Genetic characterization of the rare Bruconha virus (Bunyavirales: Orthobunyavirus) isolated in Vale do Ribeira (Atlantic Forest biome), Southeastern Brazil

Brazil is a great source of arbovirus diversity, mainly in the Amazon region. However, other biomes, especially the Atlantic Forest, may also be a hotspot for emerging viruses, including Bunyaviruses (Negarnaviricota: Bunyavirales). For instance, Vale do Ribeira, located in the Southeastern region, has been widely studied for virus surveillance, where Flavivirus, Alphavirus and Bunyaviruses were isolated during the last decades, including Bruconha virus (BRCV), a member of Orthobunyavirus genus Group C, in 1976. Recently, a new isolate of BRCV named Span321532 was obtained from an adult sentinel mouse placed in Iguape city in 2011, and a full-length genome was generated with nucleotide differences ranging between 1.5%, 5.3% and 5% (L, M and S segments, respectively) from the prototype isolated 35 years earlier. In addition, each segment placed BRCV into different clusters, showing the high variety within Bunyavirales. Although no evidence for reassortants was detected, this finding reiterates the need for new surveillance and genomic studies in the area considering the high mutation rates of arbovirus, and also to identify the hosts capable of supporting the continuous circulation of Orthobunyavirus

The influence of the ph and salinity of water in breeding sites on the occurrence and community composition of immature mosquitoes in the green belt of the city of São Paulo, Brazil

The physicochemical parameters of water, such as pH, salinity, conductivity, and total dissolved solids, can influence mosquito larval development, survival, and abundance. Therefore, it is important to elucidate how these factors influence mosquito occurrence. We hypothesized that the occurrence and community composition of immature mosquito species are driven not only by the availability of suitable aquatic habitats, but also by the physicochemical factors of these habitats. The primary objective of this study was therefore to investigate the influence of the physicochemical parameters of water in different types of aquatic habitats on the occurrence of mosquito species in two remnants of Atlantic Forest in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Collections of immature mosquitoes and assessment of the physicochemical characteristics of the water in the collection sites were car-ried out for twelve months. The variation in species composition and occurrence with the measured physicochemical parameters and the type of breeding site was assessed using constrained ordination methods. The results indicate that there was a statistically significant difference in species composition as a function of the different types of aquatic habitats, and that pH had an influence on species occurrence even when the variance explained by the type of aquatic habitat was removed from the analysis. There was a statistically significant association between mosquito species occurrence and pH and salinity, and the former had a significant influence on the mosquito species collected regardless of the type of aquatic habitat, showing that the pH of the breeding site water is an important factor in driving mosquito population dynamics and species distribution

