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International Journal of Molecular... Aug 2021Arthropod-borne viruses, referred to collectively as arboviruses, infect millions of people worldwide each year and have the potential to cause severe disease. They are... (Review)
Review
Arthropod-borne viruses, referred to collectively as arboviruses, infect millions of people worldwide each year and have the potential to cause severe disease. They are predominately transmitted to humans through blood-feeding behavior of three main groups of biting arthropods: ticks, mosquitoes, and sandflies. The pathogens harbored by these blood-feeding arthropods (BFA) are transferred to animal hosts through deposition of virus-rich saliva into the skin. Sometimes these infections become systemic and can lead to neuro-invasion and life-threatening viral encephalitis. Factors intrinsic to the arboviral vectors can greatly influence the pathogenicity and virulence of infections, with mounting evidence that BFA saliva and salivary proteins can shift the trajectory of viral infection in the host. This review provides an overview of arbovirus infection and ways in which vectors influence viral pathogenesis. In particular, we focus on how saliva and salivary gland extracts from the three dominant arbovirus vectors impact the trajectory of the cellular immune response to arbovirus infection in the skin.
Topics: Animals; Arbovirus Infections; Arboviruses; Arthropod Vectors; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Saliva
PubMed: 34502092
DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179173 -
Viruses Jan 2022Alphaviruses () are arthropod-borne viruses responsible for several emerging diseases, maintained in nature through transmission between hematophagous arthropod vectors...
Alphaviruses () are arthropod-borne viruses responsible for several emerging diseases, maintained in nature through transmission between hematophagous arthropod vectors and susceptible vertebrate hosts. Although bats harbor many species of viruses, their role as reservoir hosts in emergent zoonoses has been verified only in a few cases. With bats being the second most diverse order of mammals, their implication in arbovirus infections needs to be elucidated. Reports on arbovirus infections in bats are scarce, especially in South American indigenous species. In this work, we report the genomic detection and identification of two different alphaviruses in oral swabs from bats captured in Northern Uruguay. Phylogenetic analysis identified Río Negro virus (RNV) in two different species: ( = 6) and spp. ( = 1) and eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) in spp. ( = 2). Previous studies of our group identified RNV and EEEV in mosquitoes and horse serology, suggesting that they may be circulating in enzootic cycles in our country. Our findings reveal that bats can be infected by these arboviruses and that chiropterans could participate in the viral natural cycle as virus amplifiers or dead-end hosts. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the role of these mammals in the biological cycle of these alphaviruses in Uruguay.
Topics: Alphavirus; Alphavirus Infections; Animals; Arbovirus Infections; Arboviruses; Chiroptera; Encephalitis Virus, Eastern Equine; Phylogeny; Uruguay
PubMed: 35215862
DOI: 10.3390/v14020269 -
Viruses Nov 2020The continuing emergence of arbovirus disease outbreaks around the world, despite the use of vector control strategies, warrants the development of new strategies to... (Review)
Review
The continuing emergence of arbovirus disease outbreaks around the world, despite the use of vector control strategies, warrants the development of new strategies to reduce arbovirus transmission. Superinfection exclusion, a phenomenon whereby a primary virus infection prevents the replication of a second closely related virus, has potential to control arbovirus disease emergence and outbreaks. This phenomenon has been observed for many years in plants, insects and mammalian cells. In this review, we discuss the significance of identifying novel vector control strategies, summarize studies exploring arbovirus superinfection exclusion and consider the potential for this phenomenon to be the basis for novel arbovirus control strategies.
Topics: Animals; Arbovirus Infections; Arboviruses; Culicidae; Humans; Mosquito Control; Mosquito Vectors; Superinfection; Virus Replication
PubMed: 33167513
DOI: 10.3390/v12111259 -
Parasites & Vectors Apr 2023This meeting report presents the key findings and discussion points of a 3-h virtual workshop, held on 21 September 2022, and organized by the "Resilience Against Future...
This meeting report presents the key findings and discussion points of a 3-h virtual workshop, held on 21 September 2022, and organized by the "Resilience Against Future Threats through Vector Control (RAFT)" research consortium. The workshop aimed to identify priorities for advancing arbovirus research, network and capacity strengthening in Africa. Due to increasing human population growth, urbanization and global movement (trade, tourism, travel), mosquito-borne arboviral diseases, such as dengue, Chikungunya and Zika, are increasing globally in their distribution and prevalence. This report summarizes the presentations that reviewed the current status of arboviruses in Africa, including: (i) key findings from the recent WHO/Special Programme for Research & Training in Tropical Diseases (WHO/TDR) survey in 47 African countries that revealed deep and widespread shortfalls in the capacity to cope with arbovirus outbreak preparedness, surveillance and control; (ii) the value of networking in this context, with examples of African countries regarding arbovirus surveillance; and (iii) the main priorities identified by the breakout groups on "research gaps", "networks" and "capacity strengthening".
