Experimental studies on comparison of the vector competence of four Italian Culex pipiens populations for West Nile virus

Abstract

BackgroundWest Nile virus (WNV) is a vector-borne disease responsible for causing epidemics in many areas of the world. The virus is maintained in nature by an enzootic bird-mosquito-bird cycle and occasionally transmitted to other hosts, such as equines and humans. Culex species, in particular the ubiquitous species Culex pipiens is thought to play a major vector role both in enzootic and epizootic maintenance and transmission of WNV. Introduced in Europe in recent years, since 2008 WNV has been stably circulating mainly in the Northeastern regions of Italy, although sporadic equine and/or human cases, as well as WNV infected Cx. pipiens pools, have been recorded in other Italian areas. The scope of our study was to evaluate the potential competence of some Italian populations of Cx. pipiens to transmit WNV and to assess their ability for vertical transmission of the virus. For this purpose four Italian populations, from different areas, were experimentally infected.MethodsAfter the infectious blood meal, fed females were monitored for 32 days to determine the length of viral extrinsic incubation period. WNV titre of infected mosquitoes was evaluated both by quantitative Real Time PCR and viral titration by Plaque Forming Units/ml (PFU/mL) in VERO cells. Potential Infection, Dissemination, Transmission rates (IR, DR, TR) were assessed by detection of the virus in body, legs plus wings and saliva of the fed females, respectively.ResultsAll tested populations were susceptible to the WNV infection. The viral presence in legs and wings demonstrated the ability of WNV to disseminate in the mosquitoes. Viral RNA was detected in the saliva of tested populations. No significant differences in TR values were observed among the four studied populations. The offspring of the Cx. pipiens infected females were WNV negative.ConclusionsOur study addressed an important issue in the knowledge on the complex WNV-vector relationships in Italy, indicating that all Italian Cx. pipiens populations tested exhibited vector competence for WNV. Further studies should be performed in order to better clarify the role of other factors (vector density, climatic conditions, reservoir presence etc.) in order to predict where and when WNV outbreaks could occur.

MiR-932 Regulates Pyrethroid Resistance inCulex pipiens pallens(Diptera: Culicidae)

“…Mosquitoes transmit a lot of pathogens, causing severe diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, West Nile fever, encephalitis, and filariasis, which threat public health worldwide (Andriessen et al 2015, Fortuna et al 2015, Paredes-Esquivel et al 2015. Recent estimates show that there are about 400 million infections of dengue fever annually around the world (Sood et al 2015).…”

“…In addition, knockdown of CpCPR5 decreased the sensitivity of mosquitoes to deltamethrin in the DS-strain. In conclusion, our study finds a molecular link between miR-932 and CpCPR5 and provides a novel insight into the mechanism of insecticide resistance.Key words: Culex pipiens pallens, pyrethroid, microRNA, CpCPR5Mosquitoes transmit a lot of pathogens, causing severe diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, West Nile fever, encephalitis, and filariasis, which threat public health worldwide (Andriessen et al 2015, Fortuna et al 2015, Paredes-Esquivel et al 2015. Recent estimates show that there are about 400 million infections of dengue fever annually around the world (Sood et al 2015).…”

The role of Culex pipiens mosquitoes in transmission of West Nile virus in Europe

“…Transmission rates of biotype pipiens were within the range of other Cx. pipiens populations in WNV endemic areas (Balenghien et al 2008, Fortuna et al 2015a, Kilpatrick et al 2008). Peak transmission rates of biotype molestus and hybrids were, however, two-to three-fold lower.…”

“…No differences in transmission rates were found between four different autogenous and anautogenous Cx. pipiens populations in Italy (Fortuna et al 2015a). Our study shows that such variation can be partly explained by temperature, but other complex interactions between viral strains, viral titers, and geographically distinct vector populations have been shown to play a role as well (Anderson et al 2010, Fros et al 2015a, Zouache et al 2014).…”

“…pipiens mosquitoes for WNV (Brustolin et al 2016, Fortuna et al 2015a. Furthermore, differences in experimental designs hamper the ability to make direct comparisons between vector competence studies on Cx.…”