Not available

Os Flavivirus são transmitidos por mosquitos (Diptera: Culicidae) que se refugiam em remanesctentes de Mata Atlântica. Essas áreas verdes correspondem às Unidades de Conservação e parques urbanos, que estão espalhados pela região metropolitana de São Paulo. Este estudo foi realizado com o intuito de conhecer as espécies de culicídeos que circulam na Área de Proteção Ambiental (APA) Capivari-Monos, na zona Sul do município de São Paulo, e no Parque Estadual da Cantareira (PEC), na zona Norte do mesmo município, e de investigar infecção natural por Flavivirus na fauna de culicídeos amostrada. Também foi proposto relacionar a variedade, a quantidade e identidade dos Flavivirus detectados com os padrões de riqueza, abundância e diversidade das assembleias de mosquitos. Foram realizadas 14 coletas, mensalmente, em quatro pontos de coleta na APA e três no PEC, todos com diferentes níveis de intervenção antrópica, no período de março de 2016 a abril de 2017. Armadilhas automáticas luminosastipo CDC (com atração de CO2 e ácido lático) foram instaladas na copa das árvores e no nível do solo. O esforço amostral foi equivalente para os todos os pontos, sendo que foram instaladas duas armadilhas em cada ponto (uma na copa e outra no solo), com 18 horas de coleta, permitindo amostragem de culicídeos de hábitos diurnos, crepusculares e noturnos. Os espécimes foram transportados com vida para o Laboratório de Saúde Pública da Faculdade de Saúde Pública da Universidade de São Paulo, criopreservados a temperatura -70ºC, identificados morfologicamente e agrupados em pools (com até 10 indivíduos). Os pools foram submetidos à técnica de isolamento viral em cultura de células (C6/36), seguida do teste de imunofluorescência indireta. Os pools positivos foram submetidos à reação de RT-qPCR e, posteriormente, sequenciados. Duas árvores de similaridade foram construídas para confirmação dos Flavivirus. No total, 1216 exemplares de culicídeos foram amostrados (13 gêneros), cuja riqueza foi de 42 táxons. A APA registrou a maior abundância (878 espécimes) e maior riqueza (37 táxons). A Cachoeira foi o ponto de coleta na APA que amostrou a maior riqueza e abundância, contudo, com a mais baixa diversidade. Entretanto, a Borracharia obteve alta riqueza, baixa abundância e a maior diversidade. O PEC amostrou 338 indivíduos e a riqueza foi de 23 táxons. Dentre os pontos do PEC, a Trilha do Pinheirinho amostrou a maior riqueza e abundância. An. (Ker.) cruzii, Cx. (Cux.) sp, Cx. (Mel.) vaxus, Li. durhami, Wy. (Prl.) confusa e Wy. (Pho.) theobaldi foram detectadas com infecção natural por Flavivirus. O sequenciamento revelou infecção por ZIKV em An. (Ker.) cruzii, Li. durhami e Wy. (Prl.) confusa, e infecção por DENV-2 em Cx. (Cux.) sp e Cx. (Mel.) vaxus. Concluiu-se que a riqueza, abundância e diversidade estão relacionadas entre si e, juntas, influenciaram na detecção de espécies de culicídeos naturalmente infectadas por Flavivirus, sendo que estes foram detectados em espécies provenientes de pontos de coleta cuja riqueza e abundância foram altas, e a diversidade baixa. A quantidade e a variedade dos Flavivirus também foram influenciadas por esses três fatores, para ocorrer na natureza. Não foi possível correlacionar a identidade dos Flavivirus com os três fatores uma vez que as espécies detectadas com infecção natural por esses vírus não são apontadas como potenciais vetoras. Além disso, a abundância e a diversidade pareceram ter uma relação inversa entre si.Flaviviruses are transmitted by mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) that take refuge in remnants of the Atlantic Forest. These green areas correspond to Conservation Units and urban parks which are spread throughout the metropolitan region of São Paulo. This study was carried out in order to identify the Culicidae fauna that circulate in Capivari-Monos Environmental Protection Area (APA), located in the South area of the city of São Paulo, and in Cantareira State Park (PEC), North area of the same municipality and to investigate natural Flaviviruses infection in this sampled Culicidae fauna. It was also proposed to relate the variety, quantity and identity of the Flaviviruses detected with patterns of richness, abundance and diversity of mosquito assemblages. Fourteen collections were carried out monthly at four collection sites in the APA and three in the PEC, all sites with different levels of anthropogenic intervention, during March 2016 to April 2017. CDC automatic traps (with attraction of CO2 and lactic acid) were installed in the canopy and on ground. The sampling effort was equivalent for all the points, and two traps were installed at each point (one in the canopy and the other on ground), with 18 hours of sampling, allowing sampling culicidae of daytime, morning and evening twilight, and nightlyl habits. The specimens were carried alive to the Public Health Laboratory of the School of Public Health of the University of São Paulo, were cryopreserved at a -70ºC temperature, identified morphologically and grouped in pools (with up to 10 individuals). The pools were submitted to the virus isolation technique in cell culture tissue (C6 / 36), followed by the indirect immunofluorescence test. The positive pools were submitted to the RT-qPCR reaction and, subsequently, sequenced. Two similarity trees were made only to confirm Flaviviruses infection. In total, 1216 specimens of culicidae were sampled (13 genera), and the richness was 42 taxa. In addition to APA recorded the highest abundance (878 specimens) and also highest richness (37 taxa). Cachoeira was the collection site in APA that showed the greatest richness and abundance as well, however, with the lowest diversity. In addition, Borracharia obtained high richness, low abundance and highest diversity. PEC sampled 338 specimens and the richness was 23 taxa. Among the collection sites of the PEC, Pinheirinho Trail showed the highest richness and also abundance. An. (Ker.) cruzii, Cx. (Cux.) sp, Cx. (Mel.) vaxus, Li. durhami, Wy. (Prl.) confusa and Wy. (Pho.) theobaldi were detected with natural Flaviviruses infection. The sequencing analyzes revealed ZIKV infection in An. (Ker.) cruzii, Li. durhami and Wy. (Prl.) confusa, and DENV-2 infection in Cx. (Cux.) sp and Cx. (Mel.) vaxus. It has concluded that the richness, abundance and also diversity are related to each other and, together, influenced the detection of species of culicidae naturally infected by Flaviviruses, which were detected in species from collection sites whose richness and abundance were high. About quantity and variety of Flaviviruses, these were also influenced by the three factors on nature. It was not possible to correlate the identity of the Flaviviruses with the three factors since the species detected with natural infection by these viruses are not indicated as potential vectors. Moreover, abundance and diversity appeared to have an inverse relation

Not available

Os Flavivirus são transmitidos por mosquitos (Diptera: Culicidae) que se refugiam em remanesctentes de Mata Atlântica. Essas áreas verdes correspondem às Unidades de Conservação e parques urbanos, que estão espalhados pela região metropolitana de São Paulo. Este estudo foi realizado com o intuito de conhecer as espécies de culicídeos que circulam na Área de Proteção Ambiental (APA) Capivari-Monos, na zona Sul do município de São Paulo, e no Parque Estadual da Cantareira (PEC), na zona Norte do mesmo município, e de investigar infecção natural por Flavivirus na fauna de culicídeos amostrada. Também foi proposto relacionar a variedade, a quantidade e identidade dos Flavivirus detectados com os padrões de riqueza, abundância e diversidade das assembleias de mosquitos. Foram realizadas 14 coletas, mensalmente, em quatro pontos de coleta na APA e três no PEC, todos com diferentes níveis de intervenção antrópica, no período de março de 2016 a abril de 2017. Armadilhas automáticas luminosastipo CDC (com atração de CO2 e ácido lático) foram instaladas na copa das árvores e no nível do solo. O esforço amostral foi equivalente para os todos os pontos, sendo que foram instaladas duas armadilhas em cada ponto (uma na copa e outra no solo), com 18 horas de coleta, permitindo amostragem de culicídeos de hábitos diurnos, crepusculares e noturnos. Os espécimes foram transportados com vida para o Laboratório de Saúde Pública da Faculdade de Saúde Pública da Universidade de São Paulo, criopreservados a temperatura -70ºC, identificados morfologicamente e agrupados em pools (com até 10 indivíduos). Os pools foram submetidos à técnica de isolamento viral em cultura de células (C6/36), seguida do teste de imunofluorescência indireta. Os pools positivos foram submetidos à reação de RT-qPCR e, posteriormente, sequenciados. Duas árvores de similaridade foram construídas para confirmação dos Flavivirus. No total, 1216 exemplares de culicídeos foram amostrados (13 gêneros), cuja riqueza foi de 42 táxons. A APA registrou a maior abundância (878 espécimes) e maior riqueza (37 táxons). A Cachoeira foi o ponto de coleta na APA que amostrou a maior riqueza e abundância, contudo, com a mais baixa diversidade. Entretanto, a Borracharia obteve alta riqueza, baixa abundância e a maior diversidade. O PEC amostrou 338 indivíduos e a riqueza foi de 23 táxons. Dentre os pontos do PEC, a Trilha do Pinheirinho amostrou a maior riqueza e abundância. An. (Ker.) cruzii, Cx. (Cux.) sp, Cx. (Mel.) vaxus, Li. durhami, Wy. (Prl.) confusa e Wy. (Pho.) theobaldi foram detectadas com infecção natural por Flavivirus. O sequenciamento revelou infecção por ZIKV em An. (Ker.) cruzii, Li. durhami e Wy. (Prl.) confusa, e infecção por DENV-2 em Cx. (Cux.) sp e Cx. (Mel.) vaxus. Concluiu-se que a riqueza, abundância e diversidade estão relacionadas entre si e, juntas, influenciaram na detecção de espécies de culicídeos naturalmente infectadas por Flavivirus, sendo que estes foram detectados em espécies provenientes de pontos de coleta cuja riqueza e abundância foram altas, e a diversidade baixa. A quantidade e a variedade dos Flavivirus também foram influenciadas por esses três fatores, para ocorrer na natureza. Não foi possível correlacionar a identidade dos Flavivirus com os três fatores uma vez que as espécies detectadas com infecção natural por esses vírus não são apontadas como potenciais vetoras. Além disso, a abundância e a diversidade pareceram ter uma relação inversa entre si.Flaviviruses are transmitted by mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) that take refuge in remnants of the Atlantic Forest. These green areas correspond to Conservation Units and urban parks which are spread throughout the metropolitan region of São Paulo. This study was carried out in order to identify the Culicidae fauna that circulate in Capivari-Monos Environmental Protection Area (APA), located in the South area of the city of São Paulo, and in Cantareira State Park (PEC), North area of the same municipality and to investigate natural Flaviviruses infection in this sampled Culicidae fauna. It was also proposed to relate the variety, quantity and identity of the Flaviviruses detected with patterns of richness, abundance and diversity of mosquito assemblages. Fourteen collections were carried out monthly at four collection sites in the APA and three in the PEC, all sites with different levels of anthropogenic intervention, during March 2016 to April 2017. CDC automatic traps (with attraction of CO2 and lactic acid) were installed in the canopy and on ground. The sampling effort was equivalent for all the points, and two traps were installed at each point (one in the canopy and the other on ground), with 18 hours of sampling, allowing sampling culicidae of daytime, morning and evening twilight, and nightlyl habits. The specimens were carried alive to the Public Health Laboratory of the School of Public Health of the University of São Paulo, were cryopreserved at a -70ºC temperature, identified morphologically and grouped in pools (with up to 10 individuals). The pools were submitted to the virus isolation technique in cell culture tissue (C6 / 36), followed by the indirect immunofluorescence test. The positive pools were submitted to the RT-qPCR reaction and, subsequently, sequenced. Two similarity trees were made only to confirm Flaviviruses infection. In total, 1216 specimens of culicidae were sampled (13 genera), and the richness was 42 taxa. In addition to APA recorded the highest abundance (878 specimens) and also highest richness (37 taxa). Cachoeira was the collection site in APA that showed the greatest richness and abundance as well, however, with the lowest diversity. In addition, Borracharia obtained high richness, low abundance and highest diversity. PEC sampled 338 specimens and the richness was 23 taxa. Among the collection sites of the PEC, Pinheirinho Trail showed the highest richness and also abundance. An. (Ker.) cruzii, Cx. (Cux.) sp, Cx. (Mel.) vaxus, Li. durhami, Wy. (Prl.) confusa and Wy. (Pho.) theobaldi were detected with natural Flaviviruses infection. The sequencing analyzes revealed ZIKV infection in An. (Ker.) cruzii, Li. durhami and Wy. (Prl.) confusa, and DENV-2 infection in Cx. (Cux.) sp and Cx. (Mel.) vaxus. It has concluded that the richness, abundance and also diversity are related to each other and, together, influenced the detection of species of culicidae naturally infected by Flaviviruses, which were detected in species from collection sites whose richness and abundance were high. About quantity and variety of Flaviviruses, these were also influenced by the three factors on nature. It was not possible to correlate the identity of the Flaviviruses with the three factors since the species detected with natural infection by these viruses are not indicated as potential vectors. Moreover, abundance and diversity appeared to have an inverse relation

