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Mosquitoes can harbour yeasts of clinical significance and contribute to their environmental dissemination
Author(s) -
Bozic Jovana,
Capone Aida,
Pediconi Dario,
Mensah Priscilla,
Cappelli Alessia,
Valzano Matteo,
Mancini Maria Vittoria,
Scuppa Patrizia,
Martin Elena,
Epis Sara,
Rossi Paolo,
Favia Guido,
Ricci Irene
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
environmental microbiology reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.229
H-Index - 69
ISSN - 1758-2229
DOI - 10.1111/1758-2229.12569
Subject(s) - biology , aedes aegypti , culex quinquefasciatus , candida parapsilosis , aedes albopictus , anopheles gambiae , zoology , aedes , pathogen , anopheles stephensi , anopheles , microbiology and biotechnology , malaria , ecology , larva , antifungal , immunology
Summary There is still a lack of studies on fungal microbiota in mosquitoes, compared with the number available on bacterial microbiota. This study reports the identification of yeasts of clinical significance in laboratory mosquito species: Anopheles gambiae , Anopheles stephensi , Culex quinquefasciatus , Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti . Among the yeasts isolated, they focused on the opportunistic pathogen Candida parapsilosis , since there is a need to better understand breakthrough candidaemia with resistance to the usual antifungals, which requires careful consideration in the broad‐spectrum therapy, as documented in many clinical reports. C. parapsilosis occurs widely and has been isolated from diverse sources, including insects, which may contribute to its dissemination. In this study, it was isolated from the gut of An. gambiae and its presence in developmental stages and organs of different mosquito species was studied. Our results indicated that there was a stable association between C. parapsilosis and reared mosquitoes during the entire life cycle, and in adult male and female gut and gonads. A wide occurrence of C. parapsilosis was also documented in several populations of wild mosquitoes. Based on these findings, it can be said that mosquitoes might participate in the spreading of this opportunistic pathogen, not only as a carrier.