Investigation of Aedes koreicus vector competence for dengue virus in Italy.
5 affiliations
- 1Laboratory of Medical Entomology and Vector-borne Diseases, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, Padua, Italy. [email protected].
- 2Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padua, Italy.
- 3Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
- 4Laboratory of Medical Entomology and Vector-borne Diseases, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, Padua, Italy.
- 5European Union Reference Laboratory for Public Health on Vector Borne Viral Pathogens (EURL-PH-VBV), Microbiology and Virology Unit, Padova University Hospital, Padua, Italy.
Abstract
Background
The increasing incidence of dengue in Europe, combined with the spread of invasive mosquito species, raises concerns about the emergence of new vectors. Aedes koreicus, an invasive mosquito rapidly expanding in several European countries, has shown competence for some arboviruses, but its role in dengue virus transmission remains unknown. This study aimed to assess, for the first time, the vector competence of an Italian population of Ae. koreicus for dengue virus serotype 1 (DENV-1).Methods
Laboratory-reared Ae. koreicus females originating from northeastern Italy were orally infected with DENV-1 via an artificial blood meal. Mosquitoes were maintained at 26 ± 1 °C and analysed at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days post-infection (dpi). Infection, dissemination and transmission were evaluated by RT-qPCR and droplet digital PCR, while the presence of infectious virus in saliva was confirmed by virus isolation in Vero E6 cells.Results
Aedes koreicus was susceptible to DENV-1 infection, with infection rates ranging from 30 to 60% across time points. Viral dissemination to legs and wings was detected from 14 dpi onwards, reaching 100% at 21 and 28 dpi. DENV-1 RNA was detected in saliva at 28 days post-infection (dpi), indicating a relatively long extrinsic incubation period. Overall transmission rate and efficiency were 33.3% and 20%, respectively, at later time points. Infectious virus was successfully isolated from saliva samples confirming transmission capability.Conclusions
Aedes koreicus was shown to be susceptible to DENV-1 infection and capable of transmitting the virus, although with low efficiency and a long extrinsic incubation period. Despite these limitations, its increasing abundance, longevity and capacity to feed on humans suggest that it may act as a potential dengue vector under favourable conditions. These findings highlight the need to include Ae. koreicus in entomological surveillance and risk assessments for dengue transmission in Europe.
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BibTeX
@article{montarsi2026investigation,
title = {{Investigation of Aedes koreicus vector competence for dengue virus in Italy.}},
author = {Fabrizio Montarsi and Emanuela Dal Molin and Marco Di Luca and Claudia Fortuna and Federica Toniolo and Sofia Sgubin and Tamara Garziera and Francesco Gradoni and Monia Pacenti and Luisa Barzon and Federica Gobbo},
journal = {Parasites \& vectors},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1186/s13071-026-07603-x},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42972442},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Investigation of Aedes koreicus vector competence for dengue virus in Italy.
AU - Fabrizio Montarsi
AU - Emanuela Dal Molin
AU - Marco Di Luca
AU - Claudia Fortuna
AU - Federica Toniolo
AU - Sofia Sgubin
AU - Tamara Garziera
AU - Francesco Gradoni
AU - Monia Pacenti
AU - Luisa Barzon
AU - Federica Gobbo
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/05
JO - Parasites & vectors
DO - 10.1186/s13071-026-07603-x
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42972442
AB - Background The increasing incidence of dengue in Europe, combined with the spread of invasive mosquito species, raises concerns about the emergence of new vectors. Aedes koreicus, an invasive mosquito rapidly expanding in several European countries, has shown competence for some arboviruses, but its role in dengue virus transmission remains unknown. This study aimed to assess, for the first time, the vector competence of an Italian population of Ae. koreicus for dengue virus serotype 1 (DENV-1).Methods Laboratory-reared Ae. koreicus females originating from northeastern Italy were orally infected with DENV-1 via an artificial blood meal. Mosquitoes were maintained at 26 ± 1 °C and analysed at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days post-infection (dpi). Infection, dissemination and transmission were evaluated by RT-qPCR and droplet digital PCR, while the presence of infectious virus in saliva was confirmed by virus isolation in Vero E6 cells.Results Aedes koreicus was susceptible to DENV-1 infection, with infection rates ranging from 30 to 60% across time points. Viral dissemination to legs and wings was detected from 14 dpi onwards, reaching 100% at 21 and 28 dpi. DENV-1 RNA was detected in saliva at 28 days post-infection (dpi), indicating a relatively long extrinsic incubation period. Overall transmission rate and efficiency were 33.3% and 20%, respectively, at later time points. Infectious virus was successfully isolated from saliva samples confirming transmission capability.Conclusions Aedes koreicus was shown to be susceptible to DENV-1 infection and capable of transmitting the virus, although with low efficiency and a long extrinsic incubation period. Despite these limitations, its increasing abundance, longevity and capacity to feed on humans suggest that it may act as a potential dengue vector under favourable conditions. These findings highlight the need to include Ae. koreicus in entomological surveillance and risk assessments for dengue transmission in Europe.
SN - 1756-3305
ER -