Gilda Grard; Mélanie Caron; Illich Manfred Mombo; Dieudonné Nkoghe; Statiana Mboui Ondo; Davy Jiolle; Didier Fontenille; Christophe Paupy; Eric Maurice Leroy

“ The ratio of Aedes albopictus pools positive for ZIKV was similar to that positive for dengue virus during the concomitant dengue outbreak suggesting similar mosquito infection rates and, presumably, underlying a human ZIKV outbreak. ZIKV sequences from the envelope and NS3 genes were amplified from a human serum sample. Phylogenetic analysis placed the Gabonese ZIKV at a basal position in the African lineage, pointing to ancestral genetic diversification and spread. ”

“ This mosquito species being native to South-East Asia, our findings may help to explain human ZIKV transmission in Asia.
Aedes albopictus was first introduced in Africa in 1991 [31] and detected in Gabon in 2007, where its invasion likely contributed to the emergence of CHIKV and DENV in this country [14] – [16] , [32] . Multiple lines of evidence supporting its increasing impact as an arboviral vector have also been obtained during CHIKV outbreaks in the Indian Ocean region (2005–2007) and in Italy (2007) [33] , [34] through viral evolutionary convergence of Ae. ”

“ These data reveal an unusual natural life cycle for this virus, occurring in an urban environment, and potentially representing a new emerging threat due to this novel association with a highly invasive vector whose geographic range is still expanding across the globe.==Abstract== Author SummaryNot previously considered an important human arboviral pathogen, the epidemic capacity of Zika virus (ZIKV, a dengue-related flavivirus) was revealed by the Micronesia outbreak in 2007, which affected about 5000 persons. ”

“ Genetic and serologic properties of Zika virus associated with an epidemic, Yap State, Micronesia, 2007. Emerg Infect Dis 14: 1232–1239 pmid:186806461 2 Leroy EM, Nkoghe D, Ollomo B, Nze-Nkogue C, Becquart P, et al. (2009) Concurrent chikungunya and dengue virus infections during simultaneous outbreaks, Gabon, 2007. Emerg Infect Dis 15: 591–593 pmid:193317401 2 3 4 Caron M, Paupy C, Grard G, Becquart P, Mombo I, et al. (2012) Recent introduction and rapid dissemination of Chikungunya virus and Dengue virus serotype 2 associated with human and mosquito coinfections in Gabon, central Africa. ”

“ A single mutation in chikungunya virus affects vector specificity and epidemic potential. PLoS Pathog 3: e201. pmid:18069894↑ Medlock JM, Hansford KM, Schaffner F, Versteirt V, Hendrickx G, et al. (2012) A review of the invasive mosquitoes in Europe: ecology, public health risks, and control options. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 12: 435–447 pmid:22448724↑ Benedict MQ, Levine RS, Hawley WA, Lounibos LP (2007) Spread of the tiger: global risk of invasion by the mosquito Aedes albopictus. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 7: 76–85 pmid:17417960↑ Promed-Mail. ”

“ Microbes Infect 11: 1165–1176 pmid:19747979↑ Kilbourn AM, Karesh WB, Wolfe ND, Bosi EJ, Cook RA, et al. (2003) Health evaluation of free-ranging and semi-captive orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus) in Sabah, Malaysia. ”