Topics: Animals; Humans; Aedes; Arbovirus Infections; Arboviruses; Chikungunya Fever; Dengue; Mosquito Vectors; Zika Virus; Zika Virus Infection
PubMed: 37059998
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05748-7 -
Parasites & Vectors Jun 2023Odour-baited traps are useful for vector surveillance and control. However, most existing traps have shown inconsistent recapture rates across different mosquito...
BACKGROUND
Odour-baited traps are useful for vector surveillance and control. However, most existing traps have shown inconsistent recapture rates across different mosquito species, necessitating the need for more effective and efficient traps. The MTego trap with integrated thermal stimuli has been developed as an alternative trap. This study was undertaken to determine and compare the efficacy of the MTego trap to that of the Biogents (BG) modular BG-Pro (BGP) trap for sampling different mosquito species in a semi-field system.
METHODS
Fully balanced Latin square design experiments (no-choice and dual choice) were conducted in semi-field chambers using laboratory-reared female Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto, Anopheles funestus, Anopheles arabiensis, Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti. There were 16 replicates, and 50 mosquitoes of each species were released in each chamber per replicate. The evaluated traps were as follows: the MTego trap baited with PM6 (MT-PM6), the MTego trap baited with BG-Lure (BGL) (MT-BGL), and the BGP trap baited with BG-Lure (BGP-BGL).
RESULTS
In the no-choice test, the MT-BGL and BGP-BGL traps captured a similar proportion of An. gambiae (31% vs 29%, P-value = 0.519) and An. funestus (32% vs 33%, P = 0.520). The MT-PM6 and BGP-BGL traps showed no significant difference in capturing Ae. aegypti (33% vs 31%, P = 0.324). However, the BGP-BGL caught more An. arabiensis and Cx. quinquefasciatus mosquitoes than the other traps (P < 0.0001). In the dual-choice test of MT-PM6 vs BGP-BGL, similar proportions of An. funestus (25% vs 27%, P = 0.473) and Ae. aegypti (29% vs 25%, P = 0.264) were captured in the traps, while the BGP-BGL captured more An. gambiae, An. arabiensis and Cx. quinquefasciatus mosquitoes than the MT-PM6 (P < 0.0001).
CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated that the MTego trap has potential as a tool that can be used interchangeably with the BGP trap for sampling anthropophilic mosquitoes including African malaria vectors An. gambiae and An. funestus and the principal arbovirus vector Ae. aegypti.
Topics: Animals; Female; Mosquito Vectors; Arboviruses; Mosquito Control; Odorants; Anopheles; Malaria
PubMed: 37370169
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05835-9 -
Veterinary Medicine and Science Sep 2022Akabane virus (AKAV) is a teratogenic and neuropathogenic arbovirus that infects livestock and wild animals. AKAVs are endemic arboviruses from dairy farms in Taiwan in...
BACKGROUND
Akabane virus (AKAV) is a teratogenic and neuropathogenic arbovirus that infects livestock and wild animals. AKAVs are endemic arboviruses from dairy farms in Taiwan in 1989, and the first sequence was detected in cattle with nonsuppurative encephalitis in 1992.
OBJECTIVES
This study aims to understand the epidemiological relationships of the akabane viruses between Taiwan and nearby places.
METHODS
In this study, 17 specimens were identified or isolated from vector insects, and ruminant fetuses collected from 1992 to 2015 were sequenced and analysed.
RESULTS
Sequence analyses revealed all Taiwanese AKAVs belonged to genogroup Ia but diverged into two clusters in the phylogenetic trees, implying that at least two invasive events of AKAV may have occurred in Taiwan.
CONCLUSIONS
The two clusters of AKAVs could still be identified in Taiwan in 2015, and a reassortment event was observed, indicating that the two clusters of AKAVs are already endemic in Taiwan.
