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Petersen V, Santana M, Karina-Costa M, Nachbar JJ, Martin-Martin I, Adelman ZN, Burini BC. Aedes ( Ochlerotatus) scapularis, Aedes japonicus japonicus, and Aedes ( Fredwardsius) vittatus (Diptera: Culicidae): Three Neglected Mosquitoes with Potential Global Health Risks. INSECTS 2024; 15:600. [PMID: 39194805 DOI: 10.3390/insects15080600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2024] [Revised: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
More than 3550 species of mosquitoes are known worldwide, and only a fraction is involved in the transmission of arboviruses. Mosquitoes in sylvatic and semi-sylvatic habitats may rapidly adapt to urban parks and metropolitan environments, increasing human contact. Many of these mosquitoes have been found naturally infected with arboviruses from the Alphaviridae, Flaviviridae, and Bunyaviridae families, with many being the cause of medically important diseases. However, there is a gap in knowledge about the vector status of newly invasive species and their potential threat to human and domestic animal populations. Due to their rapid distribution, adaptation to urban environments, and anthropophilic habits, some neglected mosquito species may deserve more attention regarding their role as secondary vectors. Taking these factors into account, we focus here on Aedes (Ochlerotatus) scapularis (Rondani), Aedes japonicus japonicus (Theobald), and Aedes (Fredwardsius) vittatus (Bigot) as species that have the potential to become important disease vectors. We further discuss the importance of these neglected mosquitoes and how factors such as urbanization, climate change, and globalization profoundly alter the dynamics of disease transmission and may increase the participation of neglected species in propagating diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivian Petersen
- Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, University of Florida, Vero Beach, FL 32962, USA
| | - Micael Santana
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Maria Karina-Costa
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Julia Jardim Nachbar
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Ines Martin-Martin
- National Center for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Zach N Adelman
- Department of Entomology and Agrilife Research, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Bianca C Burini
- Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, University of Florida, Vero Beach, FL 32962, USA
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Cevidanes A, Goiri F, Barandika JF, Vázquez P, Goikolea J, Zuazo A, Etxarri N, Ocio G, García-Pérez AL. Invasive Aedes mosquitoes in an urban-peri-urban gradient in northern Spain: evidence of the wide distribution of Aedes japonicus. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:234. [PMID: 37452412 PMCID: PMC10349466 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05862-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The expansion of invasive mosquitoes throughout Europe has increased in recent decades. In northern Spain, Aedes albopictus was detected for the first time in 2014, and Aedes japonicus was detected in the three Basque provinces in 2020. This study aimed to evaluate the distribution of these mosquito species and their association with factors related to urbanization. METHODS In 2021, a total of 568 ovitraps were deployed in 113 sampling sites from 45 municipalities with > 10,000 inhabitants. Oviposition substrate sticks were replaced each fortnight and examined for Aedes eggs from June to November. Aedes eggs were counted, and the eggs from a selection of positive oviposition sticks, encompassing at least one stick from each positive ovitrap, were hatched following their life cycle until the adult stage. When egg hatching was not successful, PCR targeting the COI gene and sequencing of amplicons were carried out. RESULTS Eggs were detected in 66.4% of the sampling sites and in 32.4% of the ovitraps distributed in the three provinces of the Basque Country. Aedes albopictus and Ae. japonicus were widespread in the studied area, confirming their presence in 23 and 26 municipalities, respectively. Co-occurrence of both species was observed in 11 municipalities. The analysis of the presence of Aedes invasive mosquitoes and the degree of urbanization (urban, suburban, peri-urban) revealed that Ae. albopictus showed a 4.39 times higher probability of being found in suburban areas than in peri-urban areas, whereas Ae. japonicus had a higher probability of being found in peri-urban areas. Moreover, the presence of Ae. albopictus was significantly associated with municipalities with a higher population density (mean = 2983 inh/km2), whereas Ae. japonicus was associated with lower population density (mean = 1590 inh/km2). CONCLUSIONS The wide distribution of Ae. albopictus and Ae. japonicus observed confirmed the spread and establishment of these species in northern Spain. A new colonization area of Ae. japonicus in Europe was confirmed. Due to the potential impact of Aedes invasive mosquitoes on public health and according to our results, surveillance programs and control plans should be designed considering different urbanization gradients, types of environments, and population density.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aitor Cevidanes
- Animal Health Department, NEIKER-Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, Bizkaia Spain
| | - Fátima Goiri
- Animal Health Department, NEIKER-Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, Bizkaia Spain
| | - Jesús F. Barandika
- Animal Health Department, NEIKER-Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, Bizkaia Spain
| | - Patricia Vázquez
- Animal Health Department, NEIKER-Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, Bizkaia Spain
| | - Joseba Goikolea
- Subdirección de Salud Pública de Gipuzkoa, Eusko Jaurlaritza-Gobierno Vasco, Donostia, Gipuzkoa Spain
| | - Ander Zuazo
- Dirección de Sanidad Ambiental e Higiene Urbana, Área de Salud y Consumo del Ayuntamiento de Bilbao, Bilbao, Bizkaia Spain
| | - Natalia Etxarri
- Dirección de Medio Ambiente, Sección de Sanidad Alimentaria y Zoonosis del Ayuntamiento de Donostia, Donostia, Gipuzkoa Spain
| | - Gurutze Ocio
- Departamento de Deporte y Salud, Servicio de Salud Pública, Unidad Sanitaria de Consumo del Ayuntamiento de Vitoria-Gasteiz, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Araba Spain
| | - Ana L. García-Pérez
- Animal Health Department, NEIKER-Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, Bizkaia Spain
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Nanfack-Minkeu F, Delong A, Luri M, Poelstra JW. Invasive Aedes japonicus Mosquitoes Dominate the Aedes Fauna Collected with Gravid Traps in Wooster, Northeastern Ohio, USA. INSECTS 2023; 14:56. [PMID: 36661984 PMCID: PMC9861081 DOI: 10.3390/insects14010056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Aedes japonicus (Diptera: Culicidae), or the Asian rock pool mosquito, is an invasive mosquito in Europe and America. It was first detected outside of Asia in 1990 in Oceania. It has since expanded to North America and Europe in 1998 and 2000, respectively. Even though it is classified as a secondary vector of pathogens, it is competent to several arboviruses and filarial worms, and it is contributing to the transmission of La Crosse virus (LACV) and West Nile virus (WNV). In this study, CDC light, BG-sentinel, and gravid traps were used to collect mosquitoes between June and October 2021, in Wooster, Northeastern Ohio, USA. Morphological identification or/and Sanger sequencing were performed to identify the collected mosquitoes. Our results revealed that (adult) Ae. japonicus mosquitoes were the most abundant mosquito species collected with gravid traps in Wooster in 2021, confirming its establishment in Ohio. Molecular analyses of Ae. japonicus showed 100% nucleotide similarity with Ae. japonicus collected in Iowa (USA) and Canada, suggesting multiple introductions. Its presence may increase the risk of future arbovirus outbreaks in Wooster, Ohio. This study stresses the importance of actively monitoring the density and distribution of all members of the Ae. japonicus complex.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alexander Delong
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Program, The College of Wooster, Wooster, OH 44691, USA
| | - Moses Luri
- Departments of Economics, and Mathematical and Computational Sciences, The College of Wooster, Wooster, OH 44691, USA
- Department of Mathematical and Computational Sciences, The College of Wooster, Wooster, OH 44691, USA
| | - Jelmer W. Poelstra
- Molecular and Cellular Imaging Center, Ohio State University, Wooster, OH 44691, USA
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Vojtíšek J, Janssen N, Šikutová S, Šebesta O, Kampen H, Rudolf I. Emergence of the invasive Asian bush mosquito Aedes (Hulecoeteomyia) japonicus (Theobald, 1901) in the Czech Republic. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:250. [PMID: 35820942 PMCID: PMC9277878 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05332-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 08/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aedes japonicus is a mosquito species native to North-East Asia that was first found established outside its original geographic distribution range in 1998 and has since spread massively through North America and Europe. In the Czech Republic, the species was not reported before 2021. METHODS Aedes invasive mosquitoes (AIM) are routinely surveyed in the Czech Republic by ovitrapping at potential entry ports. This surveillance is supported by appeals to the population to report uncommon mosquitoes. The submission of an Ae. japonicus specimen by a citizen in 2021 was followed by local search for aquatic mosquito stages in the submitter's garden and short-term adult monitoring with encephalitis virus surveillance (EVS) traps in its surroundings. Collected Ae. japonicus specimens were subjected to nad4 haplotype and microsatellite analyses. RESULTS Aedes japonicus was detected for the first time in the Czech Republic in 2021. Aquatic stages and adults were collected in Prachatice, close to the Czech-German border, and eggs in Mikulov, on the Czech-Austrian border. Morphological identification was confirmed by molecular taxonomy. Genetic analysis of specimens and comparison of genetic data with those of other European populations, particularly from Germany, showed the Prachatice specimens to be most closely related to a German population. The Mikulov specimens were more distantly related to those, with no close relatives identifiable. CONCLUSIONS Aedes japonicus is already widely distributed in Germany and Austria, two countries neighbouring the Czech Republic, and continues to spread rapidly in Central Europe. It must therefore be assumed that the species is already present at more than the two described localities in the Czech Republic and will further spread in this country. These findings highlight the need for more comprehensive AIM surveillance in the Czech Republic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Vojtíšek
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Experimental Biology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Nele Janssen
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Insel Riems, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Silvie Šikutová
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Oldřich Šebesta
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Helge Kampen
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Insel Riems, Greifswald, Germany.
| | - Ivo Rudolf
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Experimental Biology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
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Deblauwe I, De Wolf K, De Witte J, Schneider A, Verlé I, Vanslembrouck A, Smitz N, Demeulemeester J, Van Loo T, Dekoninck W, Krit M, Madder M, Müller R, Van Bortel W. From a long-distance threat to the invasion front: a review of the invasive Aedes mosquito species in Belgium between 2007 and 2020. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:206. [PMID: 35698108 PMCID: PMC9195248 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05303-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive mosquito species (IMS) and their associated mosquito-borne diseases are emerging in Europe. In Belgium, the first detection of Aedes albopictus (Skuse 1894) occurred in 2000 and of Aedes japonicus japonicus (Theobald 1901) in 2002. Early detection and control of these IMS at points of entry (PoEs) are of paramount importance to slow down any possible establishment. This article reviews the introductions and establishments recorded of three IMS in Belgium based on published (2007-2014) and unpublished (2015-2020) data collected during several surveillance projects. In total, 52 PoEs were monitored at least once for the presence of IMS between 2007 and 2020. These included used tyre and lucky bamboo import companies, airports, ports, parking lots along highways, shelters for imported cutting plants, wholesale markets, industrial areas, recycling areas, cemeteries and an allotment garden at the country border with colonised areas. In general, monitoring was performed between April and November. Mosquitoes were captured with adult and oviposition traps as well as by larval sampling. Aedes albopictus was detected at ten PoEs, Ae. japonicus at three PoEs and Aedes koreicus (Edwards 1917) at two PoEs. The latter two species have established overwintering populations. The percentage of PoEs positive for Ae. albopictus increased significantly over years. Aedes albopictus is currently entering Belgium through lucky bamboo and used tyre trade and passive ground transport, while Ae. japonicus through used tyre trade and probably passive ground transport. In Belgium, the import through passive ground transport was first recorded in 2018 and its importance seems to be growing. Belgium is currently at the invasion front of Ae. albopictus and Ae. japonicus. The surveillance and control management actions at well-known PoEs associated to long-distance introductions are more straightforward than at less-defined PoEs associated with short-distance introductions from colonised areas. These latter PoEs represent a new challenge for IMS management in Belgium in the coming years. Aedes albopictus is expected to become established in Belgium in the coming years, hence increasing the likelihood of local arbovirus transmission. The implementation of a sustainable, structured and long-term IMS management programme, integrating active and passive entomological surveillance, vector control and Public Health surveillance is therefore pivotal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isra Deblauwe
- The Unit of Entomology, Department Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Katrien De Wolf
- The Unit of Entomology, Department Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jacobus De Witte
- The Unit of Entomology, Department Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Anna Schneider
- The Unit of Entomology, Department Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Ingrid Verlé
- The Unit of Entomology, Department Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Adwine Vanslembrouck
- The Unit of Entomology, Department Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Nathalie Smitz
- Royal Museum for Central Africa (BopCo), Tervuren, Belgium
| | - Julie Demeulemeester
- The Unit of Entomology, Department Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | - Wouter Dekoninck
- Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (Scientific Heritage Service), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Meryam Krit
- The Unit of Eco-Modelling, Department Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Maxime Madder
- Clinglobal, Tamarin, Mauritius
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa
| | - Ruth Müller
- The Unit of Entomology, Department Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Wim Van Bortel
- The Unit of Entomology, Department Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- Outbreak Research Team, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
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Kerkow A, Wieland R, Gethmann JM, Hölker F, Lentz HH. Linking a compartment model for West Nile virus with a flight simulator for vector mosquitoes. Ecol Modell 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2021.109840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Čabanová V, Boršová K, Svitok M, Oboňa J, Svitková I, Barbušinová E, Derka T, Sláviková M, Klempa B. An unwanted companion reaches the country: the first record of the alien mosquito Aedes japonicus japonicus (Theobald, 1901) in Slovakia. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:572. [PMID: 34772447 PMCID: PMC8588666 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-05062-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Invasive mosquitoes of the genus Aedes are quickly spreading around the world. The presence of these alien species is concerning for both their impact on the native biodiversity and their high vector competence. The surveillance of Aedes invasive mosquito (AIM) species is one of the most important steps in vector-borne disease control and prevention. METHODS In 2020, the monitoring of AIM species was conducted in five areas (Bratislava, Zvolen, Banská Bystrica, Prešov, Košice) of Slovakia. The sites were located at points of entry (border crossings with Austria and Hungary) and in the urban and rural zones of cities and their surroundings. Ovitraps were used at the majority of sites as a standard method of monitoring. The collected specimens were identified morphologically, with subsequent molecular identification by conventional PCR (cox1) and Sanger sequencing. The phylogenetic relatedness of the obtained sequences was inferred by the maximum likelihood (ML) method. The nucleotide heterogeneity of the Slovak sequences was analysed by the index of disparity. RESULTS A bush mosquito, Aedes japonicus japonicus, was found and confirmed by molecular methods in three geographically distant areas of Slovakia-Bratislava, Zvolen and Prešov. The presence of AIM species is also likely in Košice; however, the material was not subjected to molecular identification. The nucleotide sequences of some Slovak strains confirm their significant heterogeneity. They were placed in several clusters on the ML phylogenetic tree. Moreover, Ae. j. japonicus was discovered in regions of Slovakia that are not close to a point of entry, where the mosquitoes could find favourable habitats in dendrothelms in city parks or forests. CONCLUSION Despite being a first record of the Ae. j. japonicus in Slovakia, our study indicates that the established populations already exist across the country, underlining the urgent need for intensified surveillance of AIM species as well as mosquito-borne pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktória Čabanová
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Kristína Boršová
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
- Department of Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Marek Svitok
- Department of Biology and General Ecology, Technical University in Zvolen, T. G. Masaryka 24, 960 01 Zvolen, Slovakia
- Department of Ecosystem Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jozef Oboňa
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Humanities and Natural Sciences, 17 Novembra č. 1, 081 16 Prešov, Slovakia
| | - Ivana Svitková
- Institute of Botany, Plant Science and Biodiversity Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 23 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Eva Barbušinová
