Characterization of insect-specific Culex flavivirus (Flaviviridae) nucleotide sequences in mosquitoes from urban parks in São Paulo, Brazil

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Thaís de Moura Coletti, Camila Malta Romano, Paulo Roberto Urbinatti, Renildo Souza Teixeira, Leila Weiss de Almeida Pedrosa, Marcello Schiavo Nardi, Delsio Natal, Antônio Charlys da Costa, Jaqueline Goes de Jesus, Ingra Morales Claro, Ester Cerdeira Sabino, Steven S. Witkin, Mauro Toledo Marrelli, Licia Natal Fernandes
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2022
• Subjects: Culex flavivirus; Insect-specific flavivirus; Mosquito; Urban park; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0067-2022; https://doaj.org/article/65c82a69971a4ee5a706b6284926fa8d

ABSTRACT Background: Despite their worldwide occurrence, the distribution and role of insect-specific flaviviruses (ISFs) remain unclear. Methods: We evaluated the presence of ISFs in mosquitoes collected in São Paulo, Brazil, using reverse transcription and semi-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Some of the positive samples were subjected to nanopore sequencing. Results: Twelve mosquito pools (2.8%) tested positive for flavivirus infection. Nanopore sequencing was successfully performed on six samples. Phylogenetic analysis grouped these sequences into genotype 2 of Culex flavivirus (CxFV). Conclusions: The identification of CxFV genotype 2 at new locations in São Paulo highlights the importance of understanding the role of ISFs in mosquito vector competence.