Abstract
The pandemic emergence of several mosquito-borne viruses highlights the need to understand the different ways in which they can be transmitted by vectors to human hosts. In this study, we evaluated the propensity of Aedes aegypti to transmit mechanically Zika virus (ZIKV) using an experimental design. Mosquitoes were allowed to feed on ZIKV-infected blood and were then rapidly transferred to feed on ZIKV-free blood until they finished their meal. The uninfected blood meals, the mosquito abdomens, as well as the mouthparts dissected from fully and partially engorged mosquitoes were analyzed using RT-qPCR and/or virus titration. All the fully engorged mosquito abdomens were ZIKV-infected, whereas their mouthparts were all ZIKV-negative. Nonetheless, one of the partially engorged mosquitoes carried infectious particles on mouthparts. No infectious virus was found in the receiver blood meals, while viral RNA was detected in 9% of the samples (2/22). Thus, mechanical transmission of ZIKV may sporadically occur via Ae. aegypti bite. However, as the number of virions detected on mouthparts (2 particles) is not sufficient to induce infection in a naïve host, our results indicate that mechanical transmission does not impact ZIKV epidemiology.
Highlights
Recent outbreaks of emerging mosquito-borne arboviruses highlight the need to understand the transmission dynamics of these diseases
As mechanical transmission of Zika virus (ZIKV) can influence the epidemiology of this virus, in this paper we evaluated the propensity of Ae. aegypti mosquitoes to transmit mechanically ZIKV under laboratory conditions using a comprehensive experimental design
Allowed to start feeding on by Mosquitoes were individualized in plastic tubes and allowed to start on ZIKV-infected blood meal until blood was visually detected in theirfeeding abdomen
Summary
Recent outbreaks of emerging mosquito-borne arboviruses highlight the need to understand the transmission dynamics of these diseases. Like many other types of Flaviviridae, ZIKV relies predominantly on biological transmission to spread in human populations: it needs to be ingested by a competent vector to multiply and to be transmitted to a susceptible new host. In this prospect, Aedes mosquitoes are the major insect vectors for this virus. Recent research evidenced “within-mosquitoes” transmission of ZIKV in two vector species (Ae. aegypti & Ae. albopictus), with both venereal and vertical transmission mechanisms (Reviewed in reference [1]). As mechanical transmission of ZIKV can influence the epidemiology of this virus, in this paper we evaluated the propensity of Ae. aegypti mosquitoes to transmit mechanically ZIKV under laboratory conditions using a comprehensive experimental design
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