title: Seasonal and spatial variation in natural densovirus infection in Anopheles minimus S.L. in Thailand.
abstract: We report the first detection of a mosquito densovirus in anophelines, An. minimus species A and species C, and describe temporal and spatial variation in natural densovirus infection. A total of 814 (136 species A; 678 species C) adult mosquitos, obtained over a one year period from human biting catches at three locations in a village in western Thailand, were PCR tested for densovirus infection. Overall infection prevalence did not differ between species (15.4% species A; 14.5% species C). Infection prevalence showed significant seasonal variation. Some spatial heterogeneity in infection was also noted, with timing of peak infection prevalence varying between sites. PCR-screening of An. minimus s.l. larvae found an overall infection prevalence of 18.8%. Larval infection showed a significant positive association with rainfall recorded two months previous to larval collection. Infection in adult mosquitos showed a moderate relationship to environmental variables, but a significant negative correlation with larval infection in the previous month.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Rwegoshora
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Baisley
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kittayapong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000254:growth & development / Q000821:virology*; D017990:Densovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007814:Larva / Q000821:virology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012621:Seasons; D013785:Thailand