Identification of Aedes (Diptera: Culicidae) Species and Arboviruses Circulating in Arauca, Eastern Colombia

Abstract

The identification of vector species and their natural infection with arboviruses results in important data for the control of their transmission. However, for the eastern region of Colombia, this information is limited. Therefore, this study morphologically and molecularly identified species of the genus Aedes and the detection of arboviruses (Dengue, Chikungunya, Zika, and Mayaro) in female mosquitoes (individually) present in three municipalities (Saravena, Arauquita, and Tame) by amplifying the genetic material using RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction) in the department of Arauca, eastern Colombia. Inconsistencies between morphological and molecular identification were detected in 13 individuals with Aedes albopictus initially determined as Aedes aegypti based on morphology (n = 13). Molecular identification showed the simultaneous presence of A. aegypti (n = 111) and A. albopictus (n = 58) in the urban municipalities of Saravena and Arauquita. These individuals were naturally infected with Dengue virus type 1 (DENV-1) and Chikungunya virus (CHIKV). The most frequent arbovirus was DENV-1 with an infection rate of 40.7% (11/27) for A. aegypti and 39.7% (23/58) for A. albopictus, which was followed by CHIKV with an infection rate of 1.8% for A. aegypti (2/111) and 6.9% for A. albopictus (4/58). Additionally, a mixed infection of DENV-1 and CHIKV was obtained in 4.5% of A. aegypti (5/111). Zika virus (ZIKV) and Mayaro virus (MAYV) infections were not detected. This study found that barcoding (fragment gene COI) is a successful method for identifying Aedes species. Additionally, we recommend the individual processing of insects as a more accurate strategy for arboviruses detection since the infection rate is obtained and co-infection between DENV-1 and CHIKV is also possible.

Pathogens, reservoirs, and vectors involved in the transmission of vector-borne and zoonotic diseases in a Colombian region

“…This lack of virus dengue detection is probably due to the low number of mosquitoes collected. However, in other studies carried out in the same location (San Joaquin, La Mesa) [ 11 ] and in Arauca, Colombia [ 90 ] and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia [ 91 ], dengue virus was detected in the sampling between 52 and 148 Aedes mosquitoes. These findings show that in this municipality there are both vector and potential reservoir species, which are or could be implicated in the maintenance of the life cycles of several vector-borne diseases such as leishmaniasis and Chagas disease.…”

Association of Midgut Bacteria and Their Metabolic Pathways with Zika Infection and Insecticide Resistance in Colombian Aedes aegypti Populations

“…aegypti populations from Medellín between 2017 and 2018 with rates of 2.5% to 36.9% [ 10 , 73 ]. Although a low or even null incidence of ZIKV for the Americas [ 74 ] and Colombia has been reported [ 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 ] during recent years (2019 to 2022), epidemiological surveillance must continue because of the uncertainty of the interaction within epidemic cycles with other arboviruses such as DENV and CHIKV [ 13 , 79 , 80 ].…”

Distribution and mitochondrial CO1-based genetic diversity of Aedes aegypti L (Culicidae: Diptera) in Saudi Arabia

“…The genus Aedes contains more than 190 species of mosquitoes worldwide and is an important subject for studying disease management strategies of pests ( Gupta et al, 2012 , Martínez et al, 2020 ). Needed information about its biology, dispersal rate, the ability of disease transmission and major seasons of high prevalence are required ( Mourya et al, 2001 , Angel and Joshi, 2008 ).…”