Monitoring of Dengue and Chikungunya Viruses in Field-Caught Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) in Surat City, India

A virological surveillance was carried out in various places of Surat Metropolitan Region (SMR) to monitor the chikungunya and dengue activity in Aedes aegypti populations. A total of 556 pools constituting 4918 Ae. aegypti mosquitoes were collected and processed in the laboratory for the detection of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and dengue virus (DENV) using Immuno Fluorescence Assay (IFA) and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Thirteen pools were found positive for DENY and one pool was found positive for CHIKV. Molecular phylogeny results revealed that DENV-3 Gill, DENV-4 GI and CHIKV ECSA are circulating in Surat. Based on GIS information and climate conditions, the risk map for Ae. aegypti and DENY infections was predicted. Risk maps suggest that the central and western parts of Surat are at high risk of Ae. aegypti spread and associated DENY infection.