Dengue Emergence Mediated by Peridomestic Mosquito Adaptation

Peridomestic mosquito adaptation appears to play a critical role in the emergence of dengue virus from its sylvatic progenitor strains. Researchers have found that endemic and epidemic dengue viruses, primarily transmitted by anthropophilic mosquitoes such as Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus, emerged when ancestral sylvatic dengue viruses transmitted among nonhuman primates by sylvatic Aedes mosquitoes adapted to these peridomestic vectors.

Key Takeaways:

Phylogenetic evidence suggests that dengue viruses emerged when ancestral sylvatic strains adapted to peridomestic mosquito vectors, leading to the transmission of the virus among humans.
Aedes albopictus and Ae. aegypti mosquitoes were found to be highly susceptible to endemic/epidemic dengue virus-2 strains, but significantly less susceptible to sylvatic dengue virus-2 strains.
First- and second-generation offspring of mosquitoes from different geographic regions were tested for their susceptibility to dengue virus-2 isolates, with a 0% to 100% infection rate observed.
The study's findings support the hypothesis that adaptation to peridomestic mosquito vectors mediated dengue emergence from sylvatic progenitor viruses.
The research was conducted by A.C. Moncayo and colleagues, published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, Volume 10, Issue 10, 2004.
The study provides evidence that peridomestic mosquito adaptation played a key role in the emergence of dengue virus, with Aedes albopictus and Ae. aegypti being identified as the primary vectors.
The research has significant implications for the understanding of dengue virus transmission and the development of control measures.
The study was supported through the efforts of researchers from the University of Texas and the Center for Disease Control.

Statistics:

100% of Aedes albopictus and Ae. aegypti mosquitoes were found to be susceptible to endemic/epidemic dengue virus-2 strains after ingesting artificial blood meals.
0% to 100% infection rate was observed in the first- and second-generation offspring of mosquitoes from different geographic regions.
Sylvatic dengue virus-2 strains resulted in significantly lower infection rates in Aedes species mosquitoes, ranging from 0% to 20%.
The study suggests that adaptation to peridomestic mosquito vectors mediated dengue emergence from sylvatic progenitor viruses in the Americas, Southeast Asia, and Oceania.
Dengue virus-2 isolates were tested from West Africa, Southeast Asia, and Oceania, with a focus on the susceptibility of Aedes albopictus and Ae. aegypti mosquitoes.

Sources:

Moncayo, A.C., et al. (2004) Dengue emergence and adaptation to peridomestic mosquitoes. Emerg Infect Dis, 10(10), 1790-1796.
Center for Disease Control (Publisher of Emerging Infectious Diseases) - contact information: Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
University Texas, Med Branch, Department of Pathology, Galveston, TX 77555, USA.