Background: Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are mosquito vectors for Chikungunya Virus (CHIKV), a pathogen responsible for several epidemics. Climate change could facilitate the introduction and establishment of these mosquito vectors in new regions.

Objectives: This scoping review collates information from peer-reviewed literature on competence characteristics in Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus for the efficient transmission of CHIKV within vector populations, as well as bi-directional transmission between vectors and hosts.

Methods:A search strategy using 7 databases was developed and implemented to capture all relevant scientific literature, followed by stringent search verification. Article screening and data extraction were conducted independently by 2 reviewers. Descriptive analysis highlighted the body of research specific to vector competence in each vector species, research gaps, and areas with significant evidence.

Results: Preliminary results of literature up to May 2015 identified 473 relevant articles on both CHIKV vectors, of which 138 (29%) articles reported on vector-competence characteristics, such as lifespan, density per human, egg diapause and hatching rate, female fecundity, extrinsic incubation period, emergence to next stage, infection, dissemination and transmission rates. Vector behavioural characteristics such as host biting and, house, container, and Breteau indices were reported in 115 (24%) of the identified articles. Landscape and ecological risk factors for mosquito exposure/abundance were described in 99 (21%) articles and 8 (1.7%) papers examined phylogeny of the two vector species. Vector-mitigation strategies and updated results to January 2017 will be presented.

Conclusions: This scoping review provides important data on vector suitability for harbouring and transmitting CHIKV, and can serve as evidence-informed knowledge for policy makers and scientists to predict and mitigate the future spread of CHIKV globally.