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21 December 2020 Effects of Ascogregarina culicis (Eugregarinorida: Lecudinidae) on Mosquito Size and Dengue Virus Infection in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)
Panpim Thongsripong, Dawn M. Wesson
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Abstract

Dengue virus infection, transmitted via mosquito bites, poses a substantial risk to global public health. Studies suggest that the mosquito's microbial community can profoundly influence vector-borne pathogen transmissions, including dengue virus. Ascogregarina culicis (Ross) of the phylum Apicomplexa is among the most common parasites of Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus), the principal vector of dengue. Despite a high prevalence worldwide, including in the areas where dengue is endemic, the impact of A. culicis on Ae. aegypti vector competence for dengue virus is unknown.This study aimed to investigate the effects of A. culicis infection on mosquito size and fitness, as measured by wing length, and the susceptibility to dengue virus infection in Ae. aegypti. Our results showed that there was no statistically significant difference in wing lengths between Ae. aegypti infected and not infected with A. culicis. Furthermore, A. culicis infection did not significantly affect dengue virus infection or disseminated infection rate. However, there was a significant association between shorter wings and higher dengue virus infection rate, whereby a 0.1-mm increase in wing length decreased the odds of the mosquito being infected by 32%.Thus, based on our result, A. culicis infection does not influence the body size and dengue virus infection in Ae. aegypti.This study helps to shed light on a common but neglected eukaryotic mosquito parasite.

© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.
Panpim Thongsripong and Dawn M. Wesson "Effects of Ascogregarina culicis (Eugregarinorida: Lecudinidae) on Mosquito Size and Dengue Virus Infection in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)," Journal of Medical Entomology 58(3), 1442-1447, (21 December 2020). https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjaa280
Received: 9 August 2020; Accepted: 19 November 2020; Published: 21 December 2020
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KEYWORDS
Aedes aegypti
Ascogregarina culicis
dengue virus
vector competence
wing length
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