Comparison of vector competence of Aedes mediovittatus and Aedes aegypti for dengue virus: implications for dengue control in the Caribbean

B Katherine Poole-Smith; Ryan R Hemme; Mark Delorey; Gilberto Felix; Andrea L Gonzalez; Manuel Amador; Elizabeth A Hunsperger; Roberto Barrera

doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0003462

Comparison of vector competence of Aedes mediovittatus and Aedes aegypti for dengue virus: implications for dengue control in the Caribbean

PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2015 Feb 6;9(2):e0003462. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003462. eCollection 2015 Feb.

Authors

B Katherine Poole-Smith¹, Ryan R Hemme¹, Mark Delorey², Gilberto Felix¹, Andrea L Gonzalez¹, Manuel Amador¹, Elizabeth A Hunsperger¹, Roberto Barrera¹

Affiliations

¹ Dengue Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
² Division of Vector Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America.

Abstract

Background: Aedes mediovittatus mosquitoes are found throughout the Greater Antilles in the Caribbean and often share the same larval habitats with Ae. Aegypti, the primary vector for dengue virus (DENV). Implementation of vector control measures to control dengue that specifically target Ae. Aegypti may not control DENV transmission in Puerto Rico (PR). Even if Ae. Aegypti is eliminated or DENV refractory mosquitoes are released, DENV transmission may not cease when other competent mosquito species like Ae. Mediovittatus are present. To compare vector competence of Ae. Mediovittatus and Ae. Aegypti mosquitoes, we studied relative infection and transmission rates for all four DENV serotypes.

Methods: To compare the vector competence of Ae. Mediovittatus and Ae. Aegypti, mosquitoes were exposed to DENV 1-4 per os at viral titers of 5-6 logs plaque-forming unit (pfu) equivalents. At 14 days post infectious bloodmeal, viral RNA was extracted and tested by qRT-PCR to determine infection and transmission rates. Infection and transmission rates were analyzed with a generalized linear model assuming a binomial distribution.

Results: Ae. Aegypti had significantly higher DENV-4 infection and transmission rates than Ae. mediovittatus.

Conclusions: This study determined that Ae. Mediovittatus is a competent DENV vector. Therefore dengue prevention programs in PR and the Caribbean should consider both Ae. Mediovittatus and Ae. Aegypti mosquitoes in their vector control programs.

Publication types

Comparative Study
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Aedes / virology*
Animals
Caribbean Region
Dengue / prevention & control*
Dengue Virus*
Ecosystem
Humans
Insect Control / methods*
Insect Vectors / virology*
Larva / genetics
Puerto Rico

Grants and funding

The work was funded by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The findings and conclusions of this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.