Potential for sublethal insecticide exposure to impact vector competence of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) for dengue and Zika viruses

Abstract

Dengue and Zika viruses (DENV and ZIKV, Family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus) are arboviruses that cause human epidemics. Due to lack of vaccines for many mosquito borne diseases, there is a need for mosquito control. In the United States and other regions, residual barrier insecticide sprays applied to foliage where female mosquitoes rest and/or sugar feed between blood meals are an important control method for anthropogenic day-active mosquitoes such as Aedes albopictus (vector of DENV and ZIKV). These mosquitoes are difficult to control using traditional sprays applied only at dusk or dawn when these mosquitoes are not active. In this exploratory study, we analyzed the extent to which ingestion of a sublethal dose of the active ingredient bifenthrin affected vector competence (i.e. infection, dissemination, and transmission) of Ae. albopictus for DENV and ZIKV.