Bacterial diversity of field-caught mosquitoes from different regions of Belgium and potential impact on virus transmission

Several vectors disease presented a resistance to various pesticides currently used. Endosymbiotic bacteria was an alternative solution found because of their probably interactive effects with their host. According to the introduction risks of these virus and disease dispersion, we propose to investigate the bacterial endosymbiont role in Culicidae in Belgium. Among the 30 species of mosquitoes identified in this country, about ten are considered as potential vectors of arboviruses. In this study, eleven species of Culicidae belonging to five genera (Culex pipiens s.l., Cx. torrentium, Cx. hortensis, Anopheles claviger, An. maculipennis s.l., An. plumbeus, Culiseta annulata, Ochlerotatus geniculatus, Oc. dorsalis, Aedes albopictus and Coquillettidia richiardii) mosquitoes fields from eight sites of Belgium were used for the screening of the presence of six genera endosymbiotic bacteria (Wolbachia sp, Commamonas sp, Delftia sp, Pseudomonas sp, Acinetobacter sp and Asaia sp) according their possible impact in mosquito biology. PCR was done for the screening of endosymbiotic bacteria mosquitoes studied. A total of 176 individuals (144 larvae and 32 adults) were used. Our results allowed us to confirm the absence of Wolbachia in An. clavigere, An. maculipennis s.l and Cx. torentium. Acinetobacter was found in every species. Current advances in understanding the mosquito–microbiota relationships may have a great impact in a better understanding of some traits of mosquito biology and in the development of innovative mosquito-borne disease-control strategies aimed to reduce mosquito vectorial capacity and/or inhibiting pathogen transmission.