- Department of Breeding and Diseases of Game, Fish and Bees, Ecology and Cynology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Tomáš Derka
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Iľkovičova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Monika Sláviková
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Boris Klempa
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
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Krupa E, Gréhal AL, Esnault J, Bender C, Mathieu B. Laboratory Evaluation of Flight Capacities of Aedes japonicus (Diptera: Culicidae) Using a Flight Mill Device. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2021; 21:6449198. [PMID: 34865033 PMCID: PMC8643834 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/ieab093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Dispersion expands the distribution of invasive species and as such, it is a key factor of the colonization process. Aedes japonicus japonicus (Theobald, 1901) is an invasive species of mosquito and a vector of various viruses. It was detected in the northeast of France in 2014. The population of this species can expand its distribution by several kilometers per year. However, though flight capacities play an active part in the dispersion of Ae. japonicus, they remain unknown for this species. In this study, we investigated the flight capacities of Ae. japonicus in a laboratory setting using the flight mill technique. We evaluated the influence of age on flight. We recorded videos of individual flights with a camera mounted on Raspberry Pi. We extracted data on distance, duration, and speed of flight using the Toxtrac and Boris software. Our analysis showed a median flight distance of 438 m with a maximum of 11,466 m. Strong flyers, which represented 10% of the females tested, flew more than 6,115 m during 4 h and 28 min at a speed of 1.7 km per h. As suspected, Ae. japonicus is a stronger flyer than the other invasive species Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1894) (Diptera: Culicidae). To our knowledge, this is the first flight mill study conducted on Ae. japonicus and therefore the first evaluation of its flight capacity. In the future, the flight propensity of Ae. japonicus determined in this study can be included as a parameter to model the colonization process of this invasive vector species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Krupa
- Institut de Parasitologie et Pathologie Tropicale, UR7292 Dynamique des interactions hôte pathogène, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle, Université de Strasbourg, F-67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Alexa-Lou Gréhal
- Institut de Parasitologie et Pathologie Tropicale, UR7292 Dynamique des interactions hôte pathogène, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle, Université de Strasbourg, F-67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Jérémy Esnault
- Syndicat de Lutte contre les Moustiques du Bas-Rhin (SLM67), F-67630, Lauterbourg, France
| | - Christelle Bender
- Syndicat de Lutte contre les Moustiques du Bas-Rhin (SLM67), F-67630, Lauterbourg, France
| | - Bruno Mathieu
- Institut de Parasitologie et Pathologie Tropicale, UR7292 Dynamique des interactions hôte pathogène, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle, Université de Strasbourg, F-67000, Strasbourg, France
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Eritja R, Delacour-Estrella S, Ruiz-Arrondo I, González MA, Barceló C, García-Pérez AL, Lucientes J, Miranda MÁ, Bartumeus F. At the tip of an iceberg: citizen science and active surveillance collaborating to broaden the known distribution of Aedes japonicus in Spain. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:375. [PMID: 34311767 PMCID: PMC8314548 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04874-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Active surveillance aimed at the early detection of invasive mosquito species is usually focused on seaports and airports as points of entry, and along road networks as dispersion paths. In a number of cases, however, the first detections of colonizing populations are made by citizens, either because the species has already moved beyond the implemented active surveillance sites or because there is no surveillance in place. This was the case of the first detection in 2018 of the Asian bush mosquito, Aedes japonicus, in Asturias (northern Spain) by the citizen science platform Mosquito Alert. METHODS The collaboration between Mosquito Alert, the Ministry of Health, local authorities and academic researchers resulted in a multi-source surveillance combining active field sampling with broader temporal and spatial citizen-sourced data, resulting in a more flexible and efficient surveillance strategy. RESULTS Between 2018 and 2020, the joint efforts of administrative bodies, academic teams and citizen-sourced data led to the discovery of this species in northern regions of Spain such as Cantabria and the Basque Country. This raised the estimated area of occurrence of Ae. japonicus from < 900 km2 in 2018 to > 7000 km2 in 2020. CONCLUSIONS This population cluster is geographically isolated from any other population in Europe, which raises questions about its origin, path of introduction and dispersal means, while also highlighting the need to enhance surveillance systems by closely combining crowd-sourced surveillance with public health and mosquito control agencies' efforts, from local to continental scales. This multi-actor approach for surveillance (either passive and active) shows high potential efficiency in the surveillance of other invasive mosquito species, and specifically the major vector Aedes aegypti which is already present in some parts of Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger Eritja
