Vexans Nipponii Research Articles

Surveillance of Getah virus in mosquitoes and racehorses from 2016 to 2019 at a training center in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, a site of several previous Getah virus outbreaks.

Mosquitoes and EDTA-treated blood samples from febrile racehorses were investigated for Getah virus infection from 2016 to 2019 at the Miho Training Center, where several outbreaks of Getah virus have occurred. We collected 5557 mosquitoes and 331 blood samples from febrile horses in this study. The most frequently captured mosquito species was Culex tritaeniorhynchus (51.9%), followed by Aedes vexans nipponii (14.2%) and Anopheles sinensis (11.2%). Getah virus was detected in mosquitoes (Aedes vexans nipponii) in 2016 (strain 16-0810-26) but not in 2017-2019. Six of 74 febrile horses in 2016 and one of 69 in 2019 tested positive for Getah virus; none of the horses tested positive in 2017 or 2018. Phylogenetic and sequence analysis showed that strain 16-0810-26 was closely related to strains that had been isolated from horses and a pig around the training center in 2014-2016 but have not been detected in samples collected at the training center since 2017. In contrast, the strain isolated from the infected horse in 2019 (19-I-703) was genetically distinct from the strains isolated from horses and a pig in 2014-2016 and was more closely related to a strain isolated in 1978 at the training center. The source of strain 19-I-703 is unclear, but the virus was not detected in other horses sampled in 2019. In summary, we found that the distribution of mosquito species present at the training center had not changed significantly since 1979, and although a small outbreak of Getah virus infection occurred among horses at the training center in 2016, limited Getah virus activity was detected in mosquitoes and horses at the training center from 2017 to 2019.

Seasonal surveillance of mosquitoes in three different habitats in Gyeongbuk Province, Republic of Korea, 2017–2019

AbstractMosquitoes were collected biweekly from March to November for 3 years (2017–2019) in three different habitats, including a migratory bird refuge, cowshed, and an urban area. Among a total of 22,783 female mosquitoes comprising six genera and 13 species collected for 3 years, Aedes vexans nipponii (56.08%) was the dominant species, followed by Culex pipiens complex (14.26%), Anopheles spp. (11.57%), Culex orientalis (6.90%), Aedes albopictus (4.66%), Armigeres subalbatus (4.06%), and Culex tritaeniorhynchus (1.41%); the remaining six species comprised only 1.1% of all mosquito species collected. In the three habitats, 70.42% of mosquitoes were collected in the migratory bird refuge, whereas 10.68% and 18.90% were investigated in the cowshed and urban areas, respectively. The dominant species were Ae. vexans nipponii in the migratory bird refuge, Anopheles spp. in the cowshed, and Cx. pipiens complex in the urban area. The seasonal distribution of mosquitoes showed that most were obtained between May and September, with bimodal peaks in the third week of June and third week of August. Meteorological analysis revealed a high correlation between temperature and mosquito abundance. In the flavivirus detection analysis, no virus‐transmitting infectious diseases were amplified by PCR, but the Chaoyang virus was found in Ae. vexans nipponii. Considering that global warming is a major risk factor for the spread of vector‐borne diseases and that mosquito has been a fatal vector of infectious disease, our study of surveillance and analysis of seasonal/environmental mosquito population dynamics are essential for public health.

Population dynamics of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) and their disease-harboring rates in Gyeonggi province, South Korea

• Population dynamics of mosquitoes were monitored from 2017 to 2019 in South Korea. • Population peak was observed in August and September from survey sites conducted. • Dominant mosquito species were varied between suburban residential and rural area. • From the pools tested, three pools were positive for Japanese encephalitis virus. Population dynamics and species composition of mosquitoes were monitored in a suburban residential area and rural areas, including a migratory bird refuge area and a cattle farm area, from 2017 to 2019. Mosquitoes were collected every two weeks using one BG sentinel trap and two black-light traps in a suburban residential area and a migratory bird refuge area, and one black-light trap in a cattle farm area from March to November. From the surveillance, a total of 13,267, 9,697 and 6,688 mosquitoes were collected in 2017, 2018, and 2019, respectively. The peak of the mosquito population was observed in August and September in both the suburban residential area and rural areas. In general, Culex pipiens pallens was the dominant species in the suburban residential area, whereas Aedes vexans nipponii and Anopheles spp. were the most dominant in the rural areas. Collected mosquitoes were pooled into groups for each collection site and species to investigate flavivirus harboring. Three pools were positive for Japanese encephalitis virus type V, one pool was positive for Chaoyang virus, and six pools were positive for Culex flavi virus from the 731 pools tested. When total numbers of collected mosquitoes were further analyzed by linear regression analysis for their interaction with ambient temperature and relative humidity, the number of mosquitoes were significantly affected by the ambient temperature. In contrast, relative humidity was significantly affecting the total number of mosquitoes only for the migratory bird refuge area.

Monitoring Insecticide Resistance and Target Site Mutations of L1014 Kdr And G119 Ace Alleles in Five Mosquito Populations in Korea.

Mosquitoes are globally distributed and important vectors for the transmission of many human diseases. Mosquito control is a difficult task and the cost of preventing mosquito-borne diseases is much lower than that for curing the associated diseases. Thus, chemical control remains the most effective tool for mosquito. Due to the long-term intensive use of insecticides to control mosquito vectors, resistance to most chemical insecticides has been reported. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between insecticide resistance and target site mutation of L1014 kdr and G119 ace alleles in 5 species/species group of mosquitoes (Aedes vexans, Ae. albopictus, Anopheles spp., Culex pipiens complex, and Cx. tritaeniorhynchus) obtained from 6 collection sites. For Anopheles spp., the proportion of mosquitoes with mutated alleles in L1014 was 88.4%, homozygous resistant genotypes were observed in 46.7%, and heterozygous resistant genotypes were observed in 41.8%. For the Cx. pipiens complex and Cx. tritaeniorhynchus species, homozygous resistant genotypes were found in 25.9% and 9.8%, respectively. However, target site mutation of L1014 in the Ae. vexans nipponii and Ae. albopictus species was not observed. Anopheles spp., Cx. pipiens complex, and Cx. tritaeniorhynchus mosquitoes were resistant to deltamethrin and chlorpyriphos, whereas Ae. vexans nipponii and Ae. albopictus were clearly susceptible. We also found a correlation between the resistance phenotype and the presence of the L1014 kdr and G119 ace mutations only in the Anopheles spp. population. In this study, we suggest that insecticide resistance poses a growing threat and resistance management must be integrated into all mosquito control programs.

Monitoring Culicine Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) as a Vector of Flavivirus in Incheon Metropolitan City and Hwaseong-Si, Gyeonggi-Do, Korea, during 2019.

The flaviviruses are small single-stranded RNA viruses that are typically transmitted by mosquitoes or tick vectors and are etiological agents of acute zoonotic infections. The viruses are found around the world and account for significant cases of human diseases. We investigated population of culicine mosquitoes in central region of Korean Peninsula, Incheon Metropolitan City and Hwaseong-si. Aedes vexans nipponii was the most frequently collected mosquitoes (56.5%), followed by Ochlerotatus dorsalis (23.6%), Anopheles spp. (10.9%), and Culex pipiens complex (5.9%). In rural regions of Hwaseong, Aedes vexans nipponii was the highest population (62.9%), followed by Ochlerotatus dorsalis (23.9%) and Anopheles spp. (12.0%). In another rural region of Incheon (habitat of migratory birds), Culex pipiens complex was the highest population (31.4%), followed by Ochlerotatus dorsalis (30.5%), and Aedes vexans vexans (27.5%). Culex pipiens complex was the predominant species in the urban region (84.7%). Culicine mosquitoes were identified at the species level, pooled up to 30 mosquitoes each, and tested for flaviviral RNA using the SYBR Green-based RT-PCR and confirmed by cDNA sequencing. Three of the assayed 2,683 pools (989 pools without Anopheles spp.) were positive for Culex flaviviruses, an insect-specific virus, from Culex pipiens pallens collected at the habitats for migratory birds in Incheon. The maximum likelihood estimation (the estimated number) for Culex pipiens pallens positive for Culex flavivirus was 25. Although viruses responsible for mosquito-borne diseases were not identified, we encourage intensified monitoring and long-term surveillance of both vector and viruses in the interest of global public health.

Temporal Trend of Aedes albopictus in Local Urban Parks of the Republic of Korea.

