Aedes albopictus in Lebanon, a potential risk of arboviruses outbreak.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The mosquito Aedes albopictus is undergoing a worldwide expansion with potential consequences on transmission of various arboviruses. This species has been first detected in Lebanon in 2003.

Methods

We performed a phylogenetic study of Lebanese specimens and assessed their host preference by detecting human, cat, dog and chicken immunoglobulins in mosquito blood-meals. Their capacity to transmit arboviruses was investigated by providing infectious blood-meals using an artificial feeding system followed by detection of viral particles in mosquito saliva.

Results

Our results suggest that Lebanese strains are part of the recent wave of Ae. albopictus expansion and are related to some European, African and North American strains. They exhibited a host preferenc

SUBMITTER: Haddad N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3519687 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature