Koenraadt C J M, Münger E, Schrama M J J, Spitzen J, Altundag S, Sikkema R S, Munnink B B Oude, Koopmans M P G, Blom R
Laboratory of Entomology, Plant Sciences Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Viroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Parasit Vectors. 2024 Dec 23;17(1):537. doi: 10.1186/s13071-024-06620-y.
Analyses of mosquito-borne virus outbreaks have revealed the presence of similar virus strains over several years. However, it remains unclear how mosquito-borne viruses can persist over winter, when conditions are generally unfavorable for virus circulation. One potential route for virus persistence is via diapausing mosquitoes. We therefore studied whether Usutu virus (USUV), West Nile virus (WNV) and/or Sindbis virus (SINV) can be identified in diapausing mosquitoes in The Netherlands. Mosquito collections were carried out in November 2022 in hibernacula located in two areas with previously observed WNV and/or USUV activity. A total of 4857 mosquitoes, belonging to four species (groups) (Culex pipiens/torrentium, Culiseta annulata, Anopheles maculipennis s.l. and Culex territans), were collected. WNV-, USUV- and SINV-screening using a multiplex real-time RT-PCR assay was carried out on mono-specific mosquito pools. One Culex pipiens/torrentium pool tested positive for USUV RNA. Whole genome sequencing and subsequent phylogenetic analysis revealed that the virus belongs to USUV lineage Africa 3 and clusters with other USUV sequences derived from The Netherlands in 2022. This finding confirms our hypothesis of the potential of local overwintering of USUV in diapausing mosquitoes in The Netherlands.
对蚊媒病毒爆发的分析显示，数年来存在相似的病毒株。然而，目前尚不清楚蚊媒病毒在冬季条件通常不利于病毒传播时如何持续存在。病毒持续存在的一个潜在途径是通过进入滞育状态的蚊子。因此，我们研究了在荷兰进入滞育状态的蚊子中是否能检测到乌苏图病毒（USUV）、西尼罗河病毒（WNV）和/或辛德毕斯病毒（SINV）。2022年11月，在两个先前观察到有WNV和/或USUV活动的地区的越冬场所进行了蚊子采集。共采集到4857只蚊子，分属于四个物种（组）（尖音库蚊/洪流库蚊、环斑库蚊、黄斑按蚊复合组和骚扰库蚊）。使用多重实时RT-PCR检测法对单一种类的蚊子样本进行了WNV、USUV和SINV筛查。一个尖音库蚊/洪流库蚊样本检测出USUV RNA呈阳性。全基因组测序及后续系统发育分析表明，该病毒属于USUV非洲3谱系，与2022年来自荷兰的其他USUV序列聚类。这一发现证实了我们关于USUV在荷兰进入滞育状态的蚊子中可能进行本地越冬的假设。
