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. 2018 Jul 13;218(4):563-571.
doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiy196.

Coinfection with Zika Virus (ZIKV) and Dengue Virus Results in Preferential ZIKV Transmission by Vector Bite to Vertebrate Host

Barbara Aparecida Chaves  1   2 , Alessandra Silva Orfano  3 , Paula Monalisa Nogueira  3 , Nilton Barnabe Rodrigues  3 , Thais Bonifácio Campolina  3 , Rafael Nacif-Pimenta  3 , Ana Clara Araújo Machado Pires  3 , Ademir Bentes Vieira Júnior  1 , Andréia da Costa Paz  1 , Evelyn Beatriz da Costa Vaz  1   2 , Maria das Graças Vale Barbosa Guerra  1 , Breno Melo Silva  4 , Fabrício Freire de Melo  5 , Douglas Eric Norris  6 , Marcus Vinícius Guimarães de Lacerda  1   2   7 , Paulo Filemon Paolucci Pimenta  1   2   3 , Nágila Francinete Costa Secundino  2   3
Affiliations

Coinfection with Zika Virus (ZIKV) and Dengue Virus Results in Preferential ZIKV Transmission by Vector Bite to Vertebrate Host

Barbara Aparecida Chaves et al. J Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Several tropical cities are permissive to Aedes aegypti and dengue virus (DENV) endemicity and have allowed for invasion and circulation of Zika virus (ZIKV) in the same areas. People living in arbovirus-endemic regions have been simultaneously infected with ≥2 arboviruses.

Methods: A. aegypti mosquitoes from Manaus, the capital city of Amazonas State in Brazil, were coinfected with circulating strains of DENV and ZIKV. The coinfected vectors were allowed to bite BALB/c mice.

Results: A. aegypti from Manaus is highly permissive to monoinfection and coinfection with DENV and ZIKV and is capable of cotransmitting both pathogens by bite. Coinfection strongly influences vector competence, favoring transmission of ZIKV to the vertebrate host.

Conclusions: This finding suggests that A. aegypti is an efficient vector of ZIKV and that ZIKV would be preferentially transmitted by coinfected A. aegypti. Coinfection in the vector population should be considered a new critical epidemiological factor and may represent a major public health challenge.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Analysis of monoinfection of Aedes aegypti with dengue virus (DENV; blue) and Zika virus (ZIKV; red). The intensity of infection of each experimental group is presented as in the graph as the number of complementary DNA (cDNA) copies per mosquito (top). The infection rate (IR) and the disseminated infection rate (DIR) are represented in the pie charts as the percentage of infected mosquito bodies and heads/salivary glands (SGs). The DIR of DENV was significantly different from that of ZIKV (P = .0022). The intensity of infection for ZIKV was significantly different from that of DENV in the body and head/SG (P < .001).
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Comparative analysis of dengue virus (DENV; blue) and Zika virus (ZIKV; red) presence in coinfected Aedes aegypti. A, The intensity of infection of each experimental group is presented as in the graph as the number of complementary DNA (cDNA) copies per mosquito (top). The infection rate (IR) and the disseminated infection rate (DIR) are represented in the pie charts as the percentage of infected mosquito bodies and heads/salivary glands (SGs). The intensity of infection in the coinfected mosquitoes was significantly greater for ZIKV than for DENV in the bodies (P < .001) and heads/SGs (P = .01). The DIR of DENV was significantly lower than that of ZIKV (P = .0475) in these same mosquitoes. B and C, Relationship between the number of cDNA copies, representing the intensity of infection of DENV and ZIKV, in the body and head/SG of each coinfected A. aegypti, with the intensity of ZIKV infection greater in every instance. D and E, Significantly positive correlation between the intensity of infection of DENV and ZIKV in the bodies and heads/SGs of coinfected A. aegypti.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Dengue virus and Zika virus transmission by bites of coinfected Aedes aegypti. A group of 8 coinfected mosquitoes were placed in a vial with the nylon mesh side against the ears of an anesthetized BALB/c mouse. Mosquitoes can be seen probing on the right ear of the mouse. The mosquito-exposed region of the left ear is visible after removing the plastic feeding vial (white arrows).
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Diagram showing the main steps of the experimental protocol of Aedes aegypti coinfection with Zika virus and dengue virus. Abbreviations: cDNA, complementary DNA; DENV, dengue virus; qPCR, quantitative polymerase chain reaction; ZIKV, Zika virus
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