PLoS ONE (Jan 2024)

Exposure to Zika and chikungunya viruses impacts aspects of the vectorial capacity of Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus.

  • Mônica Crespo,
  • Duschinka Guedes,
  • Marcelo Paiva,
  • Mariana Sobral,
  • Elisama Helvecio,
  • Rafael Alves,
  • George Tadeu,
  • Claudia Oliveira,
  • Maria Alice Varjal Melo-Santos,
  • Rosângela Barbosa,
  • Constância Ayres

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0281851
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 19, no. 5
p. e0281851

Abstract

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Zika (ZIKV) and chikungunya (CHIKV) are arboviruses that cause infections in humans and can cause clinical complications, representing a worldwide public health problem. Aedes aegypti is the primary vector of these pathogens and Culex quinquefasciatus may be a potential ZIKV vector. This study aimed to evaluate fecundity, fertility, survival, longevity, and blood feeding activity in Ae. aegypti after exposure to ZIKV and CHIKV and, in Cx. quinquefasciatus exposed to ZIKV. Three colonies were evaluated: AeCamp (Ae. aegypti-field), RecL (Ae. aegypti-laboratory) and CqSLab (Cx. quinquefasciatus-laboratory). Seven to 10 days-old females from these colonies were exposed to artificial blood feeding with CHIKV or ZIKV. CHIKV caused reduction in fecundity and fertility in AeCamp and reduction in survival and fertility in RecL. ZIKV impacted survival in RecL, fertility in AeCamp and, fecundity and fertility in CqSLab. Both viruses had no effect on blood feeding activity. These results show that CHIKV produces a higher biological cost in Ae. aegypti, compared to ZIKV, and ZIKV differently alters the biological performance in colonies of Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus. These results provide a better understanding over the processes of virus-vector interaction and can shed light on the complexity of arbovirus transmission.