Abstract
Arbovirus infections, mainly transmitted by Aedes mosquito, are emerging in Africa. Efficient vector control requires an understanding of ecological factors which could impact on the risk of transmission, such as environmental changes linked to agricultural practices. The present study aims to assess the level of human exposure to Aedes mosquito bites in different agroecosystem area, using an immunological tool which quantifies human IgG antibody response to one Ae. aegypti salivary peptide. Specific IgG responses were assessed during dry and rainy seasons, in children living in different villages in Côte d'Ivoire: N'Zikro (rubber and oil palm exploitations), Ehania-V5 (oil palm), and Ayébo (without intensive agricultural activities). In the dry season, specific IgG levels were significantly lower in Ayébo compared to Ehania-V5 and N'Zikro and, interestingly, were similarly high in both villages with cultivations. In the rainy season, no difference of specific IgG was observed between villages. Specific IgG responses remained therefore high during both seasons in villages associated with intensive agricultural. The rubber and oil palm cultivations could maintain a high level of human exposure to Aedes mosquito bites during both dry and rainy seasons. These agricultural activities could represent a permanent risk factor of the transmission of arboviruses.
Highlights
Aedes mosquitoes, such as Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus, are vectors of the major arboviral infections including yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya, and Zika
The recent Zika epidemic in the world highlights the impact of arboviruses on public health and their specific risks in Africa, where fever is often wrongly associated with malaria infection
Because of initially being integrated in malaria survey, this study was approved by the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) of Cote d’Ivoire
Summary
Aedes mosquitoes, such as Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus, are vectors of the major arboviral infections including yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya, and Zika. These diseases represent important threats to human health worldwide [1]. Despite the availability of an effective vaccine against yellow fever, cases of outbreaks have been reported regularly since 2004, in several African and south American countries [2]. In Cote d’Ivoire, several cases of dengue and yellow fevers were reported in various parts of the country, during the past two decades [5,6,7,8,9], and Ae. aegypti mosquitoes were found
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