Silent circulation of dengue virus in Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) resulting from natural vertical transmission

Author(s)

Ferreira-de-Lima, Victor Henrique ^[1] ; Andrade, Pamela dos Santos ^[2] ; Thomazelli, Luciano Matsumiya ^[3] ; Marrelli, Mauro Toledo ^[2] ; Urbinatti, Paulo Roberto ^[2] ; Marques de Sa Almeida, Rosa Maria ^[2] ; Lima-Camara, Tamara Nunes ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Trop Med, Ave Dr Eneas Carvalho Aguiar, 470 Jardim Amer, BR-05403000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Publ Hlth, Dept Epidemiol, Ave Dr Arnaldo, 715 Cerqueira Cesar, BR-01246904 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Lab Clin & Mol Virol LVCM, Inst Biomed Sci 2, Ave Prof Lineu Prestes, 1374 Butanta, BR-05508900 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS; v. 10, n. 1 MAR 2 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Vertical transmission in Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus is considered a maintenance mechanism for dengue virus (DENV) during unfavorable conditions and may be implicated in dengue outbreaks. Since DENV infection dynamics vary among wild-type viruses and vector populations, vertical transmission rates can also vary between regions. However, even though Sao Paulo is the most populous city in the Americas and has experienced major dengue epidemics, natural vertical transmission had never been detected in this area before. Here we confirm and describe for the first time natural vertical transmission of DENV-3 in two pools of male Ae. albopictus from the city of Sao Paulo. The detection of DENV-3 in years when no human autochthonous cases of this serotype were recorded suggests that silent circulation of DENV-3 is occurring and indicates that green areas may be maintaining serotypes that are not circulating in the human population, possibly by a vertical transmission mechanism. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/12434-6 - Evaluation of vertical transmission of arboviruses in Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in natural conditions
• Grantee: Victor Henrique Ferreira de Lima
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 16/12140-0 - Parity, ovarian development, vertical transmission and locomotor activity of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in the city of São Paulo -SP.
• Grantee: Tamara Nunes de Lima Camara
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants