How Important is Vertical Transmission of Dengue Viruses by Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae)?

Vertical transmission of dengue viruses by mosquitoes was discovered at the end of the late 1970s and has been suggested to be a means by which these viruses persist. However, it is unclear how widespread it is in nature, and its importance in the epidemiology of this disease is still debated. Here,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of medical entomology 2016-01, Vol.53 (1), p.1-19
Main Authors: Grunnill, Martin, Boots, Michael
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aedes - virology
Aedes aegypti
Aedes albopictus
Animals
Aquatic insects
arbovirus
dengue
Dengue - transmission
Diapause, Insect
Disease transmission
Epidemiology
FORUM
Humans
Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical
Insect Vectors - virology
Mathematical models
Mosquitoes
Ovum - virology
persistence
Vector-borne diseases
Viruses
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Summary:Vertical transmission of dengue viruses by mosquitoes was discovered at the end of the late 1970s and has been suggested to be a means by which these viruses persist. However, it is unclear how widespread it is in nature, and its importance in the epidemiology of this disease is still debated. Here, we review the literature on vertical transmission and discuss its role in dengue's epidemiology and control. We conclude that given the number of studies that failed to find evidence of vertical transmission, as well as mathematical models and its mechanistic basis, it is unlikely that vertical transmission is important for the epidemiological persistence of dengue viruses. A combination of asymptomatic infection in humans and movement of people are likely to be more important determinants of dengue's persistence. We argue, however, that there may be some need for further research into the prevalence of dengue viruses in desiccated, as well as diapausing, eggs and the role of horizontal transmission through larval cannibalism.
ISSN:0022-2585
1938-2928
DOI:10.1093/jme/tjv168