Open AccessEvidence of transovarial transmission of Chikungunya and Dengue viruses in field-caught mosquitoes in Kenya
Author(s) -
Claire Heath,
Elysse N. Grossi-Soyster,
Bryson Ndenga,
Francis Mutuku,
Malaya K. Sahoo,
Harun N. Ngugi,
Joel Omari Mbakaya,
Peter Siema,
Uriel Kitron,
Nayer Zahiri,
Jimmy Hortion,
Jesse J. Waggoner,
Charles H. King,
Benjamin A. Pinsky,
A. Desirée LaBeaud
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
plos neglected tropical diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.99
H-Index - 135
eISSN - 1935-2735
pISSN - 1935-2727
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008362
Subject(s) - chikungunya , arbovirus , dengue fever , biology , vector (molecular biology) , outbreak , aedes , virology , dengue virus , transovarial transmission , transmission (telecommunications) , aedes albopictus , population , zika virus , aedes aegypti , virus , ecology , environmental health , larva , medicine , genetics , engineering , electrical engineering , gene , recombinant dna
Arboviruses are among the most important emerging pathogens due to their increasing public health impact. In Kenya, continued population growth and associated urbanization are conducive to vector spread in both urban and rural environments, yet mechanisms of viral amplification in vector populations is often overlooked when assessing risks for outbreaks. Thus, the characterization of local arbovirus circulation in mosquito populations is imperative to better inform risk assessments and vector control practices. Aedes species mosquitoes were captured at varying stages of their life cycle during different seasons between January 2014 and May 2016 at four distinct sites in Kenya, and tested for chikungunya (CHIKV), dengue (DENV) and Zika (ZIKV) viruses by RT-PCR. CHIKV was detected in 45 (5.9%) and DENV in 3 (0.4%) mosquito pools. No ZIKV was detected. Significant regional variation in prevalence was observed, with greater frequency of CHIKV on the coast. DENV was detected exclusively on the coast. Both viruses were detected in immature mosquitoes of both sexes, providing evidence of transovarial transmission of these arboviruses in local mosquitoes. This phenomenon may be driving underlying viral maintenance that may largely contribute to periodic re-emergence among humans in Kenya.