Report of natural Mayaro virus infection in Mansonia humeralis (Dyar & Knab, Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract

Background Arboviruses are a group of viruses transmitted to vertebrate hosts by certain blood-feeding arthropods. Among urban vectors of arboviruses, mosquitoes of the genus Aedes are the most common. However, other mosquitoes may be susceptible to infection and involved in the transmission, such as Mansonia spp. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether Mansonia humeralis can be infected with the Mayaro virus (MAYV). Methods These insects were collected from 2018 to 2020 in chicken coops of rural communities in Jaci Paraná in Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil, while performing blood-feeding on roosters. The mosquitoes were randomly grouped in pools from which the head and thorax were macerated and checked for the presence of MAYV by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The positive pools were used to infect the C6/36 cell line, and on different days post-infection, the supernatant of the infected cells was subjected to viral detection by RT-qPCR. Results A total of 183 pools of female mosquitoes were tested, of which 18% were positive for MAYV; some samples from insect pools inoculated into C6/36 cells showed in vitro multiplication capacity between 3 and 7 days post-infection. Conclusions This is the first report of Ma. humeralis mosquitoes that are naturally infected by MAYV, indicating that these vectors may be potential transmitting agents of this arbovirus. Graphical Abstract

Trends of Mansonia (Diptera, Culicidae, Mansoniini) in Porto Velho: Seasonal patterns and meteorological influences

“…The genus Mansonia was the most abundant in the study and is known to cause nuisance to surrounding human populations. Although this group of mosquitoes is not yet considered a competent disease vector in Brazil [ 11 ], field tests revealed the positivity of some specimens for the Mayaro virus [ 26 ], indicating the need for further investigation into its epidemiological importance for the region.…”

Bacterial diversity on larval and female Mansonia spp. from different localities of Porto Velho, Rondonia, Brazil

“…Although Mansonia mosquitoes are not considered the primary vectors of arboviruses, some were found naturally infected with the Western Equine Encephalitis virus in Argentina [39]. In Brazil, Mansonia humeralis was found infected with the Mayaro virus in Rondonia State, Brazil [40], Mansonia indubitans and Mansonia titillans with Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis virus in Peru [41] and Venezuela [42]. Besides, Mansonia (Mansonioides) species can be vectors of (1) Wuchereria bancrofti in Indonesia [43], Ghana [44], and (2) Rift Valley virus in East Africa [45].…”

Diet composition affects the rearing of Mansonia humeralis (Diptera: Culicidae) immatures under laboratory conditions

“…Although there have been no reports of arboviruses transmitted by this mosquito in Brazil, there is a report of a new virus from the Tymoviridae family, named the Mutum virus, in Mansonia mosquitoes collected near the Jirau hydroelectric Power Plant on the Mutum Paraná River (Miranda et al, 2022). Additionally, another study conducted by Sousa et al (2023) documented the natural infection of the Mayaro virus in Mansonia humeralis Dyar & Knab 1916, detected through RT-qPCR.…”