New Records of California Serogroup Virus in Aedes Mosquitoes and First Detection in Simulioidae Flies from Northern Canada and Alaska

Abstract

An expected consequence of climate warming is an expansion of the geographic distribution of biting insects and associated arthropod-borne diseases (arboviruses). Emerging and reemerging arboviruses that can affect human health are likely to pose significant consequences for Northern communities where access to health resources is limited. In the North American Arctic, little is known about arboviruses. Thus, in 2019, we sampled biting insects in Nunavik (Kuujjuaq), Nunavut (Igloolik, Karrak Lake and Cambridge Bay), Northwest Territories (Igloolik and Yellowknife) and Alaska (Fairbanks). The main objective was to detect the presence of California serogroup viruses (CSGv) - a widespread group of arboviruses across North America and that is known to cause a wide range of symptoms, ranging from mild febrile illness to fatal encephalitis. Biting insects were captured twice daily for a 7-day period in mid-summer, using a standardized protocol consisting of 100 figure-eight movements of a sweep net. Captured specimens were separated by genus (mosquitoes) or by superfamily (other insects), and then grouped into pools of 75 by geographical locations. In total, 5079 Aedes mosquitoes and 1014 Simulioidae flies were caught. We report the detection of CSGv RNA in mosquitoes captured in Nunavut (Karrak Lake) and Nunavik (Kuujjuaq). We also report, for the first time in North America, the presence of CSGv RNA in Simulioidae flies. These results highlight the potential of biting insects for tracking any future emergence of arboviruses in the North, thereby providing key information for public health in Northern communities.