Aedes albopictus (Skuse) was first reported in the Republic of Korea in 1941 (Suwon, Gyeonggi Province). Recently, a mosquito-monitoring program was established in response to the potential development of autochthonous infections of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses, to identify the regional characteristics of Ae. albopictus in Suwon. Daily collections of adult mosquitoes were conducted using Blackhole UV-LED traps and BG-Sentinel traps baited with octenol, carbon dioxide or both at five sites in Suwon (Sungkyunkwan University, Manseok, Seoho, Olympic, and Jungang parks) from 1 July to 1 November 2016. Based on the ecological cycle of mosquitoes, an estimated association between the daily mean temperatures [2 wk prior to the collection date (lag 2 wk)] and relative population abundance were developed using a generalized linear model. The overall proportion of female mosquitoes collected from all traps was 88.3%. Higher female trap indices were observed for mosquitoes collected at BG-Sentinel traps. Additionally, the BG-sentinel trap was more effective collecting Ae. albopictus. Culex pipiens (Coquillett) was the most frequently collected mosquito using UV-LED traps, followed by Ae. vexans nipponii (Theobald), Ochlerotatus koreicus (Edwards), Cx. inatomi (Kamimura and Wada), and members of the Anopheles Hyrcanus Group. Within a certain temperature range, daily mean temperatures 2 wk prior to the collection period was significantly associated with a maximum abundance of Ae. albopictus (P < 0.05) at 26.2°C (95% confidence interval: 24.3-29.4°C). The BG-Sentinel trap is an effective trap for monitoring relative population abundance of Ae. albopictus, and trap catches are significantly correlated with daily mean temperatures.

Flaviviral disease mosquito vector surveillance in Incheon Metropolitan City and the Hwaseong area, Gyeonggi‐Do, Republic of Korea, in 2015

AbstractOwing to global climate change, the global resurgence of vector‐borne infectious diseases and their potential to inflict widespread casualties among human populations has emerged as a pivotal burden on public health systems. In this study, the prevalence of flaviviral diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, and their target vector diversity, abundance, and distribution was investigated to enable the mapping of hotspots for these diseases. For the surveillance of the vector mosquitoes carrying flaviviruses during April to November 2015, female mosquitoes were collected to study whether they carried pathogens from abroad at seven locations in Incheon Metropolitan City (Incheon) as a typical urban area and Hwaseong‐si (= city, Hwaseong) of Gyeonggi‐do (= province) as a rural area. A total of 15 species belonging to seven genera (29,102 female mosquitoes) were collected with black‐light and BG‐Sentinel™ traps at a collection rate of 260 per trap/night from whole collection locations. The most collected mosquito species in Incheon were Aedes vexans nipponii (species ratio (SR), 29.9%) and the Culex pipiens complex (SR, 28.8%), followed by Anopheles sinensis s.l. (SR, 27.9%) and Ochlerotatus koreicus (SR, 7.1%). From the results of viral RNA detection, five flaviviruses were found in 20,981 individuals (excluding An. sinensis; 696 pools) in the Cx. pipiens complex and Ae. vexans nipponii. Three Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV)‐positive pools were from the Cx. pipiens complex, a Chaoyang virus pool was found from Ae. vexans nipponii, and the remaining unidentified flavivirus pool was from Cx. pipiens. The three JEV‐positive pools were phylogenetically grouped as genotype V. The results of our study demonstrate that enhanced monitoring and long‐term surveillance of these vector viruses are of great public health importance.

Three-year surveillance of culicine mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) for flavivirus infections in Incheon Metropolitan City and Hwaseong-si of Gyeonggi-do Province, Republic of Korea

