Vector Competence for Zika Virus Changes Depending on the IAedes aegypti/I’s Region of Origin in Manaus: A Study of an Endemic Brazilian Amazonian City

• Published in: Viruses 2023-03, Vol.15 (3)
• Main Authors: da Costa Paz, Andréia, Chaves, Bárbara Aparecida, Godoy, Raquel Soares Maia, Coelho, Deilane Ferreira, Vieira Júnior, Ademir Bentes, Alencar, Rodrigo Maciel, Alcântara, João Arthur, Félix, Luiza dos Santos, Oliveira, Cinthia Catharina Azevedo, Monteiro, Wuelton Marcelo, Lacerda, Marcus Vinicius Guimarães, Secundino, Nágila Francinete Costa, Pimenta, Paulo Filemon Paolucci
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Genetic vectors
• ISSN: 1999-4915; 1999-4915
• DOI: 10.3390/v15030770

Zika virus (ZIKV) is transmitted to humans by the infectious bite of mosquitoes such as Aedes aegypti. In a city, the population control of mosquitoes is carried out according to alerts generated by different districts via the analysis of the mosquito index. However, we do not know whether, besides mosquito abundance, the susceptibility of mosquitoes could also diverge among districts and thus impact the dissemination and transmission of arboviruses. After a viremic blood meal, the virus must infect the midgut, disseminate to tissues, and reach the salivary gland to be transmitted to a vertebrate host. This study evaluated the patterns of ZIKV infection in the Ae. aegypti field populations of a city. The disseminated infection rate, viral transmission rate, and transmission efficiency were measured using quantitative PCR at 14 days post-infection. The results showed that all Ae. aegypti populations had individuals susceptible to ZIKV infection and able to transmit the virus. The infection parameters showed that the geographical area of origin of the Ae. aegypti influences its vector competence for ZIKV transmission.