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Aedini Mosquito-Borne Disease Outbreaks

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A special issue of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease (ISSN 2414-6366). This special issue belongs to the section "Vector-Borne Diseases".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2023) | Viewed by 11275

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Dr. Jeronimo Alencar

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Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
Interests: culicidae; ecology; biology; taxonomy; vectors; yellow fever; malaria
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Sergio Lisboa Machado

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Guest Editor

Laboratório de Diagnóstico Molecular e Hematologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-913, Brazil
Interests: virology; infectious diseases diagnostics; molecular biology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Limited knowledge of the structure and composition of the highly diverse rainforest fauna is one of the factors behind the incomplete picture of tropical mosquito populations. Furthermore, the rapid destruction of habitats may cause species extinction before they are discovered and described by science. Mosquitoes have attracted considerable attention due to their role in the transmission of many important pathogens, such as arboviruses (e.g., Zika, dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever) and malaria, contributing to serious public health problems. Assessing the biocenosis of mosquito communities is of fundamental importance in areas where the environment has been experiencing the disruption of natural balances. For this reason, it is crucial to understand vector communities and eventually their hosts, aiming at a global assessment of the transmission risk of etiological agents.

Mosquitoes of the tribe Aedini are important vectors in the transmission of diseases to humans and animals; as an example, there are more than 500 types of globally distributed arboviruses causing illness in humans, including dengue, yellow fever, zika, and chikungunya; in humans, horses or rodents, such as Venezuelan encephalitis; or just in animals, such as the Bluetongue virus in deer. In recent years, we have faced an increase in the insect population and in the spread of many diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, in addition to disease outbreaks. This is a consequence of factors such as climate change, low investment in health measures including vector control, and the mass displacement of populations, whether for international events or when abandoning a country in conflict.

One of the ways to control the spread of mosquito-borne diseases is to identify these vectors, evaluate their behavior, and monitor their richness and abundance in the areas where they circulate. It is also critical to determine their potential food sources and if the mosquitoes are infected.

On this basis, the focus of the present Special Issue is on Aedini vectors, and particularly manuscripts addressing their ecology, the use of molecular tools for identification, food sources, diseases transmitted, and epidemiological data.

Dr. Jeronimo Alencar
Dr. Sergio Lisboa Machado
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

aedini mosquito-borne disease
bionomics and relation to disease
influence of climate change
disease ecology
landscape ecology

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 1782 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study on Morphological Changes and Interference in the Development of Aedes aegypti Caused by Some Essential Oil Constituents

by Michele Teixeira Serdeiro, Thiago Dutra Dias, Natanael Teles Ramos de Lima, José Maria Barbosa-Filho, Renato de Souza Belato, Jacenir Reis dos Santos-Mallet and Marise Maleck

Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(9), 440; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8090440 - 07 Sep 2023

Viewed by 1089

Abstract

Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika are arboviruses, transmitted by the mosquito Aedes aegypti, that cause high mortality and serious health consequences in human populations. Efforts to control Ae. aegypti are important for preventing outbreaks of these diseases. Essential oil constituents are known to exhibit many activities, such as their use as larvicides. Given their potential, the present study aimed to characterize the larvicidal effect of dihydrojasmone, p-cymene, carvacrol, thymol, farnesol and nerolidol on the larvae of Ae. aegypti and their interference over the morphology of the mosquitos. The essential oil constituents were dissolved in dimethylsulfoxide at concentrations of 1–100 μg/mL and were applied in the breeding environment of third-stage larvae. The larvae from bioassays were fixed, dehydrated and embedded. Ultrathin sections were contrasted using 5% uranyl acetate and 1% lead citrate for observation through transmission electron microscopy. The oil with the highest larvicidal efficiency was found to be nerolidol, followed by farnesol, p-cymene, carvacrol, thymol and dihydrojasmone, with an LC₅₀ of 11, 21, 23, 40, 45 and 66 µg/mL, respectively. The treated Ae. aegypti larvae caused alteration to the tegument or internal portions of larvae. The present study demonstrated which of these oils—dihydrojasmone, farnesol, thymol, p-cymene, carvacrol and nerolidol—have effective larvicidal activity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aedini Mosquito-Borne Disease Outbreaks)

