) the association between arboviral risk perception and annual household expenditure on mosquito control, and 2) the association between arboviral risk perception and engagement in ≥3 household-level risk reduction behaviors. In this study, 27% of household representatives believed their household was at high risk of arboviruses and 36% of households engaged in at least three of the six household-level preventive behaviors. Households where the representative perceived their household at high risk spent an average of $35.9 (95% confidence interval: $23.7, $48.1) more annually on mosquito bite prevention compared to households where the representative perceived no risk. The probability of engaging in ≥3 household-level mosquito-preventive behaviors was 10.2 percentage points greater (7.2, 13.0) in households where the representatives perceived high risk compared to those in which the representatives perceived no risk. Paired with other research, these results support investment in community-based participatory approaches to mosquito control and providing accessible information for communities to accurately interpret their risk.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0010653
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Jul 06. pii: 8258. [Epub ahead of print]19(14):

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices in Relation to Mosquito-Borne Diseases in Bangladesh.

Mir Mobin, Mohammad Khan, Hasnain Anjum, Habibur Rahman, Mahfuza Marzan, Md Asiful Islam.

  Mosquito-borne diseases (MBDs) such as dengue, malaria, and chikungunya are common in Bangladesh, with frequent outbreaks in the rainy season. Analysis of the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of people toward any crisis is fundamental to addressing any gap. Here, we conducted a cross-sectional study mainly focusing on the northern, southern and central parts of Bangladesh to understand the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of people regarding MBDs, mosquito habitats, or control measures. A total of 1720 participants were involved in the study from 33 out of 64 districts of Bangladesh, of which 56.9% were male. While most of them knew about dengue (97.1%), chikungunya (81.4%), and malaria (85.2%), only half of them were aware of filaria (53.3%), which is endemic to the northern region. A knowledge score (0-8, low), (9-16, moderate), (17-24, high), and attitude score (0-4, poor), (5-8, moderate), and (9-13, high) were assigned. While poor and moderate attitudes were considered negative, good attitudes were considered positive. About 45% of the respondents had a moderate knowledge score (50-70); however, about 67.9% of participants showed a good attitude score (>70) towards the control of MBDs. It was found that the knowledge and attitude of the responders were related to their profession (knowledge p < 0.001; attitude, p = 0.002), residential area (knowledge p < 0.001; attitude, p < 0.001), and education level (knowledge p < 0.001; attitude p = 0.004). A mosquito is a kind of nuisance bug, and about 79.8% of responders admitted that they kill mosquitoes as soon as they notice them. They also use bed nets (93.7%) followed by mosquito coils (85.7%) as a preventive method. Interestingly, 73.2% of the responders were reluctant to contact the local government during an increase in mosquito numbers. Overall, the people of Bangladesh have a positive attitude towards the prevention of mosquito-borne diseases. It is highly recommended that the government creates more knowledge regarding this issue and develops collaborative approaches with local people to implement robust preventive measures against mosquito-borne diseases.

Keywords:  Bangladesh; attitude; knowledge; mosquito-borne diseases; practice

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148258
Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2022 Jul 11. pii: tpmd210167. [Epub ahead of print]

The Invasive Mosquitoes of Canada: An Entomological, Medical, and Veterinary Review.

Daniel A H Peach, Benjamin J Matthews.

Several invasive mosquitoes have become established in Canada, including important pathogen vectors such as Aedes albopictus, Ae. japonicus, and Culex pipiens. Some species have been present for decades, while others are recent arrivals. Several species present new health concerns and may result in autochthonous seasonal outbreaks of pathogens, particularly in southern Canada, that were previously restricted to imported cases. This review provides an overview of current knowledge of the biological, medical, and veterinary perspectives of these invasive species and highlights the need for increased monitoring efforts and information sharing.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.21-0167
Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2022 Jun 20. pii: tpmd211184. [Epub ahead of print]

Phenotypic Variations of Aedes aegypti Populations and Egg Abundance According to Environmental Parameters in Two Dengue-Endemic Ecoregions in Paraguay.

Milena Beatriz Britos Molinas, Elvio Gayozo Melgarejo, Antonieta Rojas de Arias.

