Detection of Culex flavivirus (Flaviviridae) from a natural Culex (Culex) chidesteri Dyar, 1921 population, Caatinga Biome, Semiarid Scrubland, Brazil

Josélio M. G. Araújo; Renato C. M. Freire; Diego M. P. Costa; Denise M. C. Sousa; Daíse M. C. Sousa; Joelma D. Monteiro; Mário S. D. Branco; Kleber J. S. Farias; José V. Fernandes; Roseli  La Corte; Taciano M. Barbosa; Renata  Gama

doi:10.37486/2675-1305.ec03018

Authors

Josélio M. G. Araújo Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases and Cancer. Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3548-2786
Renato C. M. Freire Laboratory of Insects and Vectors. Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal
Diego M. P. Costa Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases and Cancer. Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal
Denise M. C. Sousa Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases and Cancer. Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal
Daíse M. C. Sousa Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases and Cancer. Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal
Joelma D. Monteiro Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases and Cancer. Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8067-806X
Mário S. D. Branco Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases and Cancer. Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8428-4252
Kleber J. S. Farias Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases and Cancer. Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3927-444X
José V. Fernandes Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases and Cancer. Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5169-6496
Roseli La Corte Laboratory of Entomology and Tropical Parasitology, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristovão https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5017-3725
Taciano M. Barbosa Laboratory of Insects and Vectors. Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5495-258X
Renata Gama Laboratory of Insects and Vectors. Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8026-6022

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37486/2675-1305.ec03018

Keywords:

Arbovirus, Flaviviridae, Mosquitoes, Açu National Forest, Culicidae

Abstract

The first detection of Culex flavivirus (CxFV) in mosquitoes was described in 2007 in Japan and subsequently in different areas of the Americas, Africa, and Asia. In this study, we report the identification of CxFV in Culex (Culex) chidesteri Dyar, 1921 mosquitoes collected in the Açu National Forest - FLONA/ AÇU-RN, a preserved area of Biome Caatinga, State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. We performed nucleotide-sequencing analysis in order to compare with other previously identified CxFV collected from around the world. A total of 129 samples (pools of ≤30 female mosquitoes) were processed for generic reverse transcriptase PCR assay. CxFV infection was identified in only two pools from Culex chidesteri. Our phylogenetic analysis revealed that the AssuCxFV identified in this study belongs to the Africa/Caribbean/South America Subtype. Our study represents the first report of the CxFV from a natural Culex chidesteri population.

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