Invertebrates for vertebrate biodiversity monitoring: Comparisons using three insect taxa as iDNA samplers.

Metabarcoding of environmental DNA (eDNA) is now widely used to build diversity profiles from DNA that has been shed by species into the environment. There is substantial interest in the expansion of eDNA approaches for improved detection of terrestrial vertebrates using invertebrate-derived DNA (iDNA) in which hematophagous, sarcophagous, and coprophagous invertebrates sample vertebrate blood, carrion, or faeces. Here, we used metabarcoding and multiple iDNA samplers (carrion flies, sandflies, and mosquitos) collected from 39 forested sites in the southern Amazon to profile gamma and alpha diversity.

Land-use effects on mosquito biodiversity and potential arbovirus emergence in the Southern Amazon, Brazil.

The Amazon rainforest is considered the largest reservoir of culicids and arboviruses in the world. It has been under intense human-driven alteration, especially in the so-called 'Arc of Deforestation', located in the eastern and southern regions. The emergence and transmission of infectious diseases are increasing, potentially due to land-use change.

Detection of Ilheus virus in mosquitoes from southeast Amazon, Brazil.

Background: Arbovirus surveillance in field-collected mosquitoes is essential in monitoring virus activity to avoid emergence and outbreaks of arboviruses.

Methods: We used reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction methods to search for arbovirus in mosquitoes collected in Brazil's southeast Amazon forest remnants during 2015-2016.

Results: We detected Iheus virus (ILHV) RNA in Culex declarator, Culex (Melanoconion) and Ochlerotatus serratus mosquitoes.