Dengue in Paraguay is an endemic disease of public health importance. Several studies suggest that an increased density of Aedes aegypti and the presence of dengue cases may be associated with climatic conditions. This study aimed to establish the phenotypic variations of Ae. aegypti from four cities (Asunción, Itauguá, Minga Guazú, and Ciudad del Este) and the potential association of environmental variables with the number of eggs in capture sites. Eleven morphometric phenotypic characters were evaluated, and environmental data were obtained from Earth Engine and local meteorological stations. An analysis was carried out using principal component analysis and linear discriminant analysis, and we estimated the correlation using [relative humidity, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI)] between variables and the number of eggs in each site. Differences in mean NDVI and NDWI between cities and their relationship with the morphometric performance of individuals were also assessed. The study demonstrated morphometric variations between the populations of Ae. aegypti from two ecoregions, with the Litoral ecoregion populations presented a greater phenotypic variation than those observed in the Alto Paraná ecoregion. Significant statistical associations were registered between the number of eggs with relative humidity (r = -0.45) and the NDVI at 100 meters from the capture points (r = -0.61) for Minga Guazú, and with the NDWI at 100 meters (r = 0.54) for Ciudad del Este. Future studies on these Ae. aegypti populations, and its dispersion could contribute to improve vector control measures and foster future genetic studies.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.21-1184
J Am Mosq Control Assoc. 2022 Jul 28.

DETERRENT EFFECTS OF GLYPHOSATE ON OVIPOSITION AND LARVAL DEVELOPMENT OF CULEX QUINQUEFASCIATUS.

Mahmood R Nikbakhtzadeh, Yelissa Fuentes.

  Glyphosate is one of the most common herbicides used to control weeds in the USA. This herbicide can impact the mosquito life cycle through being carried to mosquito habitats by runoff. This study investigates the effects of glyphosate on the larval development and oviposition of a laboratory colony of Culex quinquefasciatus. Our experiments indicated that a concentration of 1 g/liter glyphosate was lethal to larval instars or the larvae impacted were either unable to molt to pupae or never emerged as adults. Larval instars exposed to 0.5 g/liter glyphosate experienced a similar impact; however, the larval stage was extended and pupation was considerably delayed. Mosquitoes oviposited in 0.5 g/liter glyphosate laid the same number of egg rafts as in water, but a considerably lower number of eggs exposed to glyphosate hatched as first instars. If gravid females laid their eggs in 1 g/liter glyphosate versus water, the difference between the 2 groups would be statistically significant and a very low number of eggs exposed to glyphosate could ever hatch into larvae. In an oviposition assay carried out in a cage with 3 choices of water, 0.5 g/liter, and 1 g/liter glyphosate, a higher number of egg rafts were laid in water, followed by 0.5 g/liter and 1 g/liter glyphosate concentrations, respectively. Our study indicated such a severe effect of glyphosate on all immature stages of Cx. quinquefasciatus that no adult could ever emerge.

Keywords:   Culex quinquefasciatus ; glyphosate; herbicide contamination; larval development; mosquito oviposition deterrent

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.2987/22-7059
Trop Med Infect Dis. 2022 Jul 04. pii: 125. [Epub ahead of print]7(7):

Circular Policy: A New Approach to Vector and Vector-Borne Diseases' Management in Line with the Global Vector Control Response (2017-2030).

Christiana Tourapi, Constantinos Tsioutis.

  Integrated Vector Management (IVM) has yielded exemplary results in combating and preventing vector-borne diseases (VBDs) and their vectors. It's success and positive outcomes depend on the sound planning, implementation, enforcement, and validation of the locally adapted vector control efforts from the involved national sectors and stakeholders. Nevertheless, current realities create several implications impeding IVM's performance. Hence, there is a need to adjust local IVM plans to several factors, such as (i) the rapidly changing and unpredictable environmental conditions (i.e., climate change, shift on species distribution, invasive species-Anopheles stephensi, Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus); (ii) the environmental impacts from human activities (i.e., fossil fuel use, food sources, industry, land use, urbanization and deforestation); (iii) changes in human demographics and the international movement of people (travelers and forcibly displaced persons due to conflicts and severe weather) increasing the risk of contracting and transmitting vector-borne diseases and shifting humanitarian emergencies and societal demands; (iv) the SARS-CoV2 pandemic outbreak and the implication on national public health systems; (v) the continuous flow of technological advancements and newly acquired knowledge; (vi) the realization of the strong link between planetary health and public health. Addressing these factors in IVM can become difficult, taking into consideration the numerous involved sectors, stakeholders, and fields in the management of vectors and vector-borne diseases (VBD). This document proposes and discusses the aspects and steps of a holistic approach, referenced as the Circular Policy, for national and local IVM strategies to be effective and adaptable, capable of providing the optimum outcomes.