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a single stranded positive sense RNA virus of the genus Flavivirus that belongs to family Flaviviridae and emerged as one of the most pivotal form of viral encephalitis. The virus is transmitted to humans by mosquito vector and is an etiological agent of acute zoonotic infection. In this study, we investigated distribution and density over 3-year period in central regions of Korean peninsula. We selected two cities as mosquito-collecting locations and subdivided them into five collection sites; downtown Incheon Metropolitan City as a typical urban area, and the Hwaseong-si area as a rural area. A total of 35,445 female culicine mosquitoes were collected using black light traps or BG Sentinel™ traps from March to November 2016–2018. Aedes (Ae.) vexans nipponii was the most frequently collected specimens (48.91%), followed by Culex (Cx.) pipiens (32.05%), Ochlerotatus (Och.) dorsalis (13.58%), Och. koreicus (1.68%), and Cx. tritaeniorhynchus (1.49%). In the urban area, Cx. pipiens was the predominant species (92.21%) and the other species accounted for <5% of the total mosquitoes collected. However, in the rural area, Ae. vexans nipponii had the highest population (61.90%), followed by Och. dorsalis (17.10%), Cx. tritaeniorhynchus (1.84%) and Och, koreicus (1.78%). Culicine mosquitoes were identified at the species level, placed in pools of up to 30 mosquitoes each, and screened for flavivirus RNA using the SYBR Green-based RT-PCR. Three of the assayed 1092 pools were positive for Chaoyang virus from Ae. vexans nipponii and Japanese encephalitis virus from Cx. pipiens. The maximum likelihood estimations (the estimated number of virus-positive mosquitoes/1000 mosquitoes) for Ae. vexans nipponii positive for Chaoyang virus and Cx. pipiens for Japanese encephalitis virus were 3.095 and 0.20, respectively. The results of our study demonstrate that although mosquito-borne diseases were not detected in the potential vectors, enhanced monitoring and long-term surveillance of these vector viruses are of great public health importance.

Metagenomic Analysis Reveals Three Novel and Prevalent Mosquito Viruses from a Single Pool of Aedes vexans nipponii Collected in the Republic of Korea.

Arboviruses continue to be a significant global health concern. The unbiased metagenomic analyses of mosquito-borne and mosquito-specific viruses are useful to understand viral diversity and for the surveillance of pathogens of medical and veterinary importance. Metagenomic analysis was conducted on 6368 mosquitoes (736 pools), covering 16 species from 18 locations throughout the Republic of Korea (ROK) in 2016. In this report, we describe three viruses detected in a single pool of Aedes vexans nipponii collected at Yongsan U.S. Army Garrison, located in a densely populated district of Seoul, the ROK. The three novel viruses, designated as Yongsan bunyavirus 1 (YBV1), Yongsan picorna-like virus 3 (YPLV3) and Yongsan sobemo-like virus 1 (YSLV1), share sequence and structural characteristics with members belonging to the family Bunyaviridae, order Picornavirales, and family Solemoviridae, with shared RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) amino acid identities of 40%, 42% and 86%, respectively. The real-time reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of 3493 Aedes vexans nipponii (257 pools) showed a high prevalence of YBV1 and YSLV1 viruses, which were present in 65% and 62% of tested pools, respectively. This study highlighted the utility of a metagenomic sequencing approach for arbovirus discovery and for a better understanding of the virome of potential medically relevant vectors.

Species composition, seasonal prevalence and flavivirus occurrence of mosquitoes in Daegu and Gunwi, South Korea during the period of 2015–2016

AbstractAs the vector‐borne diseases rapidly increased due to climate change, we investigated the incidence of flavivirus occurrence among female mosquito species in urban and rural study sites in Daegu and Gunwi, South Korea using Realtime PCR. We collected more individuals and more species of mosquito in 2016 than in 2015. In 2015, we recorded a total of 22,033 mosquitoes (Trap Index, 224.8) representing 10 species from 5 genera, whereas in 2016, a total of 27,137 mosquitoes (Trap Index, 278.7) representing 13 species from 6 genera were collected. The number of mosquitoes in 2016 was higher in all study sites, except in the migratory bird habitats where the number decreased. Of the 14 species collected over the two years, Aedes vexans nipponii and Anopheles spp. were dominant in the cowsheds in rural farmland; Culex pipiens complex, in urban residential areas; and, Anopheles spp. and Cu. pipiens complex in migratory bird habitats caught in a black light trap. Cu. pipiens complex and Ae. albopictus in urban parks and Ae. albopictus and Armigeres subalbatus in migratory bird habitats were the dominant species caught in BG‐sentinel traps. We found that the number of mosquitoes was highest during July–September. We analyzed 1,725 pools to detect flavivirus, where Chaoyang virus was detected among Ae. vexans niponii collected from cowsheds in rural farmland in 2016. The increased number of mosquitoes recorded in 2016 was mainly due to increased temperatures in the study areas, and reflected the change in study sites.

