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Maintaining Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes Infected with Wolbachia
Published on: August 14, 2017
Mosquitoes provide a transmission route between possums and humans for Buruli ulcer in southeastern Australia
Peter T Mee1, Andrew H Buultjens2, Jane Oliver3
1Centre for AgriBioscience, AgriBio, Agriculture Victoria, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia. peter.mee@agriculture.vic.gov.au.
Abstract:
Buruli ulcer, a chronic subcutaneous infection caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, is increasing in prevalence in southeastern Australia. Possums are a local wildlife reservoir for M. ulcerans and, although mosquitoes have been implicated in transmission, it remains unclear how humans acquire infection. We conducted extensive field survey analyses of M. ulcerans prevalence among mosquitoes in the Mornington Peninsula region of southeastern Australia. PCR screening of trapped mosquitoes revealed a significant association between M. ulcerans and Aedes notoscriptus. Spatial scanning statistics revealed overlap between clusters of M. ulcerans-positive Ae. notoscriptus, M. ulcerans-positive possum excreta and Buruli ulcer cases, and metabarcoding analyses showed individual mosquitoes had fed on humans and possums. Bacterial genomic analysis confirmed shared single-nucleotide-polymorphism profiles for M. ulcerans detected in mosquitoes, possum excreta and humans. These findings indicate Ae. notoscriptus probably transmit M. ulcerans in southeastern Australia and highlight mosquito control as a Buruli ulcer prevention measure.
Insights
Mosquitoes, specifically Aedes notoscriptus, likely transmit Mycobacterium ulcerans, the cause of Buruli ulcer, in southeastern Australia. This finding highlights mosquito control as a key prevention strategy for this chronic infection.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Medical Entomology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Buruli ulcer, a chronic subcutaneous infection, is caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans.
- The prevalence of Buruli ulcer is increasing in southeastern Australia.
- While possums are a known wildlife reservoir for M. ulcerans, the transmission route to humans remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of mosquitoes in the transmission of Mycobacterium ulcerans in southeastern Australia.
- To identify potential vectors for M. ulcerans in the Mornington Peninsula region.
- To determine the association between mosquito infection, wildlife reservoirs, and human cases of Buruli ulcer.
Main Methods:
- Extensive field surveys of mosquito populations in southeastern Australia.
- Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) screening of trapped mosquitoes for M. ulcerans.
- Spatial scanning statistics to analyze the overlap of M. ulcerans-positive mosquitoes, possum excreta, and human cases.
- Metabarcoding analysis to identify blood meal sources in individual mosquitoes.
- Bacterial genomic analysis to compare M. ulcerans strains.
Main Results:
- A significant association was found between M. ulcerans and the mosquito species Aedes notoscriptus.
- Spatial analysis revealed an overlap between clusters of M. ulcerans-positive Ae. notoscriptus, possum excreta, and Buruli ulcer cases.
- Metabarcoding confirmed that individual Ae. notoscriptus mosquitoes had fed on both humans and possums.
- Genomic analysis confirmed shared M. ulcerans strains among mosquitoes, possums, and humans.
Conclusions:
- Ae. notoscriptus mosquitoes are likely vectors for Mycobacterium ulcerans transmission in southeastern Australia.
- Findings support the role of mosquitoes in the epidemiology of Buruli ulcer in this region.
- Mosquito control measures are recommended as a strategy for Buruli ulcer prevention.
