The potential of virulent Wolbachia to modulate disease transmission by insects

• Published in: Journal of invertebrate pathology Vol. 84; no. 1; pp. 24 - 29
• Main Authors: Brownstein, J.S, Hett, E, O’Neill, S.L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 01-09-2003; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aedes aegypti; Age Factors; Age structure; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Culicidae; Culicidae - parasitology; Cytoplasm; Dengue; Dengue - transmission; Drosophila; Fertility; Freshwater; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetic manipulation; Host-Parasite Interactions; Insect Vectors - parasitology; Medically important nuisances and vectors, pests of stored products and materials: population survey and control; Models, Biological; Mosquito; Pest Control, Biological - methods; Vector-borne disease; Vectors. Intermediate hosts; Wolbachia; Wolbachia - pathogenicity; Wolbachia - physiology; Wolbachia; Mosquito; Dengue; Age structure; Genetic manipulation; Aedes aegypti; Vector-borne disease; Animal microorganism relation; Insecta; Transmission; Host virus relation; Reproduction; Arbovirus disease; Virulent strain; Bacteria; Cytoplasmic sterility; Vector; Age; Wolbachieae; Population structure; Infection; Rickettsiales; Pathogenicity; Arthropoda; Viral disease; Culicidae; Invertebrata; Fecundity; Diptera
• ISSN: 0022-2011; 1096-0805
• DOI: 10.1016/S0022-2011(03)00082-X

A virulent strain of
Wolbachia has recently been identified in
Drosophila that drastically reduces adult lifespan. It has been proposed that this phenotype might be introduced into insect disease vector populations to reduce pathogen transmission. Here we model the requirements for spread of such an agent and the associated reduction in disease transmission. First, a simulation of mosquito population age structure was used to describe the age distribution of mosquitoes transmitting dengue virus. Second, given varying levels of cytoplasmic incompatibility and fecundity effect, the maximum possible longevity reduction that would allow
Wolbachia to invade was obtained. Finally, the two models were combined to estimate the reduction in disease transmission according to different introduction frequencies. With strong CI and limited effect of fecundity, an introduction of
Wolbachia with an initial frequency of 0.4 could result in a 60–80% reduction of transmitting mosquitoes. Greater reductions are possible at higher initial release rates.