Detection of Zika and dengue viruses in wild-caught mosquitoes collected during field surveillance in an environmental protection area in São Paulo, Brazil.

Species of the genus Flavivirus are widespread in Brazil and are a major public health concern. The country's largest city, São Paulo, is in a highly urbanized area with a few forest fragments which are commonly used for recreation. These can be considered to present a potential risk of flavivirus transmission to humans as they are home simultaneously to vertebrate hosts and mosquitoes that are potential flavivirus vectors. The aim of this study was to conduct flavivirus surveillance in field-collected mosquitoes in the Capivari-Monos Environmental Protection Area (EPA) and identify the flavivirus species by sequence analysis in flavivirus IFA-positive pools. Monthly mosquito collections were carried out from March 2016 to April 2017 with CO2-baited CDC light traps. Specimens were identified morphologically and grouped in pools of up to 10 individuals according to their taxonomic category. A total of 260 pools of non-engorged females were inoculated into C6/36 cell culture, and the cell suspensions were analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) after the incubation period. IFA-positive pools were tested by qRT-PCR with genus-specific primers targeting the flavivirus NS5 gene to confirm IFA-positive results and sequenced to identify the species. Anopheles cruzii (19.5%) and Wyeomyia confusa (15.3%) were the most frequent vector species collected. IFA was positive for flaviviruses in 2.3% (6/260) of the sample pools. This was confirmed by qRT-PCR in five pools (83.3%). All five flavivirus-positive pools were successfully sequenced and the species identified. DENV serotype 2 (DENV-2) was detected in Culex spp. and Culex vaxus pools, while ZIKV was identified in An. cruzii, Limatus durhamii and Wy. confusa pools. To the best of our knowledge, detection of flavivirus species of medical importance has never previously been reported in these species of wild-caught mosquitoes. The finding of DENV-2 and ZIKV circulating in wild mosquitoes suggests the existence of an enzootic cycle in the area. In-depth studies of DENV-2 and ZIKV, including investigation of mosquito infection, vector competence and infection in sylvatic hosts, are needed to shed light on the transmission dynamics of these important viruses and the potential risk of future outbreaks of DENV-2 and ZIKV infections in the region

