Characterization of the Virome in Mosquitoes Across Distinct Habitats in the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico
Human activities and land use changes have a major impact on the distribution and diversity of mosquito vectors and their associated viruses. This study describes the diversity and differential abundance of viruses associated with mosquito species from four habitats of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Using next-generation sequencing (NGS), we analyzed 61 genomic libraries belonging to 20 mosquito species to characterize the viral community. A total of 16 viral species were identified, representing 14 different viral families. Most identified viruses were associated with insects, plants, and fungi. Additionally, vertebrate associated viral families, including <i>Herpesviridae</i>, <i>Peribunyaviridae</i>, <i>Nairoviridae</i>, and <i>Arenaviridae</i>, were detected in mosquitoes from urban habitats. Notably, insect-associated viruses like <i>Hubei mosquito virus 4</i> and <i>Hubei virga-like virus 2</i> were identified, along with the first report of <i>Mercadeo virus</i> in Mexico. Variations in viral community composition were primarily driven by mosquito species, with species of the same genus maintaining similar viromes despite occupying different habitats. These findings reinforce that intrinsic traits of mosquito species play a key role in shaping viral community composition. To our knowledge, this is the first study that describes the viral community in mosquitoes in Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. This study provides essential baseline data for the surveillance of mosquitoes and associated viruses from a biodiverse tropical region that faces strong land use modifications.
Authors
- Gerardo Suzán (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2508-6376)
- Benjamín Roche (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7975-4232)
- Jan Felix Drexler (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3509-0232)
- Oscar Rico‐Chávez (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9833-1101)
- Omar García-Suárez (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1866-4675)
- Michael D. Jimenez
- Ana L. Vigueras-Galván (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9840-2360)
- Stephany Rodríguez-González (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6831-9076)
- María J. Tolsá (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7475-1152)
- Paola Martínez-Duque (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9019-6128)
- Luisa I. Falcón (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7210-6483)
- Roger Arana-Guardía (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-6858-6858)
- Audrey Arnal (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5977-8816)
- Erika N. Hernández-Villegas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-1951-3409)
- David Roiz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5819-3648)
- Rosa Elena Sarmiento‐Silva (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7430-5657)
- Hugo G. Castelán‐Sánchez (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4763-0267)
- Andrés Moreira‐Soto
- Marco Antonio Jiménez-Rico (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-0359-8382)
Institutions
- Western University (CA)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Universidad Nacional (CR)
- Université de Montpellier (FR)
- Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs: Écologie, Génétique, Évolution et Contrôle (FR)
- German Center for Infection Research (DE)
- Instituto de Ecología (MX)
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (FR)
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin (DE)
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (MX)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Viruses
- Published
- 2025-05-26
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/v17060758
- Primary Topic
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
- Dirección General de Asuntos del Personal Académico, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México