Aedes albopictus from Albania: a potential vector of dengue viruses

Aedes albopictus collected in Durazzo, the main port of Albania, were tested for oral susceptibility to dengue type 2 virus and their infection rates were compared to those of an Aedes aegypti strain (Paea) and another strain of Ae. albopictus (Tananarive). Infection rates for the Albanian Ae. albopictus were dose dependent, ranging from 38.9 +/- 13.6% to 85.1% with the titer of the meal increasing from 10 x 8.1 to 10 x 9.1 50% mosquito infectious doses (MID50)/ml. The percentage of infected females was lower for the Ae. albopictus Durazzo strain than for the Ae. aegypti Paea strain: 38.9 +/- 13.6% compared with 92.4 +/- 4.9% for a meal of 10 x 8.1 MID50/ml, respectively. However, the difference was less when the titer of the meal was increased: 85.1% compared with 100% for a meal of 10 x 9.1 MID50/ml, respectively. The infection rate was also lower for the Durazzo strain than for the Tananarive strain of Ae. albopictus. The degree of viral replication in infected females was not significantly different in the 3 strains tested and we were able to demonstrate the ability of females from the Durazzo strain to transmit the virus in the course of a blood meal. Our results lead us to conclude that Ae. albopictus from Albania could serve as a vector for dengue virus.