Mosquito species diversity and mosquitoassociated viruses from the Atrato River valley in Northwest Colombia
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Abstract
Colombia is one of the hotspots regarding mosquito biodiversity and mosquito-transmitted diseases.
Endemic, tropical diseases like malaria and dengue are major public health issues and novel viruses of
zoonotic origin like Chikungunya and Zika are emerging. Nevertheless, little is known about the
mosquito vector species circulating in remote Colombian regions and the mosquito-associated
viromes.
In a pilot study carried out from August 2014 to December 2016, more than 8000 mosquitoes (Diptera:
Culicidae) were collected in the Atrato River valley in Northwest Colombia to identify the mosquito
species in the region and get information on the species abundance, biting behaviour, and phylogeny
of these mosquito species. In addition, a PCR- and NGS-based virus search was promoted in the most
abundantly collected mosquito species to get insight into the virome of each mosquito species and
identify yet undescribed mosquito-associated viruses, sequence their genomes, establish their
phylogenetic relationships with formerly described viruses and describe their genome organizations.
More than 43 mosquito species of 14 genera could be identified by morphology and molecular markers
(Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1, internal transcribed spacer 2), and their biting behaviours and
phylogenetic relationships were described. Mansonia titillans (17,7%), Psorophora albipes (16,5%),
Anopheles darlingi (15,8%), Anopheles nuneztovari (10,9%), Coquillettidiae venezuelensis (8,9%), and
Coquillettidiae lynchi (8,6%) were the most abundantly collected mosquito species, each bearing a
species-specific virome. Moreover, 46 human blood samples from patients with suspicion of malaria
were screened for viruses. A total of 64 novel viruses were discovered in mosquitoes and human blood
samples. The genomes of these viruses were sequenced and annotated, and the viruses were assigned
to a taxonomic rank by phylogenetic analyses.
Each of the mosquito species just mentioned has been involved in the transmission of zoonotic
diseases. The Atrato River valley thus harbours a high diversity of mosquito species and associated
undiscovered viruses, the majority being insect and plant viruses. Systematic monitoring of mosquito
species diversity and mosquito-associated viruses in biodiversity hotspots could be a promising
approach for the prevention and control of novel zoonotic diseases.