Topics: Animals; Arboviruses; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Molecular Epidemiology; Orthobunyavirus; Phylogeny; Taiwan
PubMed: 35971895
DOI: 10.1002/vms3.887 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2023Among many medically important pathogens, arboviruses like dengue, Zika and chikungunya cause severe health and economic burdens especially in developing countries.... (Review)
Review
Among many medically important pathogens, arboviruses like dengue, Zika and chikungunya cause severe health and economic burdens especially in developing countries. These viruses are primarily vectored by mosquitoes. Having surmounted geographical barriers and threat of control strategies, these vectors continue to conquer many areas of the globe exposing more than half of the world's population to these viruses. Unfortunately, no medical interventions have been capable so far to produce successful vaccines or antivirals against many of these viruses. Thus, vector control remains the fundamental strategy to prevent disease transmission. The long-established understanding regarding the replication of these viruses is that they reshape both human and mosquito host cellular membranes upon infection for their replicative benefit. This leads to or is a result of significant alterations in lipid metabolism. Metabolism involves complex chemical reactions in the body that are essential for general physiological functions and survival of an organism. Finely tuned metabolic homeostases are maintained in healthy organisms. However, a simple stimulus like a viral infection can alter this homeostatic landscape driving considerable phenotypic change. Better comprehension of these mechanisms can serve as innovative control strategies against these vectors and viruses. Here, we review the metabolic basis of fundamental mosquito biology and virus-vector interactions. The cited work provides compelling evidence that targeting metabolism can be a paradigm shift and provide potent tools for vector control as well as tools to answer many unresolved questions and gaps in the field of arbovirology.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Dengue Virus; Aedes; Arboviruses; Zika Virus; Zika Virus Infection
PubMed: 37360524
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1128577 -
Viruses Jun 2020Infections due to arboviruses (arthropod-borne viruses) have dramatically increased worldwide during the last few years. In humans, symptoms associated with acute... (Review)
Review
Infections due to arboviruses (arthropod-borne viruses) have dramatically increased worldwide during the last few years. In humans, symptoms associated with acute infection of most arboviruses are often described as "dengue-like syndrome", including fever, rash, conjunctivitis, arthralgia, and muscular symptoms such as myalgia, myositis, or rhabdomyolysis. In some cases, muscular symptoms may persist over months, especially following flavivirus and alphavirus infections. However, in humans the cellular targets of infection in muscle have been rarely identified. Animal models provide insights to elucidate pathological mechanisms through studying viral tropism, viral-induced inflammation, or potential viral persistence in the muscle compartment. The tropism of arboviruses for muscle cells as well as the viral-induced cytopathic effect and cellular alterations can be confirmed in vitro using cellular models. This review describes the link between muscle alterations and arbovirus infection, and the underlying mechanisms.
Topics: Animals; Arbovirus Infections; Arboviruses; Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; Humans; Muscles; Muscular Diseases
PubMed: 32516914
DOI: 10.3390/v12060616 -
Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases... Feb 2020Two species of mosquitoes ( and ) are primary vectors for emerging arboviruses that are a significant threat to public health and economic burden worldwide.... (Review)
Review
Two species of mosquitoes ( and ) are primary vectors for emerging arboviruses that are a significant threat to public health and economic burden worldwide. Distribution of these vectors and the associated arboviruses, such as dengue virus, chikungunya virus, yellow fever virus, and Zika virus, was for a long time restricted by geographical, ecological, and biological factors. Presently, arbovirus emergence and dispersion are more rapid and geographically widespread, largely due to expansion of the range for these two mosquitoes that have exploited the global transportation network, land perturbation, and failure to contain the mosquito population coupled with enhanced vector competence. and may also sustain transmission between humans without having to depend on their natural reservoir forest cycles due to arthropod adaptation to urbanization. Currently, there is no single strategy that is adequate to control these vectors, especially when managing arbovirus outbreaks. This review aimed at presenting the characteristics and abilities of and , which can drive a global public health risk, and suggests strategies for prevention and control. This review presents the geographic range, reproduction and ecology, vector competence, genetic evolution, and biological and chemical control of these two mosquito species and how they have changed and developed over time combined with factors that may drive pandemics and mitigation measures. We suggest that more efforts should be geared toward the development of a concerted multidisciplinary approach.
Topics: Aedes; Animal Distribution; Animals; Arbovirus Infections; Arboviruses; Humans; Mosquito Control; Mosquito Vectors; Pandemics; Risk Factors
PubMed: 31556813
DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2019.2486 -
Virus Research Mar 2024The Oropouche virus is an important arthropod-borne virus in the Peribunyaviridae family that can cause febrile illnesses, and it is widely distributed in tropical... (Review)
Review
The Oropouche virus is an important arthropod-borne virus in the Peribunyaviridae family that can cause febrile illnesses, and it is widely distributed in tropical regions such as Central and South America. Since the virus was first identified, a large number of related cases are reported every year. No deaths have been reported to date, however, the virus can cause systemic infections, including the nervous and blood systems, leading to serious complications. The transmission of Oropouche virus occurs through both urban and sylvatic cycles, with the anthropophilic biting midge Culicoides paraensis serving as the primary vector in urban areas. Direct human-to-human transmission of Oropouche virus has not been observed. Oropouche virus consists of three segments, and the proteins encoded by the different segments enables the virus to replicate efficiently in the host and to resist the host's immune response. Phylogenetic analyses showed that Oropouche virus sequences are geographically distinct and have closer homologies with Iquitos virus and Perdoes virus, which belong to the family Peribunyaviridae. Despite the enormous threat it poses to public health, there are currently no licensed vaccines or specific antiviral treatments for the disease it causes. Recent studies have utilised imJatobal virusmunoinformatics approaches to develop epitope-based peptide vaccines, which have laid the groundwork for the clinical use of vaccines. The present review focuses on the structure, epidemiology, immunity and phylogeny of Oropouche virus, as well as the progress of vaccine development, thereby attracting wider attention and research, particularly with regard to potential vaccine programs.
Topics: Humans; Arboviruses; Phylogeny; Orthobunyavirus; Vaccines; Bunyaviridae Infections
PubMed: 38224842
DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2024.199318