ZIKV alternate between a human host and a mosquito to complete its urban cycle. Other contamination routes are possible for this virus, but mosquito transmission is still considered as the primary one.
To assess *Ae. albopictus* vector potential for ZIKV and identify key virus outbreak predictors, we built a complete framework using the complementary combination of (i) dose-dependent experimental *Ae. albopictus* exposure to ZIKV followed by time-dependent assessment of infection and systemic infection rates, (ii) modeling of intra-human ZIKV viremia dynamics, and (iii) in silico epidemiological simulations using an Agent-Based Model. Our results reveal a low but existing epidemic potential of *Ae. albopictus* for ZIKV, that might explain the absence of large scale ZIKV epidemics so far in territories occupied only by *Ae. albopictus*. They nevertheless support active surveillance and eradication programs in these territories to maintain the risk of emergence to a low level.
We revealed that *Ae. geniculatus* is highly susceptible to CHIKV infection and could transmit the virus. By specifically exploring the vector competence dynamic in *Ae. geniculatus* and *Ae. albopictus* mosquito species, we revealed that the cumulative distribution of CHIKV incubation period in *Ae. geniculatus* was delayed by several days as compared to *Ae. albopictus*.
Mémoire de fin de stage d’IUT Présenté par Lisa ROMERO Stage du 20 mai au 26 juillet 2019
Refer to the pdf (in French)