Journal Article

Arboviruses in Free-Ranging Birds and Hematophagous Arthropods (Diptera, Nematocera) from Forest Remnants and Urbanized Areas of an Environmental Protection Area in the Amazon Biome

Martins, Lívia Carício, Cruz, Ana Cecilia Ribeiro, Neto, Joaquim Pinto Nunes, Aragão, Carine Fortes, Da Silva, Raimundo Nelson Souza, Chiang, Jannifer Oliveira, Casseb, Lívia Medeiros Neves, de Arruda e Silva, Franko, Junior, José Wilson Rosa, Casseb, Alexandre do Rosário, da Silva, Eliana Vieira Pinto, Freitas, Maria Nazaré Oliveira, Chagas, Liliane Leal Das, Silva, Sandro Patroca, Mascarenhas, Joana D’Arc Pereira, Santos, Eder Barros dos, Vieira, Durval Bertram Rodrigues, Barros, Landeson Junior Leopoldino, Ramos, Bruna Alves, Souto, Lizandra Caroline dos Santos, Pantoja, Jamilla Augusta de Sousa, Gonçalves, Ercília de Jesus, Santos, Maissa Maia, Furtado, Erilene Cristina Da Silva

2022

Overview

The rapid and disorderly urbanization in the Amazon has resulted in the insertion of forest fragments into cities, causing the circulation of arboviruses, which can involve hematophagous arthropods and free-ranging birds in the transmission cycles in urban environments. This study aimed to evaluate the circulation of arboviruses in free-ranging birds and hematophagous arthropods captured in an Environmental Protection Area in the Belem metropolitan area, Brazil. Birds were captured using mist nets, and hematophagous arthropods were collected using a human protected attraction technique and light traps. The birds’ sera were subjected to a hemagglutination inhibition test to detect antibodies against 29 arbovirus antigens. Arthropod macerates were inoculated into C6/36 and VERO cell cultures to attempt viral isolation and were tested using indirect immunofluorescence, subsequent genetic sequencing and submitted for phylogenetic analysis. Four bird sera were positive for arbovirus, and one batch of Psorophora ferox was positive for Flavivirus on viral isolation and indirect immunofluorescence. In addition, the Ilheus virus was detected in the sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The presence of antibodies in sera from free-ranging birds and the isolation of Ilheus virus in Psorophora ferox indicate the circulation of arboviruses in forest remnants in the urban center of Belem.

• Publisher: MDPI AG,MDPI
• Subject: Amazon / Animals / Antibodies / Antigens / Arboviruses / Arthropoda / Arthropods / Birds / Care and treatment / Cell culture / Cloning / Diagnosis / Encephalitis / Environmental protection / Genetic analysis / Habitat fragmentation / Health aspects / Hemagglutination inhibition / hematophagous arthropods / Immunofluorescence / Infections / Insertion / Jurisdiction / Laboratories / Light traps / Phylogeny / Psorophora ferox / Taxonomy / Urban environments / Urbanization / Veterinary medicine / Viruses