Seasonal Prevalence of Mosquitoes Collected from Light Traps in Gyeongsangnam Province, Republic of Korea (2013–2014)

AbstractAdult mosquito surveillance was conducted from 2013 through 2014 at four cattle sheds, a wild bird refuge, and two residential areas located in Gyeongnam Province in the Republic of Korea. Adult mosquitoes were collected in black light traps from April 1, through November 30. Mosquito surveillance was conducted to figure out population densities of vector mosquitoes, possibly invaded mosquitoes and identify various virus infections at the selected sites. A total of 107,466 females comprising 14 species and 7 genera were collected from 2013 to 2014. The most common species collected were Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles (63.8%), Anopheles sinensis s.l. (18.9%), Aedes vexans nipponii (Theobald) (7.7%), and Culex pipiens Coquillett (5.1%). Trap indices (TIs) varied widely for species over their range, due to geographical distribution and degree of association with rural and urban communities. The most collected An. sinensis s.l. and Cx. tritaeniorhynchus appeared at a cow shed in Hapcheon (TI 347.5) and a pigsty in Daejeo‐1‐dong, Busan (TI 1,040.8), respectively, due in part to their situation near breeding sites such as rice paddies. The bi‐weekly population densities for mosquito species were variable for each of the years, apparently as a result of variable annual weather conditions. None of the mosquito species collected tested for the flavivirus including Japanese Encephalitis Virus, West Nile Virus, Dengue Virus, and Zika Virus infections by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay were positive.

Tick-borne encephalitis virus in arthropod vectors in the Far East of Russia

Isolates of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) from arthropod vectors (ticks and mosquitoes) in the Amur, the Jewish Autonomous and the Sakhalin regions as well as on the Khabarovsk territory of the Far East of Russia were studied. Different proportions of four main tick species of the family Ixodidae: Ixodes persulcatus P. Schulze, 1930; Haemaphysalis concinna Koch, 1844; Haemaphysalis japonica douglasi Nuttall et Warburton, 1915 and Dermacentor silvarum Olenev, 1932 were found in forests and near settlements. RT-PCR of TBEV RNA in adult ticks collected from vegetation in 1999–2014 revealed average infection rates of 7.9 ± 0.7% in I. persulcatus, of 5.6 ± 1.0% in H. concinna, of 2.0 ± 2.0% in H. japonica, and of 1.3 ± 1.3% in D. silvarum. Viral loads varied in a range from 102 to 109 TBEV genome-equivalents per a tick with the maximal values in I. persulcatus and H. japonica. Molecular typing using reverse transcription with subsequent real time PCR with subtype-specific fluorescent probes demonstrated that the Far Eastern (FE) subtype of TBEV predominated both in mono-infections and in mixed infection with the Siberian (Sib) subtype in I. persulcatus pools. TBEV strains of the FE subtype were isolated from I. persulcatus, H. concinna and from a pool of Aedes vexans mosquitoes. Ten TBEV strains isolated from I. persulcatus from the Khabarovsk territory and the Jewish Autonomous region between 1985 and 2013 cluster with the TBEV vaccine strain Sofjin of the FE subtype isolated from human brain in 1937. A TBEV strain from H. concinna collected in the Amur region (GenBank accession number KF880803) is similar to the vaccine strain 205 isolated in 1973 from I. persulcatus collected in the Jewish Autonomous region. The TBEV strain Lazo MP36 of the FE subtype isolated from a pool of A. vexans in the Khabarovsk territory in 2014 (KT001073) differs from strains isolated from 1) I. persulcatus (including the vaccine strain 205) and H. concinna; 2) mosquitoes [strain Malishevo (KJ744034) isolated in 1978 from Aedes vexans nipponii in the Khabarovsk territory]; and 3) human brain (including the vaccine strain Sofjin). Accordingly, in the far eastern natural foci, TBEV of the prevailing FE subtype has remained stable since 1937. Both Russian vaccines against TBE based on the FE strains (Sofjin and 205) are similar to the new viral isolates and might protect against infection.

A novel flavivirus detected in two Aedes spp. collected near the demilitarized zone of the Republic of Korea.

