Effects of Ascogregarina culicis (Eugregarinorida: Lecudinidae) on Mosquito Size and Dengue Virus Infection in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae). 2021

Panpim Thongsripong, and Dawn M Wesson
Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, Suite 2301, New Orleans, LA.

Dengue virus infection, transmitted via mosquito bites, poses a substantial risk to global public health. Studies suggest that the mosquito's microbial community can profoundly influence vector-borne pathogen transmissions, including dengue virus. Ascogregarina culicis (Ross) of the phylum Apicomplexa is among the most common parasites of Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus), the principal vector of dengue. Despite a high prevalence worldwide, including in the areas where dengue is endemic, the impact of A. culicis on Ae. aegypti vector competence for dengue virus is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effects of A. culicis infection on mosquito size and fitness, as measured by wing length, and the susceptibility to dengue virus infection in Ae. aegypti. Our results showed that there was no statistically significant difference in wing lengths between Ae. aegypti infected and not infected with A. culicis. Furthermore, A. culicis infection did not significantly affect dengue virus infection or disseminated infection rate. However, there was a significant association between shorter wings and higher dengue virus infection rate, whereby a 0.1-mm increase in wing length decreased the odds of the mosquito being infected by 32%. Thus, based on our result, A. culicis infection does not influence the body size and dengue virus infection in Ae. aegypti. This study helps to shed light on a common but neglected eukaryotic mosquito parasite.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D003716 Dengue Virus A species of the genus FLAVIVIRUS which causes an acute febrile and sometimes hemorrhagic disease in man. Dengue is mosquito-borne and four serotypes are known. Breakbone Fever Virus,Breakbone Fever Viruses,Dengue Viruses,Fever Virus, Breakbone,Fever Viruses, Breakbone,Virus, Breakbone Fever,Virus, Dengue,Viruses, Breakbone Fever,Viruses, Dengue
D005260 Female Females
D000072138 Mosquito Vectors Mosquitoes (members of the family CULICIDAE) that transmit pathogens or their intermediate forms from one host to another. Mosquito Vector,Vector, Mosquito,Vectors, Mosquito
D000330 Aedes A genus of mosquitoes (CULICIDAE) frequently found in tropical and subtropical regions. YELLOW FEVER and DENGUE are two of the diseases that can be transmitted by species of this genus. Aede
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D016782 Apicomplexa A phylum of unicellular parasitic EUKARYOTES characterized by the presence of complex apical organelles generally consisting of a conoid that aids in penetrating host cells, rhoptries that possibly secrete a proteolytic enzyme, and subpellicular microtubules that may be related to motility. Sporozoa,Sporozoea,Apicomplexas,Sporozoas,Sporozoeas
D049628 Body Size The physical measurements of a body. Body Sizes,Size, Body,Sizes, Body
D054884 Host-Pathogen Interactions The interactions between a host and a pathogen, usually resulting in disease. Host Pathogen Interaction,Host-Pathogen Relations,Pathogen-Host Interaction,Pathogen-Host Interactions,Host Pathogen Interactions,Host Pathogen Relations,Host-Pathogen Interaction,Host-Pathogen Relation,Interaction, Host Pathogen,Interaction, Host-Pathogen,Interaction, Pathogen-Host,Interactions, Host Pathogen,Interactions, Host-Pathogen,Interactions, Pathogen-Host,Pathogen Host Interaction,Pathogen Host Interactions,Pathogen Interaction, Host,Pathogen Interactions, Host,Relation, Host-Pathogen,Relations, Host-Pathogen

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