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Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is primarily spread by the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquito vectors. Because there is no licensed vaccine for CHIKV, identifying ways to reduce or eliminate mosquito populations is the most effective strategy to immediately halt transmission to man. Strategies to assess the entomological risk and to control the vector are absolutely crucial to demolishing the rise of CHIKV. This review provides perspectives in entomological risk assessment and vector control, challenges for both, and gaps in knowledge that need to be addressed through rigorous research and multidisciplinary collaborations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Dengue (DENV), yellow fever (YFV) and chikungunya (CHIKV) viruses circulate in sylvatic, enzootic transmission cycles in southeastern Senegal, but understanding of the vector–host interactions involved is limited. Methods The vertebrate hosts of several potential mosquito vectors of the three viruses were identified by PCR amplification and sequencing portions of the cytochrome b gene from bloodmeals of mosquitoes collected in Kedougou, Senegal, June 2010–January 2011. Results We identified the sources of 65 bloodmeals of 82 engorged mosquitoes. Aedes taylori was the only species that fed on monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus and Papio papio). The majority of the avian-derived bloodmeals were from the Western Plantain-eater (Crinifer piscator). Conclusion These findings corroborate the importance of Ae. taylori and African monkeys in the sylvatic cycles of YFV, DENV and CHIKV and suggest the possible involvement of other vertebrates. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Summary: Vector competence of Aedes aegypti populations from six locations in different bioclimatic zones and habitats of Senegal was assessed for sylvatic (ArD 140875) and epidemic (ArA 6894) dengue 2 virus (DENV-2) isolates. F1 generation mosquitoes were fed with a blood meal containing 106.5 and 1.6×107 tissue culture infectious dose (TCID50) of the sylvatic DENV-2 isolate or 106.5 TCID50 of the epidemic isolate and incubated for 14 days. After this period, legs and wings of each individual were pooled and the corresponding body was collected separately. An immunofluorescence assay was used to test bodies and wings/legs for DENV-2 infection separately. The results showed that: (i) Senegalese Ae. aegypti populations have lower vector competence (infection rate 0–26%, dissemination rate 10–100%) for sylvatic and epidemic dengue viruses than populations from Asia and America; (ii) there was no obvious geographic variation in susceptibility among mosquito populations; (iii) the only apparent factor affecting the susceptibility was the virus titre; and (iv) except for that of Kédougou, all populations were able to disseminate the virus. Overall our findings, while extended to four other populations, confirm previous studies showing low susceptibility of Senegalese Ae. aegypti populations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]