Anopheles mosquitoes may drive invasion and transmission of Mayaro virus across geographically diverse regions.

Marco Brustolin,Jason L Rasgon,Sujit Pujhari,Cory A Henderson,Rebecca C Christofferson

doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0006895

Marco Brustolin, Jason L Rasgon + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0006895

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Abstract

The Togavirus (Alphavirus) Mayaro virus (MAYV) was initially described in 1954 from Mayaro County (Trinidad) and has been responsible for outbreaks in South America and the Caribbean. Imported MAYV cases are on the rise, leading to invasion concerns similar to Chikungunya and Zika viruses. Little is known about the range of mosquito species that are competent MAYV vectors. We tested vector competence of 2 MAYV genotypes in laboratory strains of six mosquito species (Aedes aegypti, Anopheles freeborni, An. gambiae, An. quadrimaculatus, An. stephensi, Culex quinquefasciatus). Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus were poor MAYV vectors, and had either poor or null infection and transmission rates at the tested viral challenge titers. In contrast, all Anopheles species were able to transmit MAYV, and 3 of the 4 species transmitted both genotypes. The Anopheles species tested are divergent and native to widely separated geographic regions (Africa, Asia, North America), suggesting that Anopheles may be important in the invasion and spread of MAYV across diverse regions of the world.

Highlights

Mayaro virus (MAYV) is a member of the genus Alphavirus which was first isolated from the blood of five febrile workers in Mayaro County, Trinidad, in 1954 [1]
In this study we infected different species of mosquito with MAYV and tested their capacity to transmit the virus at different time points
The capacity of Anopheles mosquitoes to transmit MAYV highlights their importance as neglected vectors of arboviruses

Summary

Introduction

Mayaro virus (MAYV) is a member of the genus Alphavirus (family Togaviridae) which was first isolated from the blood of five febrile workers in Mayaro County, Trinidad, in 1954 [1]. Genotype D (dispersed) includes strains isolated in several South American countries, whereas genotype L (limited) includes strains isolated only in Brazil. In 2010, a minor genotype called N (new), was isolated in Peru, but it is limited to one known sequence. MAYV has caused sporadic outbreaks and small epidemics in several countries in South and Central America (reviewed in [4]). In 2015, an 8-year-old child from Haiti was reported as co-infected with MAYV and dengue virus (DENV), suggested that MAYV may be actively circulating in the Caribbean [5]. Several imported cases recently reported in the Netherlands [6], Germany [7], France [8], and Switzerland [9] highlight the need to survey naive regions, including the United States, for possible introductions of this neglected arthropod-borne virus (arbovirus)

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