Experimental transmission of Zika virus by Aedes japonicus japonicus from southwestern Germany

Abstract

The invasive mosquito species Aedes japonicus japonicus (Ae. japonicus) is widely distributed in Central Europe and is a known vector of various arboviruses in the laboratory, including flaviviruses such as Japanese Encephalitis virus or West Nile virus. However, the vector competence of Ae. japonicus for the recently emerging Zika virus (ZIKV) has not been determined. Therefore, field-caught Ae. japonicus from Germany were orally infected with ZIKV and incubated at 21, 24, or 27 °C to evaluate the vector competence under climate conditions representative of the temperate regions (21 °C) in the species’ main distribution area in Europe and of Mediterranean regions (27 °C). Aedes japonicus was susceptible to ZIKV at all temperatures, showing infection rates between 10.0% (21 °C) and 66.7% (27 °C). However, virus transmission was detected exclusively at 27 °C with a transmission rate of 14.3% and a transmission efficiency of 9.5%. Taking into account the present distribution of Ae. japonicus in the temperate regions of Central Europe, the risk of ZIKV transmission by the studied Ae. japonicus population in Central Europe has to be considered as low. Nevertheless, due to the species’ vector competence for ZIKV and other mosquito-borne viruses, in combination with the possibility of further spread to Mediterranean regions, Ae. japonicus must be kept in mind as a potential vector of pathogens inside and outside of Europe.

These authors contributed equally: Stephanie Jansen, Anna Heitmann

These authors contributed equally: Stephanie Jansen, Anna Heitmann

Acknowledgements

We thank Branka Žibrat and Annabell Kühl for excellent technical assistance and Esther Schnettler for reading the manuscript. This work was financially supported by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) through the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE) (grant number 28-1-91.048-15) and by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) through the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) (grant number FKZ 3717 48 432 0).

Authors’ contributions

Conceived and designed the study: S.J., A.H., R.L., J.S.-C., and E.T. Performed the data collection: S.J., A.H., and M.H. Analyzed the data: S.J., A.H., R.L., and E.T. Provided the ZIKV virus strain: O.V. Provided mosquito specimens: H.J. Wrote the paper: S.J., A.H., R.L., and E.T. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Data availability

All relevant data are provided within the paper.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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