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The recently introduced Aedes albopictus in Tunisia has the potential to transmit chikungunya, dengue and Zika viruses

Article scientifique 2020 Anglais

Résumé

The mosquito Aedes albopictus was detected for the first time in Tunisia in 2018.With its establishment in the capital city of Tunis, local health authorities fear the introduction of new human arboviral diseases, like what happened in Europe with unexpected local cases of chikungunya, dengue and Zika.Even though this mosquito is competent to transmit the arboviruses mentioned above, the transmission level will vary depending on the couple, mosquito population and virus genotype.Here, we assessed the vector competence of Ae. albopictus Tunisia by experimental infections with chikungunya (CHIKV), dengue (DENV), and Zika (ZIKV) viruses.We found that Ae. albopictus Tunisia was highly competent for CHIKV (transmission efficiency of 25% at 21 post-infection) and to a lesser extent, for ZIKV (8.7%) and DENV (8.3%).Virus was detected in mosquito saliva at day 3 (CHIKV), day 10 (ZIKV) and day 21 (DENV) post-infection.These results suggest that the risk of emergence of chikungunya is the highest imposing a more sustained surveillance to limit Ae. albopictus populations in densely populated urban dwellings and at the entry points of travelers returning from CHIKV-endemic regions. Author summaryAfter Algeria and Morocco, the mosquito Aedes albopictus was detected in 2018 in Tunisia.This invasive species has continued its global expansion and then, extended the fear of introducing Aedes-transmitted arboviral diseases in countries where people are immunologically naïve.We demonstrated, using experimental infections, that Ae. albopictus mosquitoes from Tunisia were more competent to chikungunya virus than to Zika virus and dengue virus.These results are critical to design a control strategy targeting Ae. albopictus populations in regions hosting travelers returning from arboviral-endemic regions.

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Bohers, C., Mousson, L., Madec, Y., Vazeille, M., Rhim, A., M’ghirbi, Y., Bouattour, A., Failloux, A. (2020). The recently introduced Aedes albopictus in Tunisia has the potential to transmit chikungunya, dengue and Zika viruses. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0008475

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Auteur(s)

Chloé Bohers Laurence Mousson Yoann Madec Marie Vazeille Adel Rhim Youmna M’ghirbi Ali Bouattour Anna‐Bella Failloux

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