Variation in oral susceptibility to dengue type 2 virus of populations of Aedes aegypti from the islands of Tahiti and Moorea, French Polynesia

• Published in: The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene Vol. 60; no. 2; pp. 292 - 299
• Main Authors: Vazeille-Falcoz, M, Mousson, L, Rodhain, F, Chungue, E, Failloux, AB
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lawrence, KS ASTMH 01.02.1999; Allen Press; American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
• Subjects: Aedes; Aedes - virology; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Dengue; Dengue - prevention & control; Dengue - transmission; Dengue - virology; Dengue Virus; Dengue Virus - classification; Dengue Virus - pathogenicity; Disease Susceptibility; Feeding Behavior; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Insect Vectors; Insect Vectors - virology; Life Sciences; Medically important nuisances and vectors, pests of stored products and materials: population survey and control; Microbiology and Parasitology; Polynesia; Tropical medicine; Vectors. Intermediate hosts; Virology; Tahiti; Polynesia; Oceania; French Polynesia; Dengue 2; Dengue; Insecta; Oral administration; Variations; Dengue virus 2; Experimental study; Flavivirus; Infection; Virus; Sensitivity; Arthropoda; Viral disease; Dengue group virus; Arbovirus disease; Culicidae; Aedes aegypti; Flaviviridae; Invertebrata; Vector; Diptera
• ISSN: 0002-9637; 1476-1645
• DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.1999.60.292

Twenty three samples of Aedes aegypti populations from the islands of Tahiti and Moorea (French Polynesia) were tested for their oral susceptibility to dengue type 2 virus. The high infection rates obtained suggest that the artificial feeding protocol used was more efficient than those previously described. Statistical analysis of the results allowed us to define two distinct geographic areas on Tahiti with respect to the susceptibility of Ae. aegypti: the east coast, with homogeneous infection rates, and the west coast, with heterogeneous infection rates. No geographic differences could be demonstrated on Moorea. The possible mechanisms of this phenomenon are discussed in connection with recent findings on the variability of susceptibility of Ae. aegypti to insecticides.