Vector competence of European Aedes mosquito species for Japanese encephalitis virus under fluctuating temperature conditions
The Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus endemic to much of Asia and the Western Pacific, both temperate and tropical regions. Globalisation and the expansion of invasive mosquito species raise concerns about their potential establishment in Europe and other currently non...
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Current Research in Parasitology and Vector-Borne Diseases |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X25000627 |
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| author | Anna M. Ciećkiewicz Julia Ettlin Eva Veronesi Andrea Marti Obdulio Garcia-Nicolas Jeannine Hauri Artur Summerfield Alexander Mathis Niels O. Verhulst |
| author_facet | Anna M. Ciećkiewicz Julia Ettlin Eva Veronesi Andrea Marti Obdulio Garcia-Nicolas Jeannine Hauri Artur Summerfield Alexander Mathis Niels O. Verhulst |
| author_sort | Anna M. Ciećkiewicz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus endemic to much of Asia and the Western Pacific, both temperate and tropical regions. Globalisation and the expansion of invasive mosquito species raise concerns about their potential establishment in Europe and other currently non-endemic regions. However, limited knowledge exists regarding the vector competence of European mosquitoes, particularly under the region’s characteristic fluctuating temperatures. While Culex species are primary JEV vectors, the role of Aedes mosquitoes remains unclear. This study assessed the vector competence of field-caught or low-generation colony-derived Aedes albopictus, Ae. japonicus, and Ae. vexans from Switzerland under a fluctuating temperature regime (16–28 °C), using Culex quinquefasciatus as a reference. Mosquitoes were exposed to JEV genotype I-b and incubated for 7 and 14 days. RT-qPCR was used to analyse mosquito body parts and saliva to determine infection, dissemination, transmission rates and transmission efficiency. Aedes albopictus, Ae. japonicus, and Cx. quinquefasciatus were competent vectors. Aedes japonicus showed the highest infection rate (13.6%, 9/66) compared to Ae. albopictus (3.0%, 3/101) and Cx. quinquefasciatus (6.9%, 7/101), while Ae. vexans was refractory (0/80). Dissemination was observed in Ae. japonicus already 7 days post-exposure, preceding other species. Aedes japonicus had the highest transmission rate (66.7%, 2/3) and efficiency (6.1%, 2/33). This study demonstrates that European Aedes mosquitoes can serve as JEV vectors under fluctuating temperatures and may contribute to virus transmission despite being considered secondary vectors. The findings emphasise that species-specific assessments under realistic temperatures are essential in evaluating the risk of JEV establishment in temperate regions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c05dfc7f28d74ee1ab19d60f7b35efa3 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2667-114X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | Current Research in Parasitology and Vector-Borne Diseases |
| spelling | doaj-art-c05dfc7f28d74ee1ab19d60f7b35efa32025-08-20T02:56:32ZengElsevierCurrent Research in Parasitology and Vector-Borne Diseases2667-114X2025-01-01810030210.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100302Vector competence of European Aedes mosquito species for Japanese encephalitis virus under fluctuating temperature conditionsAnna M. Ciećkiewicz0Julia Ettlin1Eva Veronesi2Andrea Marti3Obdulio Garcia-Nicolas4Jeannine Hauri5Artur Summerfield6Alexander Mathis7Niels O. Verhulst8National Centre for Vector Entomology, Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse and Medical Faculty, University of Zürich, SwitzerlandNational Centre for Vector Entomology, Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse and Medical Faculty, University of Zürich, SwitzerlandNational Centre for Vector Entomology, Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse and Medical Faculty, University of Zürich, Switzerland; Institute of Microbiology, Department of Environment Constructions and Design, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI), Mendrisio, SwitzerlandInstitute of Virology and Immunology IVI, Mittelhäusern, SwitzerlandInstitute of Virology and Immunology IVI, Mittelhäusern, SwitzerlandNational Centre for Vector Entomology, Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse and Medical Faculty, University of Zürich, SwitzerlandInstitute of Virology and Immunology IVI, Mittelhäusern, SwitzerlandNational Centre for Vector Entomology, Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse and Medical Faculty, University of Zürich, SwitzerlandNational Centre for Vector Entomology, Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse and Medical Faculty, University of Zürich, Switzerland; Corresponding author. National Centre for Vector Entomology, Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse and Medical Faculty, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, 8057, Zürich, Switzerland.The Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus endemic to much of Asia and the Western Pacific, both temperate and tropical regions. Globalisation and the expansion of invasive mosquito species raise concerns about their potential establishment in Europe and other currently non-endemic regions. However, limited knowledge exists regarding the vector competence of European mosquitoes, particularly under the region’s characteristic fluctuating temperatures. While Culex species are primary JEV vectors, the role of Aedes mosquitoes remains unclear. This study assessed the vector competence of field-caught or low-generation colony-derived Aedes albopictus, Ae. japonicus, and Ae. vexans from Switzerland under a fluctuating temperature regime (16–28 °C), using Culex quinquefasciatus as a reference. Mosquitoes were exposed to JEV genotype I-b and incubated for 7 and 14 days. RT-qPCR was used to analyse mosquito body parts and saliva to determine infection, dissemination, transmission rates and transmission efficiency. Aedes albopictus, Ae. japonicus, and Cx. quinquefasciatus were competent vectors. Aedes japonicus showed the highest infection rate (13.6%, 9/66) compared to Ae. albopictus (3.0%, 3/101) and Cx. quinquefasciatus (6.9%, 7/101), while Ae. vexans was refractory (0/80). Dissemination was observed in Ae. japonicus already 7 days post-exposure, preceding other species. Aedes japonicus had the highest transmission rate (66.7%, 2/3) and efficiency (6.1%, 2/33). This study demonstrates that European Aedes mosquitoes can serve as JEV vectors under fluctuating temperatures and may contribute to virus transmission despite being considered secondary vectors. The findings emphasise that species-specific assessments under realistic temperatures are essential in evaluating the risk of JEV establishment in temperate regions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X25000627JEVJapanese encephalitisFlavivirusArbovirusAedesVector competence |
| spellingShingle | Anna M. Ciećkiewicz Julia Ettlin Eva Veronesi Andrea Marti Obdulio Garcia-Nicolas Jeannine Hauri Artur Summerfield Alexander Mathis Niels O. Verhulst Vector competence of European Aedes mosquito species for Japanese encephalitis virus under fluctuating temperature conditions Current Research in Parasitology and Vector-Borne Diseases JEV Japanese encephalitis Flavivirus Arbovirus Aedes Vector competence |
| title | Vector competence of European Aedes mosquito species for Japanese encephalitis virus under fluctuating temperature conditions |
| title_full | Vector competence of European Aedes mosquito species for Japanese encephalitis virus under fluctuating temperature conditions |
| title_fullStr | Vector competence of European Aedes mosquito species for Japanese encephalitis virus under fluctuating temperature conditions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Vector competence of European Aedes mosquito species for Japanese encephalitis virus under fluctuating temperature conditions |
| title_short | Vector competence of European Aedes mosquito species for Japanese encephalitis virus under fluctuating temperature conditions |
| title_sort | vector competence of european aedes mosquito species for japanese encephalitis virus under fluctuating temperature conditions |
| topic | JEV Japanese encephalitis Flavivirus Arbovirus Aedes Vector competence |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X25000627 |
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