title: Detection of Wolbachia in Aedes albopictus and Their Effects on Chikungunya Virus.
abstract: Wolbachia-based vector control strategies have been proposed as a means to augment the currently existing measures for controlling dengue and chikungunya vectors. Prior to utilizing Wolbachia as a novel vector control strategy, it is crucial to understand the Wolbachia-mosquito interactions. In this study, field surveys were conducted to screen for the infection status of Wolbachia in field-collected Aedes albopictus The effects of Wolbachia in its native host toward the replication and dissemination of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) was also studied. The prevalence of Wolbachia-infected field-collected Ae. albopictus was estimated to be 98.6% (N = 142) for females and 95.1% (N = 102) for males in the population studied. The Ae. albopictus were naturally infected with both wAlbA and wAlbB strains. We also found that the native Wolbachia has no impact on CHIKV infection and minimal effect on CHIKV dissemination to secondary organs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.|Medical Entomology Unit, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Vectors, Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Noor Afizah
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Indra
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vythilingam
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Yvonne A L
authors.initials: YAL
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Medical Entomology Unit, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Vectors, Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Nur Zatil Aqmar M
authors.initials: NZAM
authors.lastname: Zabari
authors.affiliation: Medical Entomology Unit, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Vectors, Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Han Lim
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000330:Aedes / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology*; D000818:Animals; D002646:Chikungunya virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009032:Mosquito Control; D010802:Phylogeny; D020577:Wolbachia / Q000302:isolation & purification*