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13 pages, 6182 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Physical Attributes of Tree Holes in the Atlantic Forest Edges: Evaluating Their Association with the Presence and Abundance of Immature Haemagogus leucocelaenus

by Rosa Maria Tubaki, Regiane Maria Tironi de Menezes, Mariana Rocha David, Raquel Gardini Sanches Palasio, Osny Tadeu de Aguiar, João Batista Baitello, Vagner Oliveira Santos, Natália Balbino and Francisco Chiaravalloti-Neto

Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(7), 337; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8070337 - 25 Jun 2023

Viewed by 933

Abstract

Sylvatic yellow fever (SYF) was recently a health issue in Brazil (2016–2019) because transmission was facilitated by a high density of vectors, amplifying hosts, and low vaccine coverage of the human population, especially in urban forests in the Southeast Region of Brazil. Moreover, urban forest edges are more likely to have contact between human and sylvatic vector mosquito populations. Here, we show the association between abiotic and biotic features of tree holes as Haemagogus leucocelaenus rearing sites in Cantareira State Park in Atlantic Forest edges. The analyzed physical features of the tree holes were diameter at breast height, tree hole opening diameter, depth, trunk diameter, tree hole volume, collected volume, height (varying from 0.02 to 4.2 m above ground), and the presence of Culicidae species other than Hg. leucocelaenus. We analyzed 105 positive and 68 negative water samples for larval presence and found no differences between them, suggesting the lack of specific physical characteristics in these categories. Hg. leucocelaenus larval abundance was correlated with the collected volume and opening diameter of tree holes. The tree species that most represented negative breeding sites were Euplassa cantareirae, Guarea macrophylla, Psychotria suterella, and Tibouchina pulchra. Four significant clusters as areas with a high risk of SYV were identified by Get-Ordis spatial analysis. Although Hg. leucocelaenus larvae were found in tree holes with high water levels, their occurrence was regulated by that of other mosquito species. Our findings contribute to clarifying immature vector ecology in tree holes related to human exposure to SYF in urban forest edges. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aedini Mosquito-Borne Disease Outbreaks)

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12 pages, 1916 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Importance of Entomo-Virological Investigation of Yellow Fever Virus to Strengthen Surveillance in Brazil

by Ana Cecília Ribeiro Cruz, Leonardo Henrique Almeida Hernández, Carine Fortes Aragão, Thito Yan Bezerra da Paz, Sandro Patroca da Silva, Fábio Silva da Silva, Ana Alice de Aquino, Glennda Juscely Galvão Pereira Cereja, Bruna Lais Sena do Nascimento, José Wilson Rosa Junior, Carmeci Natalina Elias, Cristiano Gomes Nogueira, Daniel Garkauskas Ramos, Vagner Fonseca, Marta Giovanetti, Luiz Carlos Junior Alcantara, Bruno Tardelli Diniz Nunes, Pedro F. da Costa Vasconcelos, Livia Carício Martins and Joaquim Pinto Nunes-Neto

Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(6), 329; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8060329 - 20 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1491

