Dengue Virus Serotype 1 Effects on Mosquito Survival Differ among Geographically Distinct Aedes aegypti Populations.

Simple Summary: The Aedes aegypti mosquito is distributed throughout several tropical countries and is considered one of the most important species vectoring arboviruses such as dengue. It has been debated whether local adaptations affect mosquito vectorial capacity. In this study, we used a network of collaborators to access Ae. aegypti mosquitoes from four different countries: Australia (AUS), Brazil (BRA), Pakistan (PAK), and Peru (PER). For each population, we generated a DENV-exposed group and an unexposed control and estimated survival rate and fecundity as a consequence of DENV-1 infection. Overall, DENV-1 infection reduced mosquito survival rates, but this effect was not observed in PER Ae. aegypti females. The number of eggs laid by Ae. aegypti females was similar among tested populations, with the exception of PAK in which DENV-infected mosquitoes laid fewer eggs than the uninfected control. Taken together, our results suggest geographic variation among mosquitoes that could impact dengue transmission patterns across natural settings. The mosquito Aedes aegypti is distributed worldwide and is recognized as the primary vector for dengue in numerous countries. To investigate whether the fitness cost of a single DENV-1 isolate varies among populations, we selected four Ae. aegypti populations from distinct localities: Australia (AUS), Brazil (BRA), Pakistan (PAK), and Peru (PER). Utilizing simple methodologies, we concurrently assessed survival rates and fecundity. Overall, DENV-1 infection led to a significant decrease in mosquito survival rates, with the exception of the PER population. Furthermore, infected Ae. aegypti from PAK, the population with the lowest infection rate among those tested, exhibited a noteworthy reduction in egg laying. These findings collectively suggest that local mosquito-virus adaptations may influence dengue transmission in endemic settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]