Introduction of Aedes albopictus in Gabon: what consequences for dengue and chikungunya transmission?

Marie Vazeille (1) , Sara Moutailler (1) , Frédéric Pagès (2, 3) , Fanny Jarjaval (3) , Anna-Bella Failloux (1)

1 Génétique Moléculaire des Bunyavirus
2 IMTSSA - Institut de Médecine Tropicale du Service de Santé des Armées
3 Laboratoire d'entomologie [Marseille]

The 2007 outbreak of chikungunya in Gabon has indicated the potential of this disease to spread beyond its usual range ensuing from the expansion of the mosquito Aedes albopictus. A few cases of dengue (DEN) infection were also detected. Because little is known about the potential for Gabonese mosquito species to transmit both chikungunya and DEN viruses (DENV), we conducted studies to determine the susceptibility of Ae. albopictus and Aedes aegypti collected in Libreville to both viruses by experimental infections. Disseminated infection rates were high for Ae. albopictus infected with chikungunya virus (CHIKV) (66.7-86%) and low with DENV (13-21.4%). Moreover, Ae. aegypti sp. formosus was a less efficient vector of CHIKV than Ae. albopictus. The recent introduction and dissemination of chikungunya associated with the invasion of Ae. albopictus in Africa illustrates the potential for CHIKV to spread to other parts of the world.

Keywords: Aedes albopictus; chikungunya; dengue; vector competence; Gabon

Domains: Microbiology and Parasitology

Marie Vazeille, Sara Moutailler, Frédéric Pagès, Fanny Jarjaval, Anna-Bella Failloux. Introduction of Aedes albopictus in Gabon: what consequences for dengue and chikungunya transmission?. Tropical Medicine and International Health, 2008, 13 (9), pp.1176 - 1179. ⟨10.1111/j.1365-3156.2008.02123.x⟩. ⟨pasteur-01696176⟩