Abstract

The largest outbreak of sylvatic yellow fever virus (YFV) in eight decades was recorded in Brazil between 2016–2018. Besides human and NHP surveillance, the entomo-virological approach is considered as a complementary tool. For this study, a total of 2904 mosquitoes of the Aedes, Haemagogus and Sabethes genera were collected from six Brazilian states (Bahia, Goiás, Mato Grosso, Minas Gerais, Pará, and Tocantins) and grouped into 246 pools, which were tested for YFV using RT-qPCR. We detected 20 positive pools from Minas Gerais, 5 from Goiás, and 1 from Bahia, including 12 of Hg. janthinomys and 5 of Ae. albopictus. This is the first description of natural YFV infection in this species and warns of the likelihood of urban YFV re-emergence with Ae. albopictus as a potential bridge vector. Three YFV sequences from Hg. janthinomys from Goiás and one from Minas Gerais, as well as one from Ae. albopictus from Minas Gerais were clustered within the 2016–2018 outbreak clade, indicating YFV spread from Midwest and its infection in a main and likely novel bridging vector species. Entomo-virological surveillance is critical for YFV monitoring in Brazil, which could highlight the need to strengthen YFV surveillance, vaccination coverage, and vector control measures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aedini Mosquito-Borne Disease Outbreaks)

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10 pages, 2810 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Vertical Distribution of Oviposition and Temporal Segregation of Arbovirus Vector Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in a Fragment of the Atlantic Forest, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

by Rayane Dias, Cecilia Ferreira de Mello, Gabriel Silva Santos, Ana Laura Carbajal-de-la-Fuente and Jeronimo Alencar

Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(5), 256; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8050256 - 29 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1284

Abstract

Culicid species, which include potential vectors of yellow fever, are diverse and abundant, with species commonly co-occurring in certain sites. Studying these species can provide important insights into their vector potential and, consequently, epizootic cycles of arboviruses carried about by these vectors. Here, we evaluated the vertical distribution and temporal segregation of mosquito oviposition with emphasis on arbovirus vectors in a fragment of the Atlantic Forest in Casimiro de Abreu, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Two sampling points were selected: Fazenda Três Montes and the Reserva Natural de Propriedade Privada Morro Grande. Collections were carried out at two sites using 10 ovitraps installed on the vegetation cover at different heights (0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 m above ground level) and monitored monthly from July 2018 to December 2020. The hypotheses of temporal and vertical stratification were tested through a PERMANOVA, and the relationship of each species with the vertical distribution was evaluated individually through a correlation analysis. We collected a total of 3075 eggs, including four species of medical importance: Haemagogus leucocelaenus (n = 1513), Haemagogus janthinomys (n = 16), Aedes albopictus (n = 1097), and Aedes terrens (n = 449). We found that Hg. leucocelaenus had a positive relationship with height, exhibiting behavior that appears to benefit from higher heights. The abundance of Ae. terrens seemed to follow Hg. leucocelaenus, although we did not find a relationship with height for the former species. On the other hand, Ae. albopictus exhibited a negative relationship with height, becoming absent or outnumbered at higher strata. Our study site has already presented evidence of recent transmission of the wild yellow fever virus, supporting the need to carefully monitor the emergence of febrile diseases among residents in the surrounding areas and the local population. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aedini Mosquito-Borne Disease Outbreaks)

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10 pages, 2298 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nanobody-Based Blocking of Binding ELISA for the Detection of Anti-NS1 Zika-Virus-Specific Antibodies in Convalescent Patients

by Triana Delfin-Riela, Martín A. Rossotti, Giada Mattiuzzo, César Echaides and Gualberto González-Sapienza

Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(1), 55; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8010055 - 10 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1915

Abstract

Zika virus has spread around the world with rapid pace in the last five years. Although symptoms are typically mild and unspecific, Zika’s major impact occurs during pregnancy, generating a congenital syndrome. Serology plays a key role in its diagnosis. However, its use is limited due to the uncertainty caused by the cross-reaction of antibodies elicited in response to other flavivirus infections when tested in direct immunoassays. Using a panel of previously generated anti-Zika non-structural protein 1 (NS1) nanobodies, a set was selected that only recognizes epitopes present in Zika and is immunogenic to humans. A proper arrangement of these nanobodies was made and conditions were optimized in order to develop a novel serology assay. This new ELISA relies on the inhibition of the binding of a set of selected nanobodies to Zika-immobilized NS1 when previously incubated with Zika convalescent sera. Using the developed blocking of binding assay, it was possible to discriminate between Zika-specific and cross-reactive antibodies in serum samples from infections with Zika and other flaviviruses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aedini Mosquito-Borne Disease Outbreaks)

