8 research outputs found
Seasonal Phenological Patterns and Flavivirus Vectorial Capacity of Medically Important Mosquito Species in a Wetland and an Urban Area of Attica, Greece
Seasonal patterns of mosquito population density and their vectorial capacity constitute major elements to understand the epidemiology of mosquito-borne diseases. Using adult mosquito traps, we compared the population dynamics of major mosquito species (Culex pipiens, Aedes albopictus, Anopheles spp.) in an urban and a wetland rural area of Attica Greece. Pools of the captured Cx. pipiens were analyzed to determine infection rates of the West Nile virus (WNV) and the Usutu virus (USUV). The data provided were collected under the frame of the surveillance program carried out in two regional units (RUs) of the Attica region (East Attica and South Sector of Attica), during the period 2017–2018. The entomological surveillance of adult mosquitoes was performed on a weekly basis using a network of BG-sentinel traps (BGs), baited with CO2 and BG-Lure, in selected, fixed sampling sites. A total of 46,726 adult mosquitoes were collected, with larger variety and number of species in East Attica (n = 37,810), followed by the South Sector of Attica (n = 8916). The collected mosquitoes were morphologically identified to species level and evaluated for their public health importance. Collected Cx. pipiens adults were pooled and tested for West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) presence by implementation of a targeted molecular methodology (real-time PCR). A total of 366 mosquito pools were analyzed for WNV and USUV, respectively, and 38 (10.4%) positive samples were recorded for WNV, while no positive pool was detected for USUV. The majority of positive samples for WNV were detected in the East Attica region, followed by the South Sector of Attica, respectively. The findings of the current study highlight the WNV circulation in the region of Attica and the concomitant risk for the country, rendering mosquito surveillance actions and integrated mosquito management programs as imperative public health interventions
Entomological Study of the Mosquito Fauna in the Regional Unit of Drama, Region of East Macedonia-Thrace, Greece (2015 to 2016)
This study reports the mosquito collections conducted from June to
September of 2015 and 2016, in Regional Unit (R.U.) of Drama, East
Macedonia-Thrace Region, in Northeastern Greece. A total of 923
specimens were examined based on their morphological characteristics and
identified to the species level. Medically important taxa were
recognized among the 15 mosquito species recorded belonging to seven
genera. All data presented here comprise new distribution records due to
lack of previous mosquito faunal surveys in the R.U. of Drama
Entomological Data and Detection of West Nile Virus in Mosquitoes in Greece (2014-2016), Before Disease Re-Emergence in 2017
West Nile virus (WNV) cases were seasonally recorded in humans and
animals in Greece, from 2010 to 2014, and circulation of the virus was
detected in different Regional Units of the country. Small scale
entomological surveillance activities were carried out by several
regions and regional units in Greece, during 2014-2016, with the
participation of subcontractors for the vector control programs aiming
to record presence/absence of mosquito species, and monitor and control
mosquito populations. Mosquito traps were placed in rural and urban
sites; specimens were collected, morphologically characterized, and
pooled by date of collection, location, and species types. Mosquito
pools containing Culex pipiens, Aedes caspius, and Aedes albopictus were
examined for the presence of WNV and positive pools were detected in
different areas of the country. Sequencing of a selected number of
amplicons revealed WNV lineage 2 partial NS5 gene sequences. In this
study, we present data on the mosquito species composition in the areas
of study and WNV detection from several parts of Greece, in 6, 11, and
26 mosquito pools corresponding to the years 2014, 2015, and 2016,
respectively. A total of 15 WNV human infections were reported to the
public health authorities of the country in 2014, whereas no human cases
were detected for 2015-2016. Taking into consideration the complex
epidemiological profile of WNV and unforeseen changes in its
circulation, re-emergence of WNV human cases in Greece was possible and
expected, thus rendering surveillance activities imperative
Molecular Evidence of a Broad Range of Pathogenic Bacteria in Ctenocephalides spp.: Should We Re-Examine the Role of Fleas in the Transmission of Pathogens?
