Mosquito Virome in Southwestern Cameroon: Lack of Core Virome, But a Very Rich and Diverse Virome in Compared to Other Species.

In Cameroon, mosquitoes transmit various arboviruses, posing significant health risks. We aimed to characterize the virome in southwestern Cameroon and identify potential core viruses which might be associated with vector competence. A total of 398 mosquitoes were collected from four locations (Bafoussam, Buea, Edea, and Yaounde). dominated all sites except for Bafoussam, where prevailed. Metagenomic analyses of the mosquitoes grouped per species into 54 pools revealed notable differences in the eukaryotic viromes between and , with the former exhibiting greater richness and diversity. Thirty-seven eukaryotic virus species from 16 families were identified, including six novel viruses with near complete genome sequences. Seven viruses were further quantified in individual mosquitoes via qRT-PCR. Although none of them could be identified as core viruses, Guangzhou sobemo-like virus and Bafoussam mosquito solemovirus, were highly prevalent regionally in and , respectively. This study highlights the diverse eukaryotic virome of species in southwestern Cameroon. Despite their shared genus, species exhibit limited viral sharing, with varying viral abundance and prevalence across locations. , an understudied vector, harbors a rich and diverse virome, suggesting potential implications for arbovirus vector competence.