Flaviviruses comprise a large and diverse group of positive-stranded RNA viruses, including tick-, mosquito- and unknown-vector-borne flaviviruses. A novel flavivirus was detected in pools of Aedes vexans nipponii (n=1) and Aedes esoensis (n=3) collected in 2012 and 2013 near the demilitarized zone (DMZ), Republic of Korea (ROK). Phylogenetic analyses of the NS5, E gene and complete polyprotein coding sequence (CDS) showed that the novel virus fell within the Aedes-borne flaviviruses (ABFVs), with nucleotide identity ranging from 57.8-75.1 %, 46.1-74.2 % and 51.1-76.2 %, respectively. While the novel ABFV was distant from other flaviviruses within the group, it formed a clade with Ilomantsi virus (ILOV). Sequence alignments of the partial NS5 gene, full-length E gene and polyprotein CDS between the novel virus and ILOV showed approximately 76.2 % nucleotide identity and 90 % amino acid identity, respectively. The ABFV identified in Aedes mosquitoes from the ROK is a novel ABFV based on the sequence analyses and is designated as Panmunjeom flavivirus (PANFV).

Comparative analysis of genomes of tick-borne encephalitis virus strains isolated from mosquitoes and ticks

The tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) strain Lazo MP36 was isolated from the pool of mosquitoes Aedes vexans collected in Lazo region of Khabarovsk territory in August 2014. Phylogenetic analysis of the strain Lazo MP36 complete genome (GenBank accession number KT001073) revealed its correspondence to the TBEV Far Eastern subtype and differences from the following strains: 1) from ticks Ixodes persulcatus P. Schulze, 1930 [vaccine strain 205 (JX498939) and strains Khekhtzir 1230 (KF880805), Chichagovka (KP844724), Birobidzhan 1354 (KF880805) isolated in 2012-2013]; 2) from mosquitoes [strain Malyshevo (KJ744034) isolated in 1978 from Aedes vexans nipponii in Khabarovsk territory; strain Sakhalin 6-11 isolated from the pool of mosquitoes in 2011 (KF826916)]; 3) from human brain [vaccine strain Sofjin (JN229223), Glubinnoe/2004(DQ862460). Kavalerovo (DQ862460), Svetlogorie (DQ862460)]. The fusion peptide necessary for flavivirus entry to cells of the three TBEV strains isolated from mosquitoes (Lazo MP36, Malyshevo and Sakhalin 6-11) has the canonical structure 98-DRGWGNHCGLFGKGSI-113 for the tick-borne flaviviruses. Amino acid transition H104G typical for the mosquito-borne flaviviruses was not found. Structures of 5’- and 3’-untranslated (UTR) regions of the TBEV strains from mosquitoes were 85-98% homologous to the TBEV strains of all subtypes without recombination with mosquito-borne flaviviruses found in the Far East of Russia. Secondary structures of 5’- and 3'-UTR as well as cyclization sequences (CS) of types a and B are highly homologous for all TBEV isolates independently of the biological hosts and vectors. similarity of the genomes of the TBEV isolates from mosquitoes, ticks and patients as well as pathogenicity of the isolates for new-borne laboratory mice and tissue cultures might suggest a possible role of mosquitoes in the TBEV circulation in natural foci as an accidental or additional virus carrier.

A research for an eco-friendly mosquito control by using a new mosquito trap (Mos-hole trap) in a cowshed in Yeoju of Korea

We performed this study to find out if we could control mosquitoes in a cowshed by using CO2-baited mosquito traps. We used eco-friendly Mos-hole traps that were developed for mosquito control in human living areas and we also evaluated the traps' efficacy, if the traps would be effective in controlling mosquitoes in a cowshed. The study was performed for 54 days (from 18 May to 10 July 2012). During the first nine turns (from 18 May to 18 June), we used 12 mosquito traps, which were baited with low CO2 emission (35–100 ml/minute) by burning and combusting liquid naphtha. In the next phase (10 to 13 turns; 21 June to 4 July), we kept the same low CO2 emission in six traps but increased the CO2 concentration (500 ml/minute) in the other six traps. In the 14th turn (July 10), all 12 mosquito traps were used with higher CO2 concentration, using compressed cylinders of CO2. Mosquitoes were collected at each turn and the total trapped female mosquitoes during the study period were 31,715 individuals, and we identified 6 genera and 16 species. The predominant species was Aedes vexans nipponii (63.838%). We found that 5.2 times more mosquitoes were caught at higher emission rates of CO2. Finally, our study partly revealed that higher emission of CO2 might be a reliable substitute for proper control of the adult female mosquitoes and we absolutely need to develop a more efficient mosquito trap for cowshed areas.

