Vector Competence of Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus and Culex quinquefasciatus from Brazil and New Caledonia for Three Zika Virus Lineages

Zika virus (ZIKV) has caused severe epidemics in South America beginning in 2015, following its spread through the Pacific. We comparatively assessed the vector competence of ten populations ofAedesaegyptiandAe. albopictusfrom Brazil and two ofAe.aegyptiand one ofCulex quinquefasciatusfrom New Caledonia to transmit three ZIKV isolates belonging to African, Asian and American lineages. Recently colonized mosquitoes from eight distinct sites from both countries were orally challenged with the same viral load (10(7)TCID(50)/mL) and examined after 7, 14 and 21 days.Cx. quinquefasciatuswas refractory to infection with all virus strains. In contrast, although competence varied with geographical origin, Brazilian and New CaledonianAe. aegypticould transmit the three ZIKV lineages, with a strong advantage for the African lineage (the only one reaching saliva one-week after challenge). BrazilianAe. albopictuspopulations were less competent thanAe. aegyptipopulations.Ae. albopictusgenerally exhibited almost no transmission for Asian and American lineages, but was efficient in transmitting the African ZIKV. Viral surveillance and mosquito control measures must be strengthened to avoid the spread of new ZIKV lineages and minimize the transmission of viruses currently circulating.