Entomological Assessment of the Status and Risk of Mosquito-borne Arboviral Transmission in Ghana

Abstract

Entomological surveillance is one of the tools used in monitoring and controlling vector-borne diseases. However, the use of entomological surveillance for arboviral infection vector control is often dependent on finding infected individuals. Although this method may suffice in highly endemic areas, it is not as effective in controlling the spread of diseases in low endemic and non-endemic areas. In this study, we examined the efficiency of using entomological markers to assess the status and risk of arbovirus infection in Ghana, which is considered a non-endemic country, by combining mosquito surveillance with virus isolation and detection. This study reports the presence of cryptic species of mosquitoes in Ghana, demonstrating the need to combine morphological identification and molecular techniques in mosquito surveillance. Furthermore, although no medically important viruses were detected, the importance of insect-specific viruses in understanding virus evolution and arbovirus transmission is discussed. This study reports the first mutualistic relationship between dengue virus and the double-stranded RNA Aedes aegypti totivirus. Finally, this study discusses the complexity of the virome of Aedes and Culex mosquitoes and its implication for arbovirus transmission.

Aedes aegypti from Amazon Basin Harbor High Diversity of Novel Viral Species

“…This putative novel virus was named Aedes permutotetra-like virus 2 (APLV2) ( Figure 3 b). The cluster formed by APLV-1, Culex Daeseongdong-like, Daeseongdong virus 2 and Smothfield permutotetra-like virus have been found in mosquitoes ( Figure 3 c) [ 3 , 28 ]; similarly, the clade formed by APLV-2, Culex permutotetra virus, Shinobi tetravirus and Sarawak virus have also been detected in different mosquito species ( Figure 3 d) [ 29 , 30 , 31 ].…”

Determining vector competence of Aedes aegypti from Ghana in transmitting dengue virus serotypes 1 and 2

“…Aedes aegypti larvae were collected from four locations in Ghana in 2016 [ 18 ] (Table 1 ). Collection sites included artificial containers in domestic areas of rural villages, which are tourist attraction sites, as well as used tyres in urban, semi-urban, and rural villages (Table 1 ).…”

“…Furthermore, similar studies have not yet been conducted in West African countries such as Ghana, with no reported DENV outbreaks, despite an abundance of the Ae. aegypti vector [ 18 ].…”

“…Ghana has a warm tropical climate with an abundance of Ae. aegypti mosquitoes [ 18 ]. Cote d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso reported DENV outbreaks in 2015 and 2016, respectively [ 2 , 19 ].…”

“…aegypti colonies collected from distinct locations in Ghana (i.e. two southern, two northern) [ 18 ] was herein determined for transmission of DENV in terms of infection, dissemination, and transmission rates. An Ae .…”