Abstract
Dengue virus (DENV) is the most important mosquito-borne viral pathogen of humans, comprising four serotypes (DENV-1 to -4) with a myriad of genotypes and strains. The kinetics of DENV replication within the mosquito following ingestion of a blood meal influence the pathogen’s ability to reach the salivary glands and thus the transmission potential. The influence of DENV serotype and strain diversity on virus kinetics in the two main vector species, Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus, has been poorly characterized. We tested whether DENV replication kinetics vary systematically among serotypes and strains, using Australian strains of the two vectors. Mosquitoes were blood fed with two strains per serotype, and sampled at 3, 6, 10 and 14-days post-exposure. Virus infection in mosquito bodies, and dissemination of virus to legs and wings, was detected using qRT-PCR. For both vectors, we found significant differences among serotypes in proportions of mosquitoes infected, with higher numbers for DENV-1 and -2 versus other serotypes. Consistent with this, we observed that DENV-1 and -2 generally replicated to higher RNA levels than other serotypes, particularly at earlier time points. There were no significant differences in either speed of infection or dissemination between the mosquito species. Our results suggest that DENV diversity may have important epidemiological consequences by influencing virus kinetics in mosquito vectors.
Highlights
Dengue virus (DENV) is one of the most important arthropod-borne viruses affecting humans [1].It is a positive-sense RNA virus and member of the Flavivirus genus, comprising four antigenically distinct serotypes with multiple genotypes and strains within these
We have identified substantial differences in the kinetics of virus infection between dengue serotypes and strains within the two major mosquito vector species, Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus
We observed that DENV-1 and -2 infected the largest proportion of mosquitoes and from other serotypes
Summary
Dengue virus (DENV) is one of the most important arthropod-borne viruses affecting humans [1].It is a positive-sense RNA virus and member of the Flavivirus genus, comprising four antigenically distinct serotypes with multiple genotypes and strains within these. Dengue virus (DENV) is one of the most important arthropod-borne viruses affecting humans [1]. Aedes albopictus is a highly invasive species with an expanding worldwide range [8], and is a competent vector of DENV and other arboviruses [9,10]. In the Australian context, modelling has shown that all of mainland Australia’s coastal regions would provide suitable habitat for Ae. albopictus should it invade [12] If this were accompanied by an expanding geographic distribution of DENV, seasonal epidemics in urban centres like Brisbane or Perth would result in major public health burdens [13]. The species has been intercepted at Australia’s mainland air and seaports [15] and was implicated in a 2016 dengue outbreak in the Torres
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