Investigation of vector competence and capacity of Aedes scapularis and Aedes fluviatilis to different arbovirus

• Grant number: 17/09866-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: April 01, 2018
• End date: August 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Entomology and Malacology of Parasites and Vectors
• Principal Investigator: Margareth de Lara Capurro-Guimarães
• Grantee: Vivian Aparecida Ramos Petersen
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The Aedes scapularis and Aedes fluviatilis mosquitoes are currently in the process of transition from sylvan and rural environments to urban areas, developing in artificial containers. This fact can be a problem for public health, since these mosquitoes have vector capacity or vector competence for some pathogens among these arboviruses of Flaviviridae family as Yellow Fever virus (YFV). It is currently unknown whether these mosquitoes have vector competence for urban flaviviruses: ZIKA virus (ZIKV) and Dengue virus (DENV). Some factors increase the suspicion of these mosquitoes probably present susceptibility or vector competence for DENV and ZIKV: the mosquito Ae. scapularis is a polymorphic species, both species are vector competent for Flavivirus, Flavivirus have similar interactions with their invertebrate hosts, contact occurs of Ae. scapularis and Ae. fluviatilis with DENV or ZIKV in epidemic sites. Due to these factors, we hypothesized that mosquitoes Ae. scapularis and Ae. fluviatilis present vectorial competence for ZIKV and DENV. Therefore, the objective of this work is to test the susceptibility and vectorial competence of Ae. fluviatilis and Ae. scapularis for DENV and ZIKV. In addition, we will verify the susceptibility of one population of Ae. scapularis and Ae. fluviatilis collected in Urban Park to the YFV. We believe that the results of susceptibility and competence of colony and park mosquitoes will help to guide improve in control these mosquitoes, therefore avoiding the presence of more urban vectors.