Accelerating targeted mosquito control efforts through mobile West Nile virus detection

• Published in: Parasites & vectors Vol. 17; no. 1; p. 140
• Main Authors: Varga, Zsaklin, Bueno-Marí, Rubén, Risueño Iranzo, José, Kurucz, Kornélia, Tóth, Gábor Endre, Zana, Brigitta, Zeghbib, Safia, Görföl, Tamás, Jakab, Ferenc, Kemenesi, Gábor
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 18.03.2024; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Analysis; Animals; Anopheles; Anopheles atroparvus; Aquatic insects; Bagaza; Control; Culex; Culex pipiens; Culicidae; Dengue fever; Diagnosis; Diagnostic systems; Early warning systems; Epidemics; Field-based; Genomes; Genomics; Humans; Insect control; Laboratories; Larvae; Methods; Microbiological strains; Mosquito Control; Mosquito Vectors; Mosquito-borne pathogens; Mosquitoes; Nucleotide sequence; Pathogens; PCR; Pesticides; Phylogenetics; Phylogeny; Pilot Projects; Prevention; Public health; Rapid diagnostics; RNA; RNA viruses; Sequencing; Surveillance; Thermal cycling; Vector control; Vector-borne diseases; Viruses; West Nile fever; West Nile Fever - diagnosis; West Nile Fever - epidemiology; West Nile Fever - prevention & control; West Nile virus; West Nile virus - genetics; Spain; France; United States > US; Europe; Prevention; Mosquito-borne pathogens; Field-based; Surveillance; Bagaza; Heminested-PCR; Panflavivirus; NGS sequencing; Rapid diagnostics
• ISSN: 1756-3305; 1756-3305
• DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06231-7

Different mosquito control strategies have been implemented to mitigate or prevent mosquito-related public health situations. Modern mosquito control largely relies on multiple approaches, including targeted, specific treatments. Given this, it is becoming increasingly important to supplement these activities with rapid and mobile diagnostic capacities for mosquito-borne diseases. We aimed to create and test the applicability of a rapid diagnostic system for West Nile virus that can be used under field conditions. In this pilot study, various types of adult mosquito traps were applied within the regular mosquito monitoring activity framework for mosquito control. Then, the captured specimens were used for the detection of West Nile virus RNA under field conditions with a portable qRT-PCR approach within 3-4 h. Then, positive samples were subjected to confirmatory RT-PCR or NGS sequencing in the laboratory to obtain genome information of the virus. We implemented phylogenetic analysis to characterize circulating strains. A total of 356 mosquito individuals representing 7 species were processed in 54 pools, each containing up to 20 individuals. These pools were tested for the presence of West Nile virus, and two pools tested positive, containing specimens from the Culex pipiens and Anopheles atroparvus mosquito species. As a result of subsequent sequencing, we present the complete genome of West Nile virus and Bagaza virus. The rapid identification of infected mosquitoes is the most important component of quick response adulticide or larvicide treatments to prevent human cases. The conceptual framework of real-time surveillance can be optimized for other pathogens and situations not only in relation to West Nile virus. We present an early warning system for mosquito-borne diseases and demonstrate its application to aid rapid-response mosquito control actions.