- Centre de Recerca Ecològica i Aplicacions Forestals (CREAF), Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Ignacio Ruiz-Arrondo
- Center for Rickettsioses and Arthropod-Borne Diseases, Hospital Universitario San Pedro–CIBIR, Logroño, Spain
| | - Mikel A. González
- NEIKER-Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, Spain
| | - Carlos Barceló
- Applied Zoology and Animal Conservation research group, Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB), Palma, Spain
| | - Ana L. García-Pérez
- NEIKER-Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, Spain
| | - Javier Lucientes
- The Agrifood Institute of Aragón (IA2), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Miguel Á. Miranda
- Applied Zoology and Animal Conservation research group, Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB), Palma, Spain
- Agro-Environmental and Water Economics Institute (INAGEA), Palma, Spain
| | - Frederic Bartumeus
- Centre de Recerca Ecològica i Aplicacions Forestals (CREAF), Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
- Centre d’Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB-CSIC), Blanes, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
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Smitz N, De Wolf K, Deblauwe I, Kampen H, Schaffner F, De Witte J, Schneider A, Verlé I, Vanslembrouck A, Dekoninck W, Meganck K, Gombeer S, Vanderheyden A, De Meyer M, Backeljau T, Werner D, Müller R, Van Bortel W. Population genetic structure of the Asian bush mosquito, Aedes japonicus (Diptera, Culicidae), in Belgium suggests multiple introductions. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:179. [PMID: 33766104 PMCID: PMC7995749 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04676-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aedes japonicus japonicus has expanded beyond its native range and has established in multiple European countries, including Belgium. In addition to the population located at Natoye, Belgium, locally established since 2002, specimens were recently collected along the Belgian border. The first objective of this study was therefore to investigate the origin of these new introductions, which were assumed to be related to the expansion of the nearby population in western Germany. Also, an intensive elimination campaign was undertaken at Natoye between 2012 and 2015, after which the species was declared to be eradicated. This species was re-detected in 2017, and thus the second objective was to investigate if these specimens resulted from a new introduction event and/or from a few undetected specimens that escaped the elimination campaign. METHODS Population genetic variation at nad4 and seven microsatellite loci was surveyed in 224 and 68 specimens collected in Belgium and Germany, respectively. German samples were included as reference to investigate putative introduction source(s). At Natoye, 52 and 135 specimens were collected before and after the elimination campaign, respectively, to investigate temporal changes in the genetic composition and diversity. RESULTS At Natoye, the genotypic microsatellite make-up showed a clear difference before and after the elimination campaign. Also, the population after 2017 displayed an increased allelic richness and number of private alleles, indicative of new introduction(s). However, the Natoye population present before the elimination programme is believed to have survived at low density. At the Belgian border, clustering results suggest a relation with the western German population. Whether the introduction(s) occur via passive human-mediated ground transport or, alternatively, by natural spread cannot be determined yet from the dataset. CONCLUSION Further introductions within Belgium are expected to occur in the near future, especially along the eastern Belgian border, which is at the front of the invasion of Ae. japonicus towards the west. Our results also point to the complexity of controlling invasive species, since 4 years of intense control measures were found to be not completely successful at eliminating this exotic at Natoye.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Smitz
- Royal Museum for Central Africa (BopCo & Biology Department), Leuvensesteenweg 17, 3080, Tervuren, Belgium.
