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Laojun S, Changbunjong T, Chaiphongpachara T. Population genetic structure and wing geometric morphometrics of the filarial vector Armigeres subalbatus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Thailand. Acta Trop 2024; 253:107171. [PMID: 38447704 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Armigeres subalbatus (Diptera: Culicidae) is a mosquito species of significant medical and veterinary importance. It is widely distributed across Southeast and East Asia and is commonly found throughout Thailand. This study assessed the genetic diversity and population structure of Ar. subalbatus in Thailand using the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences. Additionally, wing shape variations among these populations were examined using geometric morphometrics (GM). Our results demonstrated that the overall haplotype diversity (Hd) was 0.634, and the nucleotide diversity (π) was 0.0019. Significant negative values in neutrality tests (p < 0.05) indicate that the Ar. subalbatus populations in Thailand are undergoing a phase of expansion following a bottleneck event. The mismatch distribution test suggests that the populations may have started expanding approximately 16,678 years ago. Pairwise genetic differentiation among the 12 populations based on Fst revealed significant differences in 32 pairs (p < 0.05), with the degree of differentiation ranging from 0.000 to 0.419. The GM analysis of wing shape also indicated significant differences in nearly all pairs (p < 0.05), except for between populations from Nakhon Pathom and Samut Songkhram, and between those from Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son, suggesting no significant difference due to their similar environmental settings. These findings enhance our understanding of the population structure and phenotypic adaptations of mosquito vectors, providing vital insights for the formulation of more efficacious vector control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sedthapong Laojun
- Department of Public Health and Health Promotion, College of Allied Health Sciences, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Samut Songkhram 75000, Thailand
| | - Tanasak Changbunjong
- Department of Pre-Clinic and Applied Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand; The Monitoