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Mosquito-based detection of retroviruses and arboviruses in Senegal: expanding the scope of xenosurveillance
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Mosquito-based detection of retroviruses and arboviruses in Senegal: expanding the scope of xenosurveillance
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Journal Article
Mosquito-based detection of retroviruses and arboviruses in Senegal: expanding the scope of xenosurveillance
2025
Overview
Background
Mosquitoes are well-known vectors for arthropod-borne viruses, yet their role as passive carriers of non-arthropod-borne viruses remains underexplored. Xenosurveillance, a method that utilizes blood-feeding arthropods to sample host and pathogen genetic material, has emerged as a valuable tool in viral ecology. In this study, we investigated the viral landscape of blood-fed mosquitoes from Senegal and report the first detection of Jaagsiekte Sheep Retrovirus (JSRV)-related and Enzootic Nasal Tumor Virus 2 (ENTV-2)-related sequences
,
alongside endemic arboviruses. Our study aimed to investigate whether mosquitoes can serve as sentinels for detecting both pathogens and host-derived markers in complex ecosystems.
Methods
Mosquitoes were collected between 2016 and 2019 from three ecologically significant regions in Senegal (Louga, Barkedji, and Kedougou). Blood-fed mosquitoes were pooled and subjected to RNA extraction and metagenomic sequencing using Illumina NextSeq550. Sequencing data were analyzed with CZ-ID and BLAST for viral identification. RT-qPCR assays were designed to validate the presence of JSRV-related sequences, targeting conserved regions of the envelope gene and 3' untranslated region. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted using MAFFT and IQ-TREE to compare the detected sequence with global exogenous and endogenous JSRV references.
Results
Sequencing revealed a broad viral diversity across mosquito species, including insect-specific viruses, arboviruses (West Nile, Sindbis, Bagaza, Usutu, Barkedji), and two retroviral sequences. A JSRV-related sequence was confirmed in a pool from Barkedji (2019) and clustered phylogenetically with endogenous JSRV
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A nearly complete ENTV-2 genome, closely related to pathogenic Chinese strains, was recovered from the same pool
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Other viruses grouped within established African lineages, supporting persistent regional circulation.
Discussion
This study presents the first report of retroviral sequences detected in mosquitoes, alongside the identification of actively circulating arboviruses and insect-specific viruses, highlighting the broader potential of mosquitoes as environmental sentinels. While mosquitoes are not biological vectors for retroviruses, their ability to capture both host-derived retroviral material and pathogenic viral genomes through bloodmeals reinforces the value of xenosurveillance for monitoring livestock–vector–environment interactions. These findings contribute to broader efforts in integrated disease surveillance and underscore the utility of combining metagenomics with molecular diagnostics to detect diverse viral signals in high-risk ecological settings.
Publisher
BioMed Central,BMC
