Mosquito-Based Arboviral Survey In Western Lombardy, Italy: 2009–2013

Abstract:
A mosquito-based arbovirus surveillance was settled in “Parco Lombardo delle Valli del Ticino” and in neighbouring sites in Milano province (Lombardy). Nine sites were monitored between 2009 and 2013 sampling 82,106 mosquitoes, of which 68.6 % belonged to Culex pipiens L. species. Mosquito were sorted in pools according to species, data and place of collection and submitted to biomolecular analysis for detection of flaviviruses and orthobunyaviruses. Usutu virus was detected in three different pools of Cx. pipiens, Batai virus was detected in a pool of Anopheles maculipennis s. l. and in two pools of Cx. pipiens, and Tahyna virus in a pool of Aedes vexans (Meigen) and in one of Ochlerotatus caspius (Pallas). Obtained data give useful information on mosquito community in surveyed area and demonstrate the ability of this surveillance system to detect arboviruses circulating in mosquitoes.