The Influence of the pH and Salinity of Water in Breeding Sites on the Occurrence and Community Composition of Immature Mosquitoes in the Green Belt of the City of São Paulo, Brazil

The physicochemical parameters of water, such as pH, salinity, conductivity, and total dissolved solids, can influence mosquito larval development, survival, and abundance. Therefore, it is important to elucidate how these factors influence mosquito occurrence. We hypothesized that the occurrence and community composition of immature mosquito species are driven not only by the availability of suitable aquatic habitats, but also by the physicochemical factors of these habitats. The primary objective of this study was therefore to investigate the influence of the physicochemical parameters of water in different types of aquatic habitats on the occurrence of mosquito species in two remnants of Atlantic Forest in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Collections of immature mosquitoes and assessment of the physicochemical characteristics of the water in the collection sites were carried out for twelve months. The variation in species composition and occurrence with the measured physicochemical parameters and the type of breeding site was assessed using constrained ordination methods. The results indicate that there was a statistically significant difference in species composition as a function of the different types of aquatic habitats, and that pH had an influence on species occurrence even when the variance explained by the type of aquatic habitat was removed from the analysis. There was a statistically significant association between mosquito species occurrence and pH and salinity, and the former had a significant influence on the mosquito species collected regardless of the type of aquatic habitat, showing that the pH of the breeding site water is an important factor in driving mosquito population dynamics and species distribution

Composition and diversity of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in urban parks in the South region of the city of São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract Many parks in the city of São Paulo contain remnants of Atlantic Forest. Of the 30 municipal parks in the South of the city, we investigated two in this study (Santo Dias Park and Shangrilá Park) in order to survey their mosquito fauna and investigate the presence of potential bioindicators of environmental conditions and vectors of human pathogens. Mosquitoes were collected monthly between March 2011 and February 2012 using aspirators, Shannon and CDC traps for adult mosquitoes and larval dippers and suction samplers for immature forms. Sampling effort was evaluated by plotting a species accumulation curve, and total richness was estimated using the first-order jackknife. To compare the diversity between the two parks Shannon and Simpson diversity indexes were calculated. Species similarity was compared by the Sorensen similarity index. In all, 8,850 specimens were sampled in both parks. Collections in Santo Dias Park yielded 1,577 adult mosquitoes and 658 immature individuals distributed in seven genera (Aedes, Anopheles, Culex, Limatus, Mansonia, Toxorhynchites and Wyeomyia) and 27 taxonomic units. Among the adult mosquitoes collected, Culex nigripalpus .and Aedes fluviatilis were the most abundant, while the most abundant immature forms were Cx. imitator, Wy. davisi, Wy. galvaoi and Ae. albopictus. Collections in Shangrilá Park yielded 4,952 adult specimens and 1,663 immature forms distributed in eight genera (Aedes, Anopheles, Culex, Limatus, Mansonia, Toxorhynchites, Uranotaenia and Wyeomyia) and 36 taxonomic units. Species accumulation curves in both parks were close to the asymptote, and the total richness estimate was close to the observed richness. Although the observed species richness was higher in the Shangrilá Park, there was no statistically significant difference between the diversity indexes measured. Regarding species composition, the two sites shared 16 species, including those of epidemiological importance such as Culex nigripalpus, Cx. quinquefasciatus, Aedes albopictus and Ae. aegypti. As some of the mosquito taxa found are bioindicators of environmental conditions and have epidemiological potential to carry pathogens, we recommend that urban parks should be included in official mosquito surveillance programs, and regular surveys carried out to detect circulating arboviruses