Co-infection and transmission.
In India, we have both Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitoes, both can acquire and transmit dengue and chikungunya virus independently in different geographical locations. However, I was interested to know does any of these wild mosquito (single) has the ability to acquire, incubate (harbor) and transmit both the viruses together to another person?
If I presume that Ae. aegypti first feeds on human host with one virus (dengue), leave that host, feed on another host (chikungunya) in sucession, lives upto her next gonotrophic cycle (blood feeding), again seek uninfected human host for blood feeding and succeeds in her attempt.
Assumption: Plenty of virus(s) suffiicient to cause infection in uninfected host is ingested in the first blood meals on a two different human hosts.
Although I'm aware of reports of co-infection of patients with these two virueses, I'm curious to know What is the probability of this situation to happen under natural conditions? and its impact on epidemics?
Could any one clarify?
Co-infection in patients has been documented several times in the past. This paper has proven co-transmission as well - Orally co-Infected Aedes albopictus from La Reunion Island, Indian Ocean, can deliver both dengue and chikungunya infectious viral particles in their saliva.
Vazeille M, Mousson L, Martin E, Failloux AB.
What is the probability under natural conditions? and its impact on epidemics?
Well, there have been several documented cases where patients have had a co-infection of both CHIKV and DENV and the patient's clinical condition has exacerbated as a result.
Thank you, Mr. Finny for your response. Still I'm not convinced.
Therefore, I have modified the same question, for more convincing answers.
Thanks a lot for your interest.
In addition to Vazeille et al (2010), I read an article by Caron et al (2012). CID:55 (e45) Gabon, Central Africa.
From this report, it was inferred that out of 571 mosquitoes (Aedes albopictus) collected near coinfected patients' household, 3 out of 46 abdomen pools (6.52%) , 1-out of 32 carcass (3.125%) carried both CHIKV and DENV-2 resulting in an natural infection of both viruses in the surveyed location.
Is there any other reports? How can we rate this occurrence?
Is that alarming for any country with active Aedes population in terms of epidemics?
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