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13 pages, 804 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Mosquito Fauna and Spatial Distribution in an Atlantic Forest Area in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, Reveal a High Risk of Transmission of Yellow Fever and Other Arboviruses

by Rafaella Moraes de Miranda, Anielly Ferreira-de-Brito, Júlia dos Santos Silva, Alexandre da Silva Xavier, Shayenne Olsson Freitas Silva, Jeronimo Alencar and Ricardo Lourenço-de-Oliveira

Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2022, 7(12), 410; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed7120410 - 30 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1456

Abstract

In 2017–2019, Brazil recorded its most severe outbreak of yellow fever due to the spread of the virus (YFV) in the country’s southeast. Here, we investigated mosquito fauna and the spatial distribution of species in a primatology center in the Atlantic Forest bioregion in Rio de Janeiro state to evaluate the risk of YFV transmission in distinct environments. Fortnightly mosquito collections were performed from December 2018 to December 2019 at 12 sites along a disturbance gradient from a modified environment to 400 m inside the forest. We used ovitraps, BG-Sentinel, and protected human attraction (PHA). A total of 9349 mosquitoes of 21 species were collected. The collection method strongly influenced the captured fauna, with species such as Anopheles cruzii, Psorophora ferox, Runchomyia cerqueirai, Wyeomyia incaudata, Wy. theobaldi, Sabethes chloropterus, and Sa. albiprivus only collected via PHA. Collections with ovitraps resulted in low diversity and richness, with Haemagogus leucocelaenus and Hg. janthinomys/capricornii predominating. The diverse local fauna and the abundance and ubiquity of the latter species, which are the primary vectors of YFV, indicated that this area was highly vulnerable to arbovirus transmission, especially yellow fever, highlighting the need for improved surveillance and vaccination coverage in human and captive endangered non-human primates. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aedini Mosquito-Borne Disease Outbreaks)

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10 pages, 2622 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Interaction of Haemagogus leucocelaenus (Diptera: Culicidae) and Other Mosquito Vectors in a Forested Area, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

by Shayenne Olsson Freitas Silva, Cecilia Ferreira de Mello, Sergio Lisboa Machado, Paulo José Leite and Jeronimo Alencar

Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2022, 7(6), 94; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed7060094 - 08 Jun 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1770

Abstract

The yellow fever (YF) virus has been detected throughout Brazil, with the occurrence of human cases, cyclic epizootics, and its isolation from Haemagogus janthinomys and Hg. leucocelaenus. We assessed the seasonal occurrence, egg abundancy, and oviposition interaction of mosquito vector species captured at a Private Natural Heritage Reserve in the Atlantic Forest biome. A total of 2943 eggs and 1538 mosquito larvae were collected from which 1231 belonged to entomologically important species. Ovitraps were used to collect immature mosquitoes from September 2019 to January 2021. The Mann–Whitney test was used to assess the differences in the abundance of eggs between rainy and dry seasons. Kruskal–Wallis and Dunn’s post hoc tests were used to evaluate the significance of the differences in the number of individuals from vector species. The highest percentage of mosquito vector eggs were collected during the rainy season, from December to February. Most eggs recovered from ovitraps belonged to the species Hg. leucocelaenus, representing 85% of all mosquito eggs identified. The other species had lower abundances and percentages: Aedes terrens (7%), Haemagogus janthinomys (5%) and Aedes albopictus (3%). The species that shared breeding sites with a higher frequency were Hg. leucocelaenus and Hg. janthinomys, with a statistically positive correlation (ρ = 0.74). This finding suggests that maybe the presence of Hg. leucocelaenus eggs acted as an attractant for Hg. janthinomys or vice versa. An understanding of mosquito oviposition behavior is necessary for the development of surveillance and control approaches directed against specific pathogen vectors of medical and veterinary importance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aedini Mosquito-Borne Disease Outbreaks)

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