title: Detection of Sindbis and Inkoo Virus RNA in Genetically Typed Mosquito Larvae Sampled in Northern Sweden.
abstract: Mosquito-borne viruses have a widespread distribution across the globe and are known to pose serious threats to human and animal health. The maintenance and dissemination of these viruses in nature are driven through horizontal and vertical transmission. In the temperate climate of northern Sweden, there is a dearth of knowledge on whether mosquito-borne viruses that occur are transmitted transovarially. To gain a better understanding of mosquito-borne virus circulation and maintenance, mosquito larvae were sampled in northern Sweden during the first and second year after a large outbreak of Ockelbo disease in 2013 caused by Sindbis virus (SINV).
  
  
  
  A total of 3123 larvae were sampled during the summers of 2014 and 2015 at multiple sites in northern Sweden. The larvae were homogenized and screened for viruses using RT-PCR and sequencing. Species identification of selected larvae was performed by genetic barcoding targeting the cytochrome C oxidase subunit I gene.
  
  
  
  SINV RNA was detected in mosquito larvae of three different species, Ochlerotatus (Oc.) communis, Oc. punctor, and Oc. diantaeus. Inkoo virus (INKV) RNA was detected in Oc. communis larvae. This finding suggested that these mosquitoes could support transovarial transmission of SINV and INKV. Detection of virus in mosquito larva may serve as an early warning for emerging arboviral diseases and add information to epidemiological investigations before, during, and after outbreaks. Furthermore, our results demonstrated the relevance of genetic barcoding as an attractive and effective method for mosquito larva typing. However, further mosquito transmission studies are needed to ascertain the possible role of different mosquito species and developmental stages in the transmission cycle of arboviruses.
authors.affiliation: 1 Swedish Defence Research Agency , CBRN Defence and Security, Umeå, Sweden .|2 Department of Clinical Microbiology, Virology, Umeå University , Umeå, Sweden .|3 Department of Clinical Microbiology, Infectious Diseases, Umeå University , Umeå, Sweden .
authors.forename: Olov
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tingström
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Clinical Microbiology, Virology, Umeå University , Umeå, Sweden .
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Wesula Lwande
authors.affiliation: 1 Swedish Defence Research Agency , CBRN Defence and Security, Umeå, Sweden .
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Näslund
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Clinical Microbiology, Virology, Umeå University , Umeå, Sweden .|3 Department of Clinical Microbiology, Infectious Diseases, Umeå University , Umeå, Sweden .
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Spyckerelle
authors.affiliation: 1 Swedish Defence Research Agency , CBRN Defence and Security, Umeå, Sweden .
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Engdahl
authors.affiliation: 1 Swedish Defence Research Agency , CBRN Defence and Security, Umeå, Sweden .
authors.forename: Pontus
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Von Schoenberg
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Clinical Microbiology, Infectious Diseases, Umeå University , Umeå, Sweden .
authors.forename: Clas
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ahlm
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Clinical Microbiology, Virology, Umeå University , Umeå, Sweden .
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Evander
authors.affiliation: 1 Swedish Defence Research Agency , CBRN Defence and Security, Umeå, Sweden .
authors.forename: Göran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bucht
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D009033:Culicidae / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000821:virology*; D007814:Larva / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012845:Sindbis Virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013548:Sweden
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral
keywords: Barcoding; Inkoo; Mosquito larvae; RNA; Sindbis; Virus