The Asian bush mosquito, Aedes japonicus japonicus. It’s a known transmitter of the chikungunya virus and has been found in several provinces and now Newfoundland.
Photo Credit: Andrew Chaulk

New health concerns over a recent tiny, and annoying arrival in Canada

Mosquitoes in Canada have become more than just an extremely annoying nuisance. As vectors carrying disease, they can be of great concern. Certainly in Canada in recent years a species carrying West Nile disease has been a concern.

Now in eastern Canada, even in the island of Newfoundland out in the North Atlantic, a new species and potential carrier of Chickunguya disease has been detected.

Tom Chapman (PhD) is an entomologist in the Department of Biology at Memorial University in St John’s Newfoundland.

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There is no evidence of local transmission in Canada of chikungunya, a disease caused by a virus transmitted by mosquitoes, in Canada. However the particular species which can carry the disease is now in this country. © Philippe Wojazer/Reuters

Chikungunya  (CHIK-un-gun-yah ) is a disease transmitted by mosquitoes, more specifically the Aedes japonicas japonicas. Symptoms include fever and severe joint pain, as well as muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash.

As of Oct. 1, the government agency Health Canada, said 201 Canadians had been infected with chikungunya. The agency says these were among travellers returning from “endemic” areas such as Asia, Africa, or recently in the Caribbean, a popular winter vacation spot for Canadians.

Jamaica declared a state of emergency with almost 60 percent of the population having fallen ill, while in the Dominican Republic about 500,000 people are said to have been infected.

No vaccine

There is no vaccine or treatment, although the World Health Organization says most people recover fully, though recovery can take from days to weeks depending on the individual. It does note on its website that joint pain “may persist for months, even years” in some cases.

However Health Canada added there was no evidence of local transmission in Canada since the mosquitoes carrying Chikungunya are not native to the country.

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(L-R) Andrew Chaulk, Kate Bassett. Tom Chapman collecting samples at Indian Bay, north of St John’s © submitted

Professor Chapman points out, that Aedes japonicas japonicas has been detected in several provinces for a few years, travelling eastward from Ontario and Quebec to the maritime provinces and since last year, has made its way across the ocean from the mainland to Newfoundland.

A paper, “Aedes japonicus japonicus (Diptera: Culicidae) arrives at the most easterly point in North America” is to be published in the respected science journal , Canadian Entomologist.

The authors are  Fielden, Miles; Chaulk, Andrew: Bassett, P; Wiersma, Yolanda; Erbland, Mardon; (all Memorial University of Newfoundland, Biology)   Whitney, Hugh; Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Natural Resources, Animal Health Division:  Chapman, Thomas; Memorial University of Newfoundland, Biology

Abstract:

Aedes japonicus japonicus (Theobald) (Diptera: Culicidae), the Asian Bush mosquito, is a keen biter linked to the transmission to humans of a variety of diseases. It has moved significantly from its historical Asian distribution, with its arrival in North America first noted in 1998 in New York and New Jersey. Here we report the presence of Ae. j. japonicus within our collections of mosquitoes in the capital city of the easternmost province in Canada: St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, in 2013. This observation provides further evidence of this mosquito’s ability to significantly expand its geographic range, potentially impacting connectivity between subpopulations globally.

 

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