Aedes Albopictus (Asian Tiger Mosquito) as a vector for Zika Virus

[Gert van der Hoek]

The Aedes aegypti mosquito is mentioned as the most important vector for the Zika virus. What about the Aedes Albopictus?



Zika Virus in Gabon (Central Africa) ? 2007: A New Threat from Aedes albopictus?

- snip -
Five human sera and two Aedes albopictus pools, all sampled in an urban setting during the 2007 outbreak, were positive for the flavivirus Zika (ZIKV). The ratio of Aedes albopictuspools positive for ZIKV was similar to that positive for dengue virus during the concomitant dengue outbreak suggesting similar mosquito infection rates and, presumably, underlying a human ZIKV outbreak. ZIKV sequences from the envelope and NS3 genes were amplified from a human serum sample. Phylogenetic analysis placed the Gabonese ZIKV at a basal position in the African lineage, pointing to ancestral genetic diversification and spread.

Conclusions/Significance

We provide the first direct evidence of human ZIKV infections in Gabon, and its first occurrence in the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus. These data reveal an unusual natural life cycle for this virus, occurring in an urban environment, and potentially representing a new emerging threat due to this novel association with a highly invasive vector whose geographic range is still expanding across the globe.

[Gert van der Hoek]

More about the previous research in: The zika virus: a new threat from the tiger mosquito

[Gert van der Hoek]

Via Research Gate some comments on the question of David Bruce:

Is Aedes albopictus a competent vector of Zika virus in regions recently colonized by this mosquito?

Aedes albopictus continues to expand geographically as an invasive species in various parts of the world, where it may alter the epidemiological profile of viral diseases such as dengue and Chikungunya. As Zika virus continues to emerge in new locations, diversity of competent vectors besides Aedes aegypti will be a matter of concern. I am seeking input about unpublished data as well as speculation by entomologists and other scientists with relevant experience

ALL ANSWERS (6)

• 
  Anders Lindstr?m ? National Veterinary Institute, Sweden
  There is no reason to assume that Ae. albopictus is not a competent vector of Zika virus. Laboratory experiments has shown that south east Asian populations of Ae. albopictus secrete the virus in their saliva. Due to this and given the multicompetency of albopictus there is, in my opinion, no doubt that the European and North American populations will be competent as well. I do not know what temperatures the virus require to replicate within the arthropod host though, this may act as a barrier if the threshold is high.
  
  Feb 19, 2014
• 
  Gabriel O Dida ? Nagasaki University, Maseno University
  Bruce, Just as Dr. Anders advise there is no reason to assume this fact at all . A lot has been presented in terms of reviews and theses that links Aedes albopictus to the transmission of the virus, we may not say exactly whether such levels deserves it to incriminated as competent, however, current literature have grown to demonstrate so, that indeed Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus are competent vectors for Zika virus, within bound of geography zones that favor both the vector and the virus (see Hayes, 2009 and Li MI et al., 2012 ). Meanwhile, I urge you to consider the advise of Dr. Anders, that the virus survival could be driven by many factors such as temperatures, humidity etc, both endo-exogenous . This also applies to to the vector (see LUIS F. CHAVES et al. 2012) ,
  
  Feb 20, 2014
• 
  Sumodan Pk ? Government College Madappally
  Aedes albopictus indeed is generating lot of interest. In India and South East Asia Aedes albopictus driven Chikungunya has become dominant over Aedes agypti- transmitted strain of the virus. This calls for an international network of scientists working on this species.
  
  Feb 25, 2014
• 
  Kayleigh Hansford ? Public Health England
  I read a ProMED-mail report earlier this month that suggested Aedes albopictus was involved in an outbreak of ZIKV in Gabon in 2007. A paper has recently been published on this which may be of interest to you if you have not already seen it.
  
  Zika Virus in Gabon (Central Africa) ? 2007: A New Threat from Aedes albopictus? http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3916288/
  
  Feb 26, 2014
• 
  Jorge F Mendez-Galvan ? Hospital Infantil de M?xico Federico G?mez
  There are other bibliographic data as P-SJ Wong, Li MY, CS Chong, Ng LC, Tan CH (2013) Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse): A Potential Vector of Zika Virus in Singapore. PLoS NEGL Trop Dis 7 (8): e2348. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002348,http://www.plosntds.org/article/fetchObject.action?uri=info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjour nal.pntd.0002348&representation=PDF where Ae albopictus susceptibility to infections is detailed enforced.
  According to other experiences of a mosquito susceptibility may vary between geographical regions, but I think it is doable.
  
  Mar 1, 2014
• 
  Lalitha Kabilan
  Of course, the scientists and public health persons must not ignore the competency and potentiality of aedes albop in transmission of Zika virus. Control of any mosquito species is difficult, control of aedes albo is a challenging one. lalitha kabilan
  
  Mar 26, 2014

[Gert van der Hoek]

From WHO factsheet

More about disease vectors

Both Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus have been implicated in large outbreaks of Zika virus. Ae. aegypti is confined to tropical and sub-tropical regions, while Ae. albopictus can be found in tropical, sub-tropical and temperate regions. Ae. albopictus has spread from Asia and become established in areas of the South Pacific, Africa, Europe and the Americas in recent decades. In the South Pacific,Ae. hensilli was implicated in the spread of Zika virus on Yap Island in 2007, (1,3)while Ae. polynesiensis was suspected to spread Zika virus in French Polynesia in 2013. (2) Neither of these endemic species had been recognized as a Zika virus vector before, indicating that as this emerging disease spreads to previously unaffected countries, the potential exists for other endemic Aedes species to play a role in transmission.

• Ae. aegypti is closely associated with human environments and can breed in indoor (flower vases, concrete water tanks in bathrooms), and artificial outdoor (vehicle tyres, water storage vessels, discarded containers) environments.
• Ae. albopictus thrives in a wider range of water-filled breeding sites than Ae. aegypti, including coconut husks, cocoa pods, bamboo stumps, tree holes and rock pools, in addition to artificial containers such as vehicle tyres and plant pot saucers. This diversity of habitats explains the abundance of Ae. albopictus in rural as well as peri-urban areas and shady city parks.
• Ae. hensilli breeds in coconut shells, tins, plastic containers, vehicle tyres, tree holes, canoes and metal drums. (4)
• Ae. polynesiensis breeds in tree holes, coconut shells and crab holes.