| | - Katrien De Wolf
- The Unit of Entomology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Isra Deblauwe
- The Unit of Entomology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Helge Kampen
- Friedrich Loeffler Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | | | - Jacobus De Witte
- The Unit of Entomology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Anna Schneider
- The Unit of Entomology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Ingrid Verlé
- The Unit of Entomology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Adwine Vanslembrouck
- The Unit of Entomology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium.,Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (BopCo & Scientific Heritage Service), Vautierstraat 29, 1000, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Wouter Dekoninck
- Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (BopCo & Scientific Heritage Service), Vautierstraat 29, 1000, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Kenny Meganck
- Royal Museum for Central Africa (BopCo & Biology Department), Leuvensesteenweg 17, 3080, Tervuren, Belgium
| | - Sophie Gombeer
- Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (BopCo & Scientific Heritage Service), Vautierstraat 29, 1000, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ann Vanderheyden
- Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (BopCo & Scientific Heritage Service), Vautierstraat 29, 1000, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Marc De Meyer
- Royal Museum for Central Africa (BopCo & Biology Department), Leuvensesteenweg 17, 3080, Tervuren, Belgium
| | - Thierry Backeljau
- Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (BopCo & Scientific Heritage Service), Vautierstraat 29, 1000, Brussels, Belgium.,Evolutionary Ecology Group, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Doreen Werner
- Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research, Eberswalder Straße 84, 15374, Müncheberg, Germany
| | - Ruth Müller
- The Unit of Entomology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Wim Van Bortel
- The Unit of Entomology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium.,Outbreak Research Team, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
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Früh L, Kampen H, Koban MB, Pernat N, Schaub GA, Werner D. Oviposition of Aedes japonicus japonicus (Diptera: Culicidae) and associated native species in relation to season, temperature and land use in western Germany. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:623. [PMID: 33334377 PMCID: PMC7744736 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04461-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aedes japonicus japonicus, first detected in Europe in 2000 and considered established in Germany 10 years later, is of medical importance due to its opportunistic biting behaviour and its potential to transmit pathogenic viruses. Its seasonal phenology, temperature and land use preference related to oviposition in newly colonised regions remain unclear, especially in the context of co-occurring native mosquito species. METHODS Focussing on regions in Germany known to be infested by Ae. japonicus japonicus, we installed ovitraps in different landscapes and their transition zones and recorded the oviposition activity of mosquitoes in relation to season, temperature and land use (arable land, forest, settlement) in two field seasons (May-August 2017, April-November 2018). RESULTS Ae. japonicus japonicus eggs and larvae were encountered in 2017 from June to August and in 2018 from May to November, with a markedly high abundance from June to September in rural transition zones between forest and settlement, limited to water temperatures below 30 °C. Of the three native mosquito taxa using the ovitraps, the most frequent was Culex pipiens s.l., whose offspring was found in high numbers from June to August at water temperatures of up to 35 °C. The third recorded species, Anopheles plumbeus, rarely occurred in ovitraps positioned in settlements and on arable land, but was often associated with Ae. japonicus japonicus. The least frequent species, Aedes geniculatus, was mostly found in ovitraps located in the forest. CONCLUSIONS The transition zone between forest and settlement was demonstrated to be the preferred oviposition habitat of Ae. japonicus japonicus, where it was also the most frequent container-inhabiting mosquito species in this study. Compared to native taxa, Ae. japonicus japonicus showed an extended seasonal activity period, presumably due to tolerance of colder water temperatures. Higher water temperatures and arable land represent distribution barriers to this species. The frequently co-occurring native species An. plumbeus might be useful as an indicator for potentially suitable oviposition habitats of Ae. japonicus japonicus in hitherto uncolonised regions. The results contribute to a better understanding of mosquito ecology and provide a basis for more targeted monitoring, distribution modelling and risk management of mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linus Früh
- Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research, Eberswalder Straße 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany
- Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Helge Kampen
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, Insel Riems, 17493 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Marcel B. Koban
- Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research, Eberswalder Straße 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany
- Universität Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 30, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Nadja Pernat
- Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research, Eberswalder Straße 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany
- Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Straße 1-3, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Günter A. Schaub
- Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Doreen Werner
- Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research, Eberswalder Straße 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany
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