RT-PCR assessment of mosquitoes of the genus Aedes for natural infection with the arbovirus causing dengue fever across Hormozgan Province, Iran, during 2017.

Background: : Mosquitoes of the genus Aedes (Diptera: Culicidae) are vectors for a variety of arboviral diseases all around the world, including dengue fever, which is considered one of the most important arboviral diseases as it can turn into dengue hemorrhagic fever. This disease afflicts more than 100 million people a year worldwide, causing the death of 15% of the sufferers.Objectives: The present study aimed to explore possible infections with dengue virus among the vectors in a selection of regions across Hormozgan Province, Iran.Materials and Methods: The current study was performed throughout 2017, While ovitraps and the dipping method were employed for the collection and identification of the larvae, the adults were collected and identified by dint of human and animal baits, light traps, total catches, and hand catches. Molecular studies were conducted on suspected species by using COI (DNA barcode) genes. Furthermore, RT-PCR analysis was carried out to determine possible infections with dengue virus in the collected mosquitoes.Results: In total, 447 adult specimens and 852 larval specimens were collected from four selected cities in Hormozgan Province, Iran, and subsequently were identified as belonging to five species of the genus Aedes. Real-time RT-PCR assessment of Aedes mosquitoes, namely Ae.caspius (80 larvae and 100 adults), Ae.vexans (120 larvae and 240 adults), and Ae.vittatus (30 larvae and 7 adults), for possible infections with dengue fever revealed no evidence of infection.Conclusion: The disease causative agent can be transported to Iran by infected travelers coming from affected countries. Hence, running vector control programs as well as entomological checks at ports and airports is of major priority and particular importance. It is also essential that seroepidemiological examinations are performed across not only Hormozgan Province but also other provinces where patients with no history of travel have been reported.

کلیدواژه ها:

Aedes ، Dengue fever ، COI (DNA barcode) ، RT-PCR ، Hormozgan ، Iran