Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41364721›Full record

ArticlePLoS neglected tropical diseases2025

Role of invasive Aedes (Aedimorphus) vittatus in chikungunya virus transmission in the newly-invaded coastal island city of Mombasa, Kenya.

Francis M Musili, James Mutisya, Solomon Langat, Betty Chelangat, Victor Anyango, Edith Chepkorir, Samson Konongoi, Rosemary Sang, Armanda Bastos, Joel Lutomiah

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Francis M MusiliCenter for Virus Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.ORCID 0009-0007-4689-5902
James MutisyaCenter for Virus Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.
Solomon LangatCenter for Virus Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.
Betty ChelangatCenter for Virus Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.
Victor AnyangoDepartment of Biology, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, United States of America.
Edith ChepkorirCenter for Virus Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.
Samson KonongoiCenter for Virus Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.
Rosemary SangCenter for Virus Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.
Armanda BastosDepartment of Zoology & Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
Joel LutomiahCenter for Virus Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.

Funding

National Research Fund (NRF) Kenya
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCountrywide routine entomological surveillance studies in Kenya from 2006 first identified Aedes vittatus, in small numbers (4 specimens), in Mombasa city in 2014 during a dengue outbreak investigation. Significant numbers (1,648 specimens) were collected in January 2018 during a chikungunya outbreak investigation. The presence of Ae. vittatus, and a competent vector of chikungunya virus, complicates disease epidemiology and control efforts in Mombasa underscoring the need to determine its bionomic factors.

methodsIn June 2021 and December 2021, we conducted mosquito sampling at multiple sites in Mombasa, an island city county, using CO₂-baited Biogent sentinel (BGS) traps and human landing collection (HLC) methods. The collected mosquitoes were identified morphologically, and Ae. vittatus species were confirmed further by molecular characterization based on the cytochrome c oxidase I gene (cox1). Virus isolation from mosquitoes pools was performed in Vero ccl-81 cell cultures. Cultures showing cytopathic effects were harvested and genome-sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq platform to identify the infecting virus.

resultsA total of 11,435 mosquitoes were collected; 7,250 by BGS traps and 4,185 by HLC. Overall, Ae. aegypti was the dominant species, accounting for 32.6% (n = 3,725), followed by Culex quinquefasciatus which accounted for 31.8% (n = 3,638) and Ae. vittatus at 24.4% (n = 2,789). Aedes aegypti (n = 2,216; 43%) predominated in HLC collections, followed by Ae. vittatus (n = 1,598; 31%). Although mosquito biting rates per person per hour (b/p/h) were higher for Ae. aegypti (3.2 b/p/h) than Ae. vittatus (2.4 b/p/h), the difference was not statistically significant (t = 6.0081, df = 1, p-value = 0.105). Chikungunya virus isolate belonging to the East Central South African genotype was isolated from a pool of female Ae. vittatus.

conclusionAedes vittatus was found widely distributed across the island city in significant numbers, suggesting that the species, which is predominant to most rural areas in Kenya, has invaded the city and successfully established. The presence of this species in the city, a confirmed vector of CHIKV, and along with Ae. aegypti which is the principle vector of CHIKV, potentially magnifies the risk of chikungunya outbreaks. This highlights the significance and need for integrated vector control strategies.

Indexed as

AedesChikungunya FeverChikungunya virusMosquito VectorsAnimalsFemaleHumansIntroduced SpeciesIslandsKenyaMale

Identifiers

PMID41364721
PMCPMC12707656

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.