The internal microbiome of common cat and dog fleas was studied for DNA evidence of pathogenic bacteria. Fleas were grouped in pools by parasitized animal. DNA was extracted and investigated with 16S metagenomics for medically relevant (MR) bacteria, based on the definitions of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (WHO). The MR bacterial species totaled 40, were found in 60% of flea-pools (N = 100), and included Acinetobacterbaumannii, Bacteroidesfragilis, Clostridiumperfringens, Enterococcusfaecalis, E. mundtii, Fusobacteriumnucleatum, Haemophilusaegyptius, Kingellakingae, Klebsiellapneumoniae, Leptotrichiabuccalis, L. hofstadii, Moraxellalacunata, Pasteurellamultocida, Propionibacteriumacnes, P. propionicum, Proteusmirabilis, Pseudomonasaeruginosa, Rickettsiaaustralis, R. hoogstraalii, Salmonellaenterica, and various Bartonella, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus species. B. henselae (p = 0.004) and B. clarridgeiae (p = 0.006) occurred more frequently in fleas from cats, whereas Rickettsiahoogstraalii (p = 0.031) and Propionibacteriumacnes (p = 0.029) had a preference in fleas from stray animals. Most of the discovered MR species can form biofilm, and human exposure may theoretically occur through the flea-host interface. The fitness of these pathogenic bacteria to cause infection and the potential role of fleas in the transmission of a broad range of diseases should be further investigated
Entomological Surveillance Activities in Regions in Greece: Data on Mosquito Species Abundance and West Nile Virus Detection in <i>Culex pipiens</i> Pools (2019–2020)
Human cases of West Nile virus (WNV) infections have been recorded in Greece since 2010, with seasonal outbreaks (summer-autumn) on an almost annual basis, caused mainly by the WNV lineage 2 strain (Nea Santa-Greece-2010). National Public Health Organization (NPHO) in Greece is annually implementing enhanced surveillance of human WNV infection, in order to promptly identify human cases of WNV infection and monitor distribution in terms of time and place. Entomological surveillance activities were carried out on a national basis in 2019 and 2020, under NPHO coordination and the collaboration of several private subcontractors, along with the Unit of Medical Entomology, Laboratory for Surveillance of Infectious Diseases (LSID). The aim was to monitor mosquito species composition, abundance, and WNV circulation in mosquito pools of Culex pipiens s.l. species. Adult mosquito traps were placed in selected sites; collected samples were morphologically characterized and pooled by date of collection, location, and species types. Female Culex pipiens s.l. pools were tested for WNV and WNV infection rates (MIR and MLE) were estimated. Highest mean number of female Culex pipiens s.l. species was recorded in Central Macedonia both for 2019 and 2020. Six hundred and fifty-nine mosquito pools (147 in 2019 and 512 in 2020) of female Culex pipiens s.l. were examined for WNV presence. The highest MLE was detected in Western Macedonia in 2019 and in Thessaly in 2020. Here, we present data on the mosquito species composition in the studied areas and WNV detection in mosquitoes from areas in Greece where the specific national mosquito surveillance program was implemented, for two years, 2019 and 2020
Records of Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1894) (Diptera; Culicidae) and Culex tritaeniorhynchus (Diptera; Culicidae) Expansion in Areas in Mainland Greece and Islands
Annual entomological surveillance programs aiming to monitor mosquito
populations and record presence and absence of mosquito species have
been performed in Greece. We report, in this study, new records and
expansion of Aedes albopictus in the islands of Lesvos (region of North
Aegean), Crete (region of Crete), and the regional units of Rodopi in
East Macedonia-Thrace. Furthermore, Culex tritaeniorhynchus was recorded
for the first time in Arta (region of Epirus) in northwestern Greece
Seasonal Phenological Patterns and Flavivirus Vectorial Capacity of Medically Important Mosquito Species in a Wetland and an Urban Area of Attica, Greece
Seasonal patterns of mosquito population density and their vectorial capacity constitute major elements to understand the epidemiology of mosquito-borne diseases. Using adult mosquito traps, we compared the population dynamics of major mosquito species (Culex pipiens, Aedes albopictus, Anopheles spp.) in an urban and a wetland rural area of Attica Greece. Pools of the captured Cx. pipiens were analyzed to determine infection rates of the West Nile virus (WNV) and the Usutu virus (USUV). The data provided were collected under the frame of the surveillance program carried out in two regional units (RUs) of the Attica region (East Attica and South Sector of Attica), during the period 2017–2018. The entomological surveillance of adult mosquitoes was performed on a weekly basis using a network of BG-sentinel traps (BGs), baited with CO2 and BG-Lure, in selected, fixed sampling sites. A total of 46,726 adult mosquitoes were collected, with larger variety and number of species in East Attica (n = 37,810), followed by the South Sector of Attica (n = 8916). The collected mosquitoes were morphologically identified to species level and evaluated for their public health importance. Collected Cx. pipiens adults were pooled and tested for West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) presence by implementation of a targeted molecular methodology (real-time PCR). A total of 366 mosquito pools were analyzed for WNV and USUV, respectively, and 38 (10.4%) positive samples were recorded for WNV, while no positive pool was detected for USUV. The majority of positive samples for WNV were detected in the East Attica region, followed by the South Sector of Attica, respectively. The findings of the current study highlight the WNV circulation in the region of Attica and the concomitant risk for the country, rendering mosquito surveillance actions and integrated mosquito management programs as imperative public health interventions
West Nile Virus Circulation in Mosquitoes in Greece (2010-2013)
Background of the Study. Following a large West Nile virus (WNV)
epidemic in Northern Greece in 2010, an active mosquito surveillance
system was implemented, for a 3-year period (2011, 2012, and 2013).
Description of the Study Site and Methodology. Using mainly CO2 mosquito
traps, mosquito collections were performed. Samples were pooled by date
of collection, location, and species and examined for the presence of
WNV. Results. Positive pools were detected in different areas of the
country. In 2010, MIR and MLE values of 1.92 (95% CI: 0.00-4.57) and
2.30 (95% CI: 0.38-7.49) were calculated for the Serres Regional Unit
in Central Macedonia Region. In 2011, the highest MIR value of 3.71(95%
CI: 1.52-5.91) was recorded in the Regions of Central Greece and
Thessaly. In 2012, MIR and MLE values for the whole country were 2.03
(95% CI: 1.73-2.33) and 2.15 (95% CI: 1.86-2.48), respectively, for
Cx. pipiens. In 2013, in the Regional Unit of Attica, the one outbreak
epicenter, MIR and MLE values for Cx. pipiens were 10.75 (95% CI:
7.52-13.99) and 15.76 (95% CI: 11.66-20.65), respectively. Significance
of Results/Conclusions. The contribution of a mosquito-based
surveillance system targeting WNV transmission is highlighted through
the obtained data, as in most regions positive mosquito pools were
detected prior to the date of symptom onset of human cases.
Dissemination of the results on time to Public Health Authorities
resulted in planning and application of public health interventions in
local level