First report of Aedes albopictus infected by Dengue and Zika virus in a rural outbreak in Brazil.

Helder Ricas Rezende,Alvina Clara Felix,Giovana Santos Caleiro,Ingra Morales Claro,Crispim Cerutti Junior,Ester Cerdeira Sabino,Jefferson Bissoli,Sarah Hill,Creuza Rachel Vicente,Theresa Cristina Cardoso Da Silva,Camila Malta Romano,Ana Paula Brioschi Santos,Nuno Rodrigues Faria,Luciano Andrade Moreira

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0229847

Abstract

In Brazil, Dengue (DENV) and Zika (ZIKV) viruses are reported as being transmitted exclusively by Aedes aegypti in urban settings. This study established the vectors and viruses involved in an arbovirus outbreak that occurred in 2019 in a rural area of Espírito Santo state, Brazil. Mosquitoes collected were morphologically identified, sorted in samples, and submitted to molecular analysis for arboviruses detection. Phylogenetic reconstruction was performed for the viral sequence obtained. All 393 mosquitoes were identified as Aedes albopictus. DENV-1 genotype V was present in one sample and another sample was positive for ZIKV. The DENV-1 clustered with viruses that have circulated in previous years in large urban centers of different regions in Brazil. This is the first report of A. albopictus infected by DENV and ZIKV during an outbreak in a rural area in Brazil, indicating its involvement in arboviral transmission. The DENV-1 strain found in the A. albopictus was not new in Brazil, being involved previously in epidemics related to A. aegypti, suggesting the potential to A. albopictus in transmitting viruses already circulating in the Brazilian population. This finding also indicates the possibility of these viruses to disperse across urban and rural settings, imposing additional challenges for the control of the diseases.

Highlights

Dengue virus (DENV) and Zika virus (ZIKV) are etiological agents of reemerging and emerging infectious diseases that constitute important global public health concerns [1]
This study is the first to report A. albopictus infected by DENV and ZIKV during an outbreak of a dengue-like illness in a rural area in Brazil
In Brazil, A. aegypti was previously the only species proven to be involved in the transmission of these viruses, considered typical of urban settings

Summary

Introduction

Dengue virus (DENV) and Zika virus (ZIKV) are etiological agents of reemerging and emerging infectious diseases that constitute important global public health concerns [1]. Aedes albopictus was never associated with DENV and ZIKV transmission in Brazil, despite its recognition as a competent vector for at least 22 pathogens [8, 9], with proven capacity to transmit both viruses [7, 9,10,11,12] In this country, A. albopictus is present in all regions, including at least 59% of municipalities [13] and more than 24 states [14]. In March 2019, an outbreak of dengue-like illness with 20-suspected cases of DENV infection was reported in a rural area of Linhares municipality, in Espırito Santo state, Brazil This study investigated this unexpected autochthonous rural occurrence, establishing the vectors and viruses possibly involved in the transmission

Materials and methods

27 March 2019 2:30 pm– 4:00 pm

Results

Discussion