Distribution and Molecular Identification of <i>Culex pipiens</i> and <i>Culex tritaeniorhynchus</i> as Potential Vectors of Rift Valley Fever Virus in Jazan, Saudi Arabia

oleh: Saleh Eifan, Atif Hanif, Islam Nour, Sultan Alqahtani, Zaki M. Eisa, Ommer Dafalla, Alain Kohl

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2021-10-01

Deskripsi

Entomologic investigations were conducted in the Al-Darb, Al-Reath, Al-Aridah, Abuareesh, Al-Ahad, Samttah, Sabyah, Damad and Beash areas by CO<sub>2</sub>-baited CDC miniature light traps in the Jazan region. Vectors were identified morphologically, as well as COI gene segment amplification and sequencing. The relative abundance (RA%) and pattern of occurrence (C%) were recorded. The presence of the Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) in pooled mosquito samples was investigated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). <i>Culex pipiens</i> (<i>C. pipiens</i>) and <i>Culex tritaeniorhynchus</i> (<i>C. tritaeniorhynchus</i>) were found with RA% values of 96% and 4%, respectively, in the region. Significant variations in vector population densities were observed in different districts. The <i>C. pipiens</i> was found highly abundant in all districts and RA% value (100%) was recorded in the Al-Darb, Al-Reath, Al-Aridah, Samttah and Damad areas, whereas RA% values (93.75%, 93.33%, 92.30% and 91.66%) were noted in Al-Ahad, Sabyah, Abuareesh and Beash districts, respectively. RA% values for <i>C. tritaeniorhynchus</i> were recorded as 8.33%, 7.70%, 6.66% and 6.25% in Beash, Abuareesh, Sabyah and Al-Ahad areas, respectively. The pattern of occurrence for <i>C. pipiens</i> and <i>C. tritaeniorhynchus</i> was recorded as 100% and 44.4% in the region. Phylogenetic analysis of <i>C. pipiens</i> and <i>C. tritaeniorhynchus</i> exhibited a close relationship with mosquitoes from Kenya and Turkey, respectively. All mosquito samples tested by RT-PCR were found negative for RVFV. In summary, the current study assessed the composition, abundance, distribution of different mosquito vectors and presence of RVFV in different areas of the Jazan region. Our data will help risk assessments of RVFV future re-emergence in the region.