Distribution and mosquito hosts of Chaoyang virus, a newly reported flavivirus from the Republic of Korea, 2008-2011.

In total, 183,602 female culicine mosquitoes were captured by Mosquito Magnet, black light, and New Jersey light traps, and manual aspiration of resting blood-fed mosquitoes, in the Republic of Korea from 2008 to 2011. Culicine mosquitoes were identified to species, placed in pools of up to 30 mosquitoes each, and screened for flavivirus RNA by using an SYBR green I-based reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay. Thirty-two of the 8,199 pools assayed were positive by quantitative polymerase chain reaction for Chaoyang virus (CHAOV), an insect-specific virus [26 Aedes vexans nipponii Theobald, 3 Culex pipiens L., 1 Aedes albopictus (Skuse), 1 Aedes bekkui Mogi, and 1 Armigeres subalbatus (Coquillett)]. The maximum likelihood estimations (estimated number of virus-positive mosquitoes/1,000 mosquitoes) for Ae. bekkui, Ae. albopictus, Ar. subalbatus, Ae. vexans nipponii, and Cx. pipiens positive for CHAOV were 5.37, 3.29, 0.77, 0.27, and 0.26, respectively. CHAOV is an insect-specific virus, and there is currently no evidence to suggest a role in animal or human disease.

경기도 김포시 모기의 계절적 발생소장 및 얼룩날개모기 유충 발생원의 생태학적 특성

본 연구는 김포시에서 모기성충의 계절적 발생소장과 얼룩날개모기류 유충의 발생을 파악하기 위해서 실시되었다. 성충모기는 6지점에서 유문등을 이용하여, 2008년 5월부터 9월까지 조사되었다. 조사결과 8속 16종 48,919마리가 채집되었다. 금빛숲모기(Aedes vexans nipponii)가 43%로 가장 많았고, 중국얼룩날개모기(Anophels sinensis)가 34%, 작은빨간집모기(Culex tritaeniorhynchus)가 14%로 이 3 우점종이 전체의 91%를 차지했다. 얼룩날개모기류의 계절적 발생소장은 작은빨간집모기와 비교하여 다른 피크를 보였다. 얼룩날개모기류 유충은 203지점 중 138지점(63%)에서 확인되었다. 지점당 정량조사 결과에서 평균유충밀도는 연꽃 재배지가 6.9개체로 가장 높았으며, 다음으로 수로가 4.5개체, 미나리꽝이 3.4개체, 유수지가 3.2개체, 휴경논이 3.1개체, 논이 1.8개체, 습지가 1.4개체, 하천이 0.2개체 순이었다. 유충밀도와 용존산소량, 산도, 염분도, 흡밀원(축사, 돈사, 계사) 사이에 유의한 관계성은 없었다. 최근린평균거리분석(ANNA)의 결과에서, 유충 조사지점간 분포패턴은 전체 조사지점간과 4.0개체 이상 확인된 지점간에서 각각 밀집분포와 불규칙분포였다. 하성면에서는 유충이 3.0 개체 이상 확인된 지점간 분산분포를 나타냈다. This study was conducted to elucidate the seasonal prevalence of adult mosquitoes and occurrence of anopheline larvae in Gimpo, Gyeonggi province, Republic of Korea. Sampling of adult mosquitoes was carried out 18 times from May to September in 2008, using light traps at six sites. A total of 48,919 individuals belonging to 16 species and 8 genera were collected. Aedes vexans nipponii (43%) was the most frequently collected, followed by Anopheles sinensis (34%) and Culex tritaeniorhynchus (14%). The seasonal prevalence of anopheline mosquitoes had a different occurrence compared to that of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus. Anopheline larvae were collected using a standard dipper (size = of 350 ml) at eight habitat types of 203 point locations. Anopheline larvae were confirmed from 138 points (63%). The average larval population per dipper was highest in the lotus plantation (6.9 individuals), followed by irrigation channel (4.5 ind.), dropwort field (3.4 ind.), fallow field (3.1 ind.), paddy field (1.8 ind.), swamp (1.4 ind.), and stream (0.2 ind.). There was no significant relationship observed between larval density and DO, pH, salinity, or distance from blood meal hosts (cowshed, pigsty, chicken-house). In the results of average nearest neighbor analysis (ANNA), the distribution of whole points for mosquito larval collection was clustered, and points with over 4.0 larvae per dipper were randomly distributed. Within the study area Haseong-myeon, those points where over 3.0 larvae were collected were of a dispersed distribution.

