Arbovirus surveillance: first dengue virus detection in local Aedes albopictus mosquitoes in Europe, Catalonia, Spain, 2015

Abstract

Dengue has emerged as the most important viral mosquito-borne disease globally. The current risk of dengue outbreaks in Europe appeared with the introduction of the vector Aedes albopictus mosquito in Mediterranean countries. Considering the increasing frequency of dengue epidemics worldwide and the movement of viraemic hosts, it is expected that new autochthonous cases will occur in the future in Europe. Arbovirus surveillance started in Catalonia in 2015 to monitor imported cases and detect possible local arboviral transmission. During 2015, 131 patients with a recent travel history to endemic countries were tested for dengue virus (DENV) and 65 dengue cases were detected. Twenty-eight patients with a febrile illness were viraemic, as demonstrated by a positive real-time RT-PCR test for DENV in serum samples. Entomological investigations around the viraemic cases led to the detection of DENV in a pool of local Ae. albopictus captured in the residency of one case. The sequence of the DENV envelope gene detected in the mosquito pool was identical to that detected in the patient. Our results show how entomological surveillance conducted around viraemic travellers can be effective for early detection of DENV in mosquitoes and thus might help to prevent possible autochthonous transmission.

Individual-based dengue virus surveillance in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes collected concurrently with suspected patients in Tarlac City, Philippines

“…Our ndings showed concurrent co-circulation of similar serotypes and genotypes in mosquitoes and patients, which is similar to the results of a previous study that detected the DENV in both Aedes albopictus mosquitoes and viraemic patient in Catalonia, Spain [38]. Sequencing and phylogenetic analyses showed that the detected DENVs grouped primarily into three genotypes, namely: (1) DENV-1 genotype IV, (2) DENV-2 Cosmopolitan genotype, and (3) DENV-4 genotype II, suggesting the hyperendemicity of dengue in Tarlac City, Philippines.…”

Mosquitoes in an Urban Zoo: Identification of Blood Meals, Flight Distances of Engorged Females, and Avian Malaria Infections

“…This is the case of the invasive Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus, which is associated with the local transmission of pathogens such as filarioid worms (e.g., Dirofilaria spp. ), protozoa (e.g., avian malaria parasites), and viruses (e.g., Dengue virus) (4)(5)(6). This species has a broad global distribution and is present in countries outside its native range in America, Europe, Oceania, and Africa (7).…”

Naturally Occurence Of Wolbachia Spp. Infection In Populations Of Aedes Albopictus In The City of Valencia, Spain

“…In Southern Europe autochthonous DENV transmission episodes have occurred on several occasions (29), with a recent detection of Ae. albopictus mosquitoes infected with DENV in Spain in 2015 (the rst detection in Europe) (30). Arbovirus surveillance is extremely important to identify possible foci of transmission, and this relies on multidisciplinary activities, including community engagement to early detect the mosquito and control its population, especially in urban areas (30).…”