Keywords:  GVCR; Integrated Vector Management; circular policy; climate change; vector; vector-borne disease

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed7070125
Viruses. 2022 Jul 20. pii: 1577. [Epub ahead of print]14(7):

Epidemiology of Mosquito-Borne Viruses in Egypt: A Systematic Review.

Yuan Fang, Emad I M Khater, Jing-Bo Xue, Enas H S Ghallab, Yuan-Yuan Li, Tian-Ge Jiang, Shi-Zhu Li.

  There are at least five common mosquito-borne viruses (MBVs) recorded in Egypt, including dengue virus (DENV), Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), West Nile virus (WNV), Chikungunya virus, and Sindbis virus. Unexpected outbreaks caused by MBVs reflect the deficiencies of the MBV surveillance system in Egypt. This systematic review characterized the epidemiology of MBV prevalence in Egypt. Human, animal, and vector prevalence studies on MBVs in Egypt were retrieved from Web of Science, PubMed, and Bing Scholar, and 33 eligible studies were included for further analyses. The monophyletic characterization of the RVFV and WNV strains found in Egypt, which spans about half a century, suggests that both RVFV and WNV are widely transmitted in this nation. Moreover, the seropositive rates of DENV and WNV in hosts were on the rise in recent years, and spillover events of DENV and WNV to other countries from Egypt have been recorded. The common drawback for surveillance of MBVs in Egypt is the lack of seroprevalence studies on MBVs, especially in this century. It is necessary to evaluate endemic transmission risk, establish an early warning system for MBVs, and develop a sound joint system for medical care and public health for managing MBVs in Egypt.

Keywords:  Chikungunya virus; Rift Valley fever virus; Sindbis virus; West Nile virus; dengue virus

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/v14071577
Med Vet Entomol. 2022 Jul 25.

Lack of robust evidence for a Wolbachia infection in Anopheles gambiae from Burkina Faso.

Simon P Sawadogo, Didier A Kabore, Ezechiel B Tibiri, Angela Hughes, Olivier Gnankine, Shannon Quek, Abdoulaye Diabaté, Hilary Ranson, Grant L Hughes, Roch K Dabiré.

  The endosymbiont Wolbachia can have major effects on the reproductive fitness, and vectorial capacity of host insects and may provide new avenues to control mosquito-borne pathogens. Anopheles gambiae s.l is the major vector of malaria in Africa but the use of Wolbachia in this species has been limited by challenges in establishing stable transinfected lines and uncertainty around native infections. High frequencies of infection of Wolbachia have been previously reported in An. gambiae collected from the Valle du Kou region of Burkina Faso in 2011 and 2014. Here, we re-evaluated the occurrence of Wolbachia in natural samples, collected from Valle du Kou over a 12-year time span, and in addition, expanded sampling to other sites in Burkina Faso. Our results showed that, in contrast to earlier reports, Wolbachia is present at an extremely low prevalence in natural population of An. gambiae. From 5341 samples analysed, only 29 were positive for Wolbachia by nested PCR representing 0.54% of prevalence. No positive samples were found with regular PCR. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene amplicons clustered across supergroup B, with some having similarity to sequences previously found in Anopheles from Burkina Faso. However, we cannot discount the possibility that the amplicon positive samples we detected were due to environmental contamination or were false positives. Regardless, the lack of a prominent native infection in An. gambiae s.l. is encouraging for applications utilizing Wolbachia transinfected mosquitoes for malaria control.

Keywords:  Anopheles gambiae; Wolbachia; biocontrol; native infection; population replacement; population suppression; wAnga

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1111/mve.12601
Ecol Evol. 2022 Jul;12(7): e9138

Multiple introductions and overwintering shape the progressive invasion of Aedes albopictus beyond the Alps.

Laura Vavassori, Ann-Christin Honnen, Norah Saarman, Adalgisa Caccone, Pie Müller.

  Aedes albopictus originates from Southeast Asia and is considered one of the most invasive species globally. This mosquito is a nuisance and a disease vector of significant public health relevance. In Europe, Ae. albopictus is firmly established and widespread south of the Alps, a mountain range that forms a formidable biogeographic barrier to many organisms. Recent reports of Ae. albopictus north of the Alps raise questions of (1) the origins of its recent invasion, and (2) if this mosquito has established overwintering populations north of the Alps. To answer these questions, we analyzed population genomic data from >4000 genome-wide SNPs obtained through double-digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing. We collected SNP data from specimens from six sites in Switzerland, north and south of the Alps, and analyzed them together with specimens from other 33 European sites, five from the Americas, and five from its Asian native range. At a global level, we detected four genetic clusters with specimens from Indonesia, Brazil, and Japan as the most differentiated, whereas specimens from Europe, Hong Kong, and USA largely overlapped. Across the Alps, we detected a weak genetic structure and high levels of genetic admixture, supporting a scenario of rapid and human-aided dispersal along transportation routes. While the genetic pattern suggests frequent re-introductions into Switzerland from Italian sources, the recovery of a pair of full siblings in two consecutive years in Strasbourg, France, suggests the presence of an overwintering population north of the Alps. The suggestion of overwintering populations of Ae. albopictus north of the Alps and the expansion patterns identified points to an increased risk of further northward expansion and the need for increased surveillance of mosquito populations in Northern Europe.

Keywords:  Asian tiger mosquito; fine‐scale population genomics; human‐assisted dispersal; overwintering; recent invasion; skip oviposition

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.9138
Insects. 2022 Jul 13. pii: 624. [Epub ahead of print]13(7):

Building International Capacity for Citizen Scientist Engagement in Mosquito Surveillance and Mitigation: The GLOBE Program's GLOBE Observer Mosquito Habitat Mapper.

Russanne D Low, Theresa G Schwerin, Rebecca A Boger, Cassie Soeffing, Peder V Nelson, Dan Bartlett, Prachi Ingle, Matteo Kimura, Andrew Clark.

  The GLOBE Program's GLOBE Observer Mosquito Habitat Mapper is a no-cost citizen scientist data collection tool compatible with Android and iOS devices. Available in 14 languages and 126 countries, it supports mosquito vector surveillance, mitigation, and education by interested individuals and as part of participatory community surveillance programs. For low-resource communities where mosquito control services are inadequate, the Mosquito Habitat Mapper supports local health action, empowerment, and environmental justice. The tangible benefits to human health supported by the Mosquito Habitat Mapper have encouraged its wide adoption, with more than 32,000 observations submitted from 84 countries. The Mosquito Habitat Mapper surveillance and data collection tool is complemented by an open database, a map visualization interface, data processing and analysis tools, and a supporting education and outreach campaign. The mobile app tool and associated research and education assets can be rapidly deployed in the event of a pandemic or local disease outbreak, contributing to global readiness and resilience in the face of mosquito-borne disease. Here, we describe the app, the Mosquito Habitat Mapper information system, examples of Mosquito Habitat Mapper deployment in scientific research, and the outreach campaign that supports volunteer training and STEM education of students worldwide.

Keywords:  citizen science; community engagement; mitigation; mobile app; mosquito; open data; smartphone; vector surveillance; vector-borne disease

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13070624
PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2022 Jul;16(7): e0010547

Overview of dengue outbreaks in the southwestern Indian Ocean and analysis of factors involved in the shift toward endemicity in Reunion Island: A systematic review.

Sarah Hafsia, Marion Haramboure, David Arthur Wilkinson, Thierry Baldet, Luce Yemadje-Menudier, Muriel Vincent, Annelise Tran, Célestine Atyame, Patrick Mavingui.

BACKGROUND: Dengue is the world's most prevalent mosquito-borne viral disease. It is endemic in many tropical and subtropical countries and represents a significant global health burden. The first reports of dengue virus (DENV) circulation in the South West Indian Ocean (SWIO) islands date back to the early 1940s; however, an increase in DENV circulation has been reported in the SWIO in recent years. The aim of this review is to trace the history of DENV in the SWIO islands using available records from the Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte, Seychelles, and Reunion. We focus in particular on the most extensive data from Reunion Island, highlighting factors that may explain the observed increasing incidence, and the potential shift from one-off outbreaks to endemic dengue transmission.METHODS: Following the PRISMA guidelines, the literature review focused queried different databases using the keywords "dengue" or "Aedes albopictus" combined with each of the following SWIO islands the Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte, Seychelles, and Reunion. We also compiled case report data for dengue in Mayotte and Reunion in collaboration with the regional public health agencies in these French territories. References and data were discarded when original sources were not identified. We examined reports of climatic, anthropogenic, and mosquito-related factors that may influence the maintenance of dengue transmission independently of case importation linked to travel.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS: The first report of dengue circulation in the SWIO was documented in 1943 in the Comoros. Then not until an outbreak in 1976 to 1977 that affected approximately 80% of the population of the Seychelles. DENV was also reported in 1977 to 1978 in Reunion with an estimate of nearly 30% of the population infected. In the following 40-year period, DENV circulation was qualified as interepidemic with sporadic cases. However, in recent years, the region has experienced uninterrupted DENV transmission at elevated incidence. Since 2017, Reunion witnessed the cocirculation of 3 serotypes (DENV-1, DENV-2 and DENV-3) and an increased number of cases with severe forms and deaths. Reinforced molecular and serological identification of DENV serotypes and genotypes circulating in the SWIO as well as vector control strategies is necessary to protect exposed human populations and limit the spread of dengue.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0010547
Malar J. 2022 Jul 23. 21(1): 225

Operationalizing stakeholder engagement for gene drive research in malaria elimination in Africa-translating guidance into practice.

Lea Pare Toe, Bakara Dicko, Richard Linga, Nourou Barry, Mouhamed Drabo, Naima Sykes, Delphine Thizy.

  Gene drive mosquitoes are increasingly considered a potential transformational tool for vector control of malaria mosquitoes. As part of efforts to promote responsible research in this field, a number of guidance documents have been published by the World Health Organization, National Academies and expert groups. While virtually all recent guidance documents on gene drive research stress the importance of stakeholder engagement activities, no specific guidelines on implementing them have been established. Target Malaria, a not-for-profit research consortium developing a vector-control gene drive approach to eliminate malaria, has reflected on how its stakeholder engagement strategy translates engagement guidance documents into practice. The project analysed and addressed the tension between the context specificities and the international recommendations. The engagement strategy combines published recommendations for responsible gene drive research, information collected from the local context where the project operates and a set of principles guiding the choices made. This strategy was first developed during the early phases of the project's research, years ahead of any activities with gene drive mosquitoes in those countries of operations. These earlier activities, and their related engagement, allow the project to develop and adapt an engagement strategy appropriate for potential gene drive research in its field site countries. This paper offers a description of a stakeholder engagement strategy operationalization based on (1) adaptation to stakeholder preferences, (2) inclusiveness and (3) empowerment and accountability. The authors hope to offer concrete examples to support other projects with the development and implementation of their engagement strategies with particular attention to the co-development principle.

Keywords:  Co-development; Community engagement; Gene drive; Genetic approaches; Malaria; Responsible research; Stakeholder engagement; Vector control

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-022-04241-3
Curr Opin Insect Sci. 2022 Jul 22. pii: S2214-5745(22)00093-1. [Epub ahead of print] 100958

Evolving dynamics of Aedes-borne diseases in Africa: A cause for concern.

Rosemary Sang, Joel Lutomiah, Edith Chepkorir, David P Tchouassi.

Aedes-borne viruses, yellow fever, dengue, Chikungunya and Zika are taking a huge toll on global health as Africa faces re-emergence with potential for massive human catastrophe. Transmission driven by diverse vectors in ecological settings that range from urban to rural and sylvatic habitats with human and non-human primate/reservoir activities across such habitats have facilitated virus movement and spill over to susceptible human populations. Approved vaccine exists for YF although availability for routine and mass vaccination is often constrained. Integrating vector surveillance, understanding disease ecology with rationalised vaccination in high-risk areas (YF) remains important in disease prevention and control. We review trends in disease occurrence in Africa, hinting on gaps in disease detection and management and the prospects for prevention and/or control.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cois.2022.100958
Pathogens. 2022 Jun 21. pii: 714. [Epub ahead of print]11(7):

Species Diversity, Habitat Distribution, and Blood Meal Analysis of Haematophagous Dipterans Collected by CDC-UV Light Traps in the Dominican Republic.

Mikel Alexander González, Daniel Bravo-Barriga, María Altagracia Rodríguez-Sosa, Juan Rueda, Eva Frontera, Pedro María Alarcón-Elbal.

  Haematophagous insects cause major economic losses by both direct damage and the transmission of pathogens. However, the biting Diptera species in the Caribbean region have been poorly documented. During 2021, CDC downdraft suction traps with UV light were employed to assess both the species occurrence and blood meal sources across three different habitats in the Dominican Republic. Eighteen species of mosquitoes (n = 274), six species of Culicoides (n = 803), two black fly species (n = 2), and one species of muscid fly (n = 25) were identified at species-level by morphology and/or molecular phylogenetic approaches based on the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI). Engorged mosquito (n = 5) and Culicoides (n = 28) females showed host preferences derived exclusively from mammals (cows and pigs), except Culex species containing the blood of chickens. Our study provides new records of the Diptera Dominican catalogue (Culex salinarius for the Greater Antilles, Culicoides jamaicensis for Hispaniola, and Culicoides haitiensis and Culicoides borinqueni for the Dominican Republic), the first available COI DNA sequences of different Diptera in the GenBank, some pictures of diagnostic features of closely related specimens, spatial distribution across the habitats studied, and new insights on their feeding preferences in the Caribbean region.

Keywords:  Culicoides; DNA barcoding; blood meals; mosquitoes; new records; the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI)

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11070714
Trop Med Infect Dis. 2022 Jul 20. pii: 141. [Epub ahead of print]7(7):

Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika: Spatial and Temporal Distribution in Rio de Janeiro State, 2015-2019.

Paula Maria Pereira de Almeida, Aline Araújo Nobre, Daniel Cardoso Portela Câmara, Luciana Moura Martins Costa, Izabel Cristina Dos Reis, Mário Sérgio Ribeiro, Cristina Maria Giordano Dias, Tania Ayllón, Nildimar Alves Honório.

  Simultaneous spatial circulation of urban arboviral diseases, such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika, is a major challenge. In this ecological study of urban arboviruses performed from 2015 to 2019, we analyzed the spatial and temporal dynamics of these arboviruses in all 92 municipalities and nine health regions of Rio de Janeiro state. Annual cumulative incidences are presented for all three arboviruses throughout the study period. Spatial analyses of the three studied arboviruses showed distinct behaviors among municipalities and health regions. Co-circulation of the three arboviruses in the state and a heterogeneous spatiotemporal pattern was observed for each disease and region, with dengue having a higher annual incidence during the five years of the study, as well as two consecutive epidemic years in the state. The increase in transmission in different regions of the state in one year culminated in an epidemic in the state in the following year. A high annual cumulative incidence of chikungunya occurred in municipalities from 2017 to 2019 and of Zika only in 2016. Some municipalities with higher population densities showed higher incidences for some arboviruses and appeared to contribute to the dissemination to cities of lower demographic density and maintenance of these urban arboviruses. Thus, regions recording increased incidences of the three diseases in their territories for long periods should be considered municipal poles, as they initiated and sustained high transmission within their region.

Keywords:  Aedes spp.; Rio de Janeiro; arboviruses; spatial and temporal dynamics

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed7070141
Viruses. 2022 Jun 30. pii: 1445. [Epub ahead of print]14(7):

Chikungunya Virus Asian Lineage Infection in the Amazon Region Is Maintained by Asiatic and Caribbean-Introduced Variants.

Geovani de Oliveira Ribeiro, Danielle Elise Gill, Endrya do Socorro Foro Ramos, Fabiola Villanova, Edcelha Soares D'Athaide Ribeiro, Fred Julio Costa Monteiro, Vanessa S Morais, Marlisson Octavio da S Rego, Emerson Luiz Lima Araújo, Ramendra Pati Pandey, V Samuel Raj, Xutao Deng, Eric Delwart, Antonio Charlys da Costa, Élcio Leal.

  The simultaneous transmission of two lineages of the chikungunya virus (CHIKV) was discovered after the pathogen's initial arrival in Brazil. In Oiapoque (Amapá state, north Brazil), the Asian lineage (CHIKV-Asian) was discovered, while in Bahia state, the East-Central-South-African lineage (CHIKV-ECSA) was discovered (northeast Brazil). Since then, the CHIKV-Asian lineage has been restricted to the Amazon region (mostly in the state of Amapá), whereas the ECSA lineage has expanded across the country. Despite the fact that the Asian lineage was already present in the Amazon region, the ECSA lineage brought from the northeast caused a large outbreak in the Amazonian state of Roraima (north Brazil) in 2017. Here, CHIKV spread in the Amazon region was studied by a Zika-Dengue-Chikungunya PCR assay in 824 serum samples collected between 2013 and 2016 from individuals with symptoms of viral infection in the Amapá state. We found 11 samples positive for CHIKV-Asian, and, from these samples, we were able to retrieve 10 full-length viral genomes. A comprehensive phylogenetic study revealed that nine CHIKV sequences came from a local transmission cluster related to Caribbean strains, whereas one sequence was related to sequences from the Philippines. These findings imply that CHIKV spread in different ways in Roraima and Amapá, despite the fact that both states had similar climatic circumstances and mosquito vector frequencies.

Keywords:  amazon region; chikungunya; metagenomics; virome

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/v14071445
PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2022 Jul 27. 16(7): e0010602

Dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya viral circulation and hospitalization rates in Brazil from 2014 to 2019: An ecological study.

Julia M Pescarini, Moreno Rodrigues, Enny S Paixão, Luciana Cardim, Carlos A A de Brito, Maria da Conceição N Costa, Andreia C Santos, Liam Smeeth, Maria da Glória Teixeira, André P F de Souza, Mauricio L Barreto, Elizabeth B Brickley.

BACKGROUND: In addition to their direct pathogenic effects, arthropod-borne (arboviruses) have been hypothesized to indirectly contribute to hospitalizations and death through decompensation of pre-existing comorbidities. Using nationwide data routinely collected from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2019 in Brazil, we investigated whether local increases in arbovirus notifications were associated with excess hospitalization.METHODS: We estimated the relative risks for the association between municipality- and state-level increases in arboviral case notifications and age-standardized hospitalization rates (i.e., classified as direct or indirect based on ICD-10 codes) using Bayesian multilevel models with random effects accounting for temporal and geographic correlations. For municipality-level analyses, we excluded municipalities with <200 notifications of a given arbovirus and further adjusted the models for the local Gini Index, Human Development Index, and Family Healthcare Strategy (Estratégia de Saúde da Família) coverage. Models for dengue, Zika, and chikungunya were performed separately.
RESULTS: From 2014 to 2019, Brazil registered 7,566,330 confirmed dengue cases, 159,029 confirmed ZIKV cases, and 433,887 confirmed CHIKV cases. Dengue notifications have an endemic and seasonal pattern, with cases present in 5334 of the 5570 (95.8%) Brazilian municipalities and most (69.5%) registered between February and May. Chikungunya notifications followed a similar seasonal pattern to DENV but with a smaller incidence and were restricted to 4390 (78.8%) municipalities. ZIKV was only notified in 2581 (46.3%) municipalities. Increases in dengue and chikungunya notifications were associated with small increases in age-standardized arbovirus-related hospitalizations, but no consistent association was found with all-cause or other specific indirect causes of hospitalization. Zika was associated to increases in hospitalizations by neurological diseases.
CONCLUSIONS: Although we found no clear association between increased incidence of the three arboviruses and excess risks of all-cause or indirect hospitalizations at the municipality- and state-levels, follow-up investigations at the individual-level are warranted to define any potential role of acute arbovirus infection in exacerbating risks of hospitalization from underlying conditions.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0010602
Open Forum Infect Dis. 2022 Jul;9(7): ofac255

The First Case of Usutu Virus Neuroinvasive Disease in Austria, 2021.

Marianne Graninger, Stefan Hubmer, Franz Riederer, Stephan Kettner, Martin Hauk, Tasnim Auf, Judith H Aberle, Karin Stiasny, Stephan W Aberle, Jeremy V Camp.

  Usutu virus (USUV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus closely related to West Nile virus (WNV) that is endemic in many European countries. We report the first case of USUV neuroinvasive disease in Austria and discuss challenges in differentiating USUV from WNV infections in areas where both viruses are endemic.

Keywords:  Usutu virus; arbovirus; neuroinvasive disease; viral meningitis

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofac255