Arboviruses cause millions of infections each year; however, only limited options are available for treatment and pharmacological prevention. Mosquitoes are among the most important vectors for the transmission of several pathogens to humans. Despite advances, the sampling, viral detection, and control methods for these insects remain ineffective. Challenges arise with the increase in mosquito populations due to climate change, insecticide resistance, and human interference affecting natural habitats, which contribute to the increasing difficulty in controlling the spread of arboviruses. Therefore, prioritizing arbovirus surveillance is essential for effective epidemic preparedness. In this review, we offer a concise historical account of the discovery and monitoring of arboviruses in mosquitoes, from mosquito capture to viral detection. We then analyzed the advantages and limitations of these traditional methods. Furthermore, we investigated the potential of emerging technologies to address these limitations, including the implementation of next-generation sequencing, paper-based devices, spectroscopic detectors, and synthetic biosensors. We also provide perspectives on recurring issues and areas of interest such as insect-specific viruses.

The Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) presents global health challenges, with Brazil experiencing outbreaks since its introduction in 2014. In 2023, following a CHIKV outbreak in Minas Gerais (MG), social media was used to optimize an entomological survey aimed at identifying vectors and viral lineages and assessing insecticide resistance. Following Instagram posts, residents with suspected CHIKV infection were able to schedule mosquito aspirations. In total, 421 mosquitoes (165 Aedes aegypti and 256 Culex quinquefasciatus) were captured from 40 households in Salinas city (MG) and tested for the Dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya viruses through RT-qPCR. Twelve of 57 pools (10 Ae. aegypti and two Cx. quinquefasciatus) tested positive for CHIKV RNA. Viral RNA was also detected in the heads of nine Ae. aegypti, indicating viral dissemination but not in Cx. quinquefasciatus. Genome sequencing yielded the first near-complete genome from the 2023 outbreak, unveiling that the CHIKV strain belonged to the East/Central/South African (ECSA) genotype. Additionally, genetic analyses revealed high frequencies of kdr alleles, including in CHIKV-infected mosquitoes, suggesting resistance to pyrethroid insecticides in this Ae. aegypti population. Social media was important for guiding mosquito-capture efforts in CHIKV transmission hotspots, thus optimizing the opportunity for viral detection. These findings emphasize the urgent need for innovative vector studies and control strategies, as well as interdisciplinary approaches in public health interventions.

Although the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic primarily affected the human population, the virus has also been detected in various animal species worldwide, raising concerns about its potential to establish new animal reservoirs. This study aimed to investigate the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in non-human primates (NHPs) and synanthropic small mammals (SSMs) in the Jequitinhonha Valley and Northern Minas Gerais, Brazil. Between October 2021 and October 2023, 119 animals were sampled, 82 NHPs and 37 SSMs, across 22 municipalities. A total of 342 biological samples—including oral and nasal swabs, lungs, livers, spleens, blood, and feces—were collected and analyzed using RT-qPCR, while 37 serum samples were submitted to neutralization tests. Despite the diversity of sampled species, habitats, and biological materials, no evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection or specific antibodies was detected in any of the individuals tested. The results suggest that NHPs and SSMs in these regions did not act as reservoirs for SARS-CoV-2 during the study period. This finding is particularly relevant given the high synanthropy of species such as Callithrix penicillata (black-tufted marmoset) and Rattus rattus (black rat), which frequently interact with human populations. Our study underscores the importance of integrating animal, human, and environmental health perspectives under a One Health framework to monitor emerging zoonotic threats. By providing baseline data on SARS-CoV-2 dynamics in wildlife, we emphasize the need for ongoing ecological and epidemiological surveillance to assess potential spillover events and their implications for biodiversity and public health in Brazil.

Oropouche fever (OF), caused by Oropouche virus (OROV), has expanded beyond its Amazonian range into Minas Gerais (MG), Brazil, raising concern about transmission in extra-Amazonian Atlantic Forest landscapes. Critical gaps persist regarding Culicoides vector communities, anthropophily, and climate-sensitive transmission risk in these newly affected regions. We conducted targeted entomological surveys outbreak-driven by human OF cases, standardized across five MG communities using CDC light traps and Protected Human Attraction (PHA) to characterize Culicoides composition. Females of Culicoides underwent RT-qPCR for OROV (n = 819) and physiological assessment (n = 312). We developed an entomological alert framework that integrates blood-fed abundance, minimum infection rate (MIR) upper confidence bounds, and environmental drivers (i.e., mean temperature, relative humidity and precipitation) via generalized additive mixed models, which explained 68% of the variability in Culicoides abundance and the alert index across communities. We collected 1171 Culicoides individuals representing five species (C. leopoldoi, C. paraensis, C. pusillus, C. foxi, and C. limai). C. leopoldoi (79.1%) and C. paraensis (20.3%) were the predominant species; notably, C. paraensis is recognized as the primary vector of OROV in the Americas. C. paraensis was documented for the first time in all five outbreak areas and dominated PHA captures (90%), suggesting anthropophily. Although no specimens tested OROV-positive (consistent with expected field infection rates of 0.01–1%), MIR upper bounds reached 132/1000 in low-sample settings and humidity and temperature strongly modulated abundance. This operational baseline and alert index transform virologically negative, sparse surveillance data into prioritized targets for intensified sampling and vector control during early, low-prevalence phases, when containment of OROV’s extra-Amazonian spread is still achievable.

Objective To investigate the Phlebotominae fauna in the rural area of Montezuma, Minas Gerais, following the confirmation of a human case of American cutaneous leishmaniasis, in collaboration with the Regional Health Superintendent’s Office of Montes Claros. Methods The captures were carried out with CDC-type light traps (developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC), which were placed in the intradomiciliary area (bedroom 1 and bedroom 2) and the peridomestic area (chicken coop) during two consecutive nights. Results In total, 30 phlebotomine sand flies were captured and identified, with 29 (96.67%) belonging to the species Nyssomyia intermedia and 1 (3.33%) belonging to the species Psathyromyia pascalei. Surprisingly, all specimens of Nyssomyia intermedia were captured in the intradomiciliary area, specifically in the patient’s bedroom, with confirmed American cutaneous leishmaniasis infection. Conclusion Due to the large number of specimens captured inside the residence, Nyssomyia intermedia stands out as a potential intradomiciliary vector of American cutaneous leishmaniasis. In addition, we reinforce the importance of studies such as this one, conducted in collaboration between the Brazilian National Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde, SUS) and the Collaborating Centers of Minas Gerais, to strengthen surveillance actions, promote preventive measures, and expand knowledge about the ecoepidemiology of the disease in areas still little studied.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the etiological agent of COVID-19, has affected millions of people worldwide and significantly impacted public health. The detection of viral RNA in the feces of infected individuals prompted several countries to adopt wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) as a tool to monitor SARS-CoV-2 circulation within communities. However, most surveillance studies have focused on large urban centers. This study aimed to analyze the presence and persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater from two small Brazilian towns with low socioeconomic indicators, limited sewage coverage, and low population density, located in northern Minas Gerais. Wastewater samples were collected biweekly over 12 months, between 2023 and 2024, from three sampling points in Salinas and one in Rubelita. Viral RNA was concentrated using electronegative membranes, and SARS-CoV-2 detection was performed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected at all sampling points, with a high frequency of positive samples observed in May, June, October, November 2023, and January 2024. Notably, viral RNA was detected even after the World Health Organization declared the end of the global health emergency on May 5, 2023, and in the absence of officially reported human cases. These findings underscore the value of wastewater surveillance as a tool for monitoring SARS-CoV-2, particularly in areas with limited clinical testing capacity. The study highlights the potential of WBE to detect ongoing viral transmission across diverse urban and socioeconomic contexts, including regions with case underreporting and challenges in mass testing, thereby supporting public health preparedness and response.