Estimating the risk of arbovirus transmission in Southern Europe using vector competence data

• Published in: Scientific reports 2019-11, Vol.9 (1), p.17852-10, Article 17852
• Main Authors: Mariconti, Marina, Obadia, Thomas, Mousson, Laurence, Malacrida, Anna, Gasperi, Giuliano, Failloux, Anna-Bella, Yen, Pei-Shi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 631/326/596/1282; 631/326/596/1413; 631/326/596/2557; 631/326/596/2561; 631/326/596/2563; Aedes - virology; Aedes albopictus; Animals; Chikungunya Fever - transmission; Chikungunya virus - pathogenicity; Dengue - transmission; Dengue fever; Dengue Virus - pathogenicity; Efficiency; Epidemics; Europe; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Infections; Life Sciences; Microbiology and Parasitology; Mosquito Vectors - virology; Mosquitoes; multidisciplinary; Population; Public health; Risk assessment; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Vector-borne diseases; Virology; Zika virus; Zika Virus - pathogenicity; Zika Virus Infection - transmission
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-54395-5

Arboviral diseases such as chikungunya, dengue, and Zika viruses have been threatening the European countries since the introduction in 1979 of the major vector Aedes albopictus . In 2017, more than three hundred of CHIKV autochthonous cases were reported in Italy, highlighting the urgent need for a risk assessment of arboviral diseases in European countries. In this study, the vector competence for three major arboviruses were analyzed in eight Ae . albopictus populations from Europe. Here we show that Southern European Ae . albopictus were susceptible to CHIKV, DENV-1 and ZIKV with the highest vector competence for CHIKV. Based on vector competence data and vector distribution, a prediction risk map for CHIKV was generated stressing the fear of CHIKV and to a lesser extent, of other arboviruses for Europe, calling us for new public health strategies.