Differential Susceptibility of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus Mosquitoes to Infection by Mayaro Virus Strains

Diana Fernández Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas;

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Ruimei Yun Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas;

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Jiehua Zhou Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas;

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Pierina L. Parise Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas;
Laboratory of Emerging Viruses, Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil;

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Clemente Mosso-González Centro Regional de Investigación en Salud Pública, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico;

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Alejandro Villasante-Tezanos Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas;

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Scott C. Weaver Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas;
Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas;
Center for Tropical Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas;

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Victoria Pando-Robles Centro de Investigación sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico

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Patricia V. Aguilar Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas;
Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas;
Center for Tropical Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas;

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ABSTRACT.

Mayaro virus (MAYV) is an arthropod-borne virus (arbovirus) belonging to the family Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus. In recent years, the geographic distribution of MAYV may have expanded north from South and Central America into the Caribbean Islands. Although Haemagogus janthinomys is considered the main vector for MAYV, the virus has also been isolated from other mosquitoes, including Aedes aegypti, a widespread species that serves as the main vector for highly epidemic viruses. Given the possible expansion and outbreaks of MAYV in Latin America, it is possible that MAYV might be adapting to be efficiently transmitted by urban vectors. Therefore, to investigate this possibility, we evaluated the vector competence of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitoes to transmit MAYV isolated during a year of low or high MAYV transmission. Adult Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus were orally infected with the MAYV strains, and the infection, dissemination, and transmission rates were calculated to evaluate their vector competence. Overall, we found higher infection, dissemination, and transmission rates in both Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitoes infected with the strain isolated during a MAYV outbreak, whereas low/no transmission was detected with the strain isolated during a year of low MAYV activity. Our results confirmed that both Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus are competent vectors for the emergent MAYV. Our data suggest that strains isolated during MAYV outbreaks might be better fit to infect and be transmitted by urban vectors, raising serious concern about the epidemic potential of MAYV.

Author Notes

Address correspondence to Patricia V. Aguilar, Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555-0609. E-mail: pvaguila@utmb.edu

Financial support: This research was supported by ConTex, award number 2019-55 (PVA, VPR) and by the National Institute of Health, award R24AI120942 (SCW, PVA). PLP was supported by The São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)2022/04420-3.

Authors’ addresses: Diana Fernández and Jiehua Zhou, Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, E-mails: dianifernandez@gmail.com and jiehzhou@utmb.edu. Ruimei Yun, Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, E-mail: ruyun@utmb.edu. Pierina L. Parise, Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, and Laboratory of Emerging Viruses, Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil, E-mail: plparise@utmb.edu; Clemente Mosso-González, Centro Regional de Investigación en Salud Pública, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico, E-mail: clemente.mosso@insp.mx. Alejandro Villasante-Tezanos, Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, E-mail: alvillas@utmb.edu. Scott C. Weaver, Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, and Center for Tropical Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, E-mail: sweaver@utmb.edu. Victoria Pando-Robles, Centro de Investigación sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico, E-mail: victoria.pando@insp.mx. Patricia V. Aguilar, Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, and Center for Tropical Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, E-mail: pvaguila@utmb.edu.

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