Isolation and genomic characterization of Chaoyang virus strain ROK144 from Aedes vexans nipponii from the Republic of Korea

During June 2003, mosquito surveillance was conducted at a US Army installation and a US Military training site 2km south of the demilitarized zone, Republic of Korea. Mosquitoes were collected using Mosquito Magnets™, sorted to species, and assayed for the presence of arboviruses. From the 3,149 mosquitoes that were sorted into 126 pools, one Aedes vexans nipponii pool (out of 73 pools) tested positive for flavivirus RNA by reverse transcription-PCR. After isolation from C6/36 cell culture supernatant, the viral genome was sequenced and found to be 98.9% related to Chaoyang virus, a potential arthropod-specific flavivirus. This report details the first identification of Chaoyang virus in the Republic of Korea and highlights its relationship to other flaviviruses.

Investigation on the virologic vector‐borne diseases by mosquito vector in Yeongnam, Korea

To prevent the influx, propagation and spread of epidemic vectors (vector borne disease) that are increasing due to global warming and climate change, we kept the mosquito vectors under constant surveillance from April (2nd week) to September (3rd week), 2011 in Yeongnam area. Samples were collected at Youngdo (Busan) for Dengue fever and Yellow fever and by support of Gimcheon, Gyeongju, Ulju(Ulsan), Jinju, Hapcheon public health center for Japanese encephalitis and malaria, and also at two sites in Eulsook‐do for Westnile.A BG‐sentinel trap was used to collect samples for Dengue fever and Yellow fever, whereas black light traps were used for Westnile and Japanese encephalitis. At first, mosquito vectors were classified according to a standard classification method and then identified as to whether or not each of the collected samples had the pathogens by using the Real‐time PCR method.Two species of mosquito vectors, Culex pipiens pallens and Ochlerotatus togoi were mostly collected by BG‐sentinel traps. On the other hand, Aedes vexans nipponii and Anopheles sinensis were mainly collected by black light traps (until May). Since then, the number of Culex tritaeniorhynchus gradually increased and then declined in September. The largest number, a total of 12,624 mosquito vectors were collected in the Jinju region during collection. As the result of the Real‐time PCR experiment to detect the pathogens, no viruses had been detected, until now. But it requires sustainable and long‐term monitoring because infectious disease is expected to be spread in the long term.

Nationwide Surveillance of West Nile Virus Targeting Mosquitoes and Dead Birds from April 2004 through March 2007 in Japan

We conducted nationwide West Nile virus (WNV) surveillance targeting mosquitoes and dead birds to reveal whether the virus and its potential vectors are present in Japan. A total of 12 766 mosquitoes and 230 dead birds were collected in April 2004-March 2005 (the 2004-2005 period), 10 755 mosquitoes and 267 dead birds in April 2005-March 2006 (the 2005-2006 period), and 8624 mosquitoes and 245 dead birds in April 2006-March 2007 (the 2006-2007 period). The species of most of the mosquitoes collected over the 3 years were Culex tritaeniorhynchus (47.82%) and Anopheles sinensis (28.49%), and other species included Aedes albopictus (6.75%), the Culex pipiens group (Cx. pipiens pallens and Cx. pipiens molestus: 5.37%), Aedes vexans nipponii (2.54%), Armigeres subalbatus (1.08%), and Aedes japonicus (0.95%). As for the dead birds, most were Passeriformes (456 specimens), which included several crow species, and the other orders included Anseriformes, Columbiformes and Ciconiiformes (78, 66 and 36 specimens, respectively). All the specimens tested negative for WNV RNA by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in the 2004-2005 period and by real-time RT-PCR in the 2005-2006 and the 2006-2007 periods, respectively. Our surveillance provided no evidence for WNV in Japan as of the end of the surveillance period, but on the other hand, it revealed that several species of potential WNV vectors are distributed widely in Japan, which suggests that WNV in principle could be transmitted by the potential vectors if introduced. Thus, it is essential to take continued precautions against WNV introduction.