Abstract
Using molecular techniques and bioinformatics tools, we studied the vector-host interactions and the molecular epidemiology of West Nile virus (WNV) in western Iran. Mosquitoes were collected during 2017 and 2018. DNA typing assays were used to study vector-host interactions. Mosquitoes were screened by RT-PCR for the genomes of five virus families. WNV-positive samples were fully sequenced and evolutionary tree and molecular architecture were constructed by Geneious software and SWISS-MODEL workspace, respectively. A total of 5028 mosquito specimens were collected and identified. The most prevalent species was Culex (Cx.) pipiens complex (57.3%). Analysis of the blood-feeding preferences of blood-fed mosquitoes revealed six mammalian and one bird species as hosts. One mosquito pool containing non-blood-fed Cx. theileri and one blood-fed Culex pipiens pipiens (Cpp.) biotype pipiens were positive for WNV. A phylogram indicated that the obtained WNV sequences belonged to lineage 2, subclade 2 g. Several amino acid substitutions suspected as virulence markers were observed in the Iranian WNV strains. The three-dimensional structural homology model of the E-protein identified hot spot domains known to facilitate virus invasion and neurotropism. The recent detection of WNV lineage 2 in mosquitoes from several regions of Iran in consecutive years suggests that the virus is established in the country.
Highlights
Arthropods are a principal source of many emerging viruses in the human population
The first detection of West Nile virus (WNV) in Iran dates back to 2009, when an Iranian patient presented with encephalitis died in Central Iran [9]
Of 5028 mosquito specimens collected, 4272 (85%) were within the Culex (Cx) genus: 2885 Cx. pipiens complex (57.4%), 1224 Cx. theileri (24.3%) and 163 Cx. perexiguus (3.2%). 756 (15%) were Anopheles (An): 535 An. sacharovi (10.6%), 83 An. stephensi (1.7%), 75 An. superpictus (1.5%), 32 An. dthali (0.6%), 28 An. maculipennis (0.6%) and 3 An. fluviatilis (0.1%) (Table 1)
Summary
Arthropods are a principal source of many emerging viruses in the human population. There is still much to learn about the interaction of arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) and their respective natural hosts, as well as the changes in virus-host ecology resulting in cross-species transmission events [1].Arbovirus infections cause illness with serious health, welfare and socio-economic implications [2].mosquito-borne viruses constitute a major challenge for public and veterinary health, causing epidemics or epizootics [3,4,5]. Arthropods are a principal source of many emerging viruses in the human population. There is still much to learn about the interaction of arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) and their respective natural hosts, as well as the changes in virus-host ecology resulting in cross-species transmission events [1]. Arbovirus infections cause illness with serious health, welfare and socio-economic implications [2]. Mosquito-borne viruses constitute a major challenge for public and veterinary health, causing epidemics or epizootics [3,4,5]. Continuing eco-climatic change and globalization create suitable conditions for the emergence of mosquito-borne viruses in previously naive areas [5,6], including. The first detection of West Nile virus (WNV) in Iran dates back to 2009, when an Iranian patient presented with encephalitis died in Central Iran [9]
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