Natural vertical infection by dengue virus serotype 4, Zika virus and Mayaro virus in Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti and Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus

Vertical transmission to progeny ensures the maintenance of arboviruses in their natural vectors. This mechanism is largely reported for dengue virus (DENV) and yellow fever virus (YFV). Few studies have addressed this mechanism for Zika virus (ZIKV), Mayaro virus (MAYV) and other arboviruses. The present study investigated the natural infection rate by arboviruses in 4490 Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti and 296 Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) reared from eggs collected with ovitraps in Cuiabá, Mato Grosso State, from February to July, 2017. After viral RNA extraction and reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction protocols for 10 flaviviruses and five alphaviruses, nucleotide sequencing and three passages in C6/36 cells, eight pools of Ae. aegypti positive for DENV‐4 genotype II, seven for ZIKV Asian genotype and two for MAYV genotype L were found. In addition, two Ae. albopictus pools were positive for DENV‐4 genotype II and two were positive for ZIKV Asian genotype. Infection was confirmed by viral isolation in all positive pools for DENV‐4 and for MAYV and in eight of nine for ZIKV. This mechanism may contribute to the spread of arboviruses during epidemics and also to their maintenance in natural vectors during interepidemic periods. Vertical infection is important for viral maintenance during interepidemic periods and infected mosquitoes can promote new outbreaks. Dengue virus 4, Zika virus and Mayaro virus were identified in Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus naturally infected by vertical transmission. The infection rate was 2.10 for dengue virus 4, 1.81 for Zika virus and 0.46 for Mayaro virus in Aedes aegypti and 7.22 for Zika virus and 7.06 for dengue virus 4 in Aedes albopictus.