A study on the role of aedes mosquitoes in arboviruses and SARS-CoV-2 infection: A new challenge

Abstract

Chikungunya, Zika, Dengue Viruses, and now Novel Coronavirus are global health challenges that cause human diseases ranging from febrile illnesses to death. Most of these viruses are mainly vectored by Aedes mosquitoes worldwide. Molecular detection of arboviruses was made in female Aedes mosquito pools caught from all the seven districts by using a reliable molecular technique, "RT-PCR." From 216 collections of Aedes species, arboviruses were detected in 27, including only Alphavirus genus to determine mosquito abundance and evaluate the potential role of Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitoes in arboviruses and nvel Coronavirus transmission. 5322 mosquitoes were collected using aspirators; 35.31% (n = 2049) were identified as female Aedes using morphological keys, pooled into 216 pools, and tested for arboviruses and coronaviruses by using RT-PCR with the help of specific primers. Novel Coronavirus was not detected in this study. Only the Flavivirus genus was detected in twenty-seven pools giving an infection rate of 62.96% (n = 17) for DENV2, while DENV3 was 37.03% (n = 10). Furthermore, our results indicated no role of mosquitoes in the spread of Covid-19. Results showed a higher infection rate in urban sites than in rural ones. The detection of arboviruses indicates possible human health risk due to active role of these mosquitoes in spreading of arbovirus in the study area.

Keywords: Aedes aegypti; Aedes albopictus; Arboviruses; Dengue; Mosquito; Novel coronavirus; RT-PCR.

Fig. 1

Map of the Punjab, Pakistan, showing the districts selected for collection of mosquitoes.

Fig. 2

Relationship of different physical factors with mosquito population as a whole and Aedes mosquitoes.

Fig. 3

Visualization of RT-PCR product of the arbovivirus and Coronavirus M: Marker(1000 bp), The expected size of amplicon was 220 bp. Samples 1,3,4, 7, 8, and 9 were positive for Flavivirus, while samples 2, 5, and 6 were negative for any arbovivirus and Coronavirus.

Fig. 4

Visualization of RT-PCR products for Dengue virus. The expected PCR product size was 119 bp for DENV2 and 290 bp for DENV3.M: DNA marker (1000 bp). Samples 1, 2, 5,6, and 9 were positive for DENV2, while samples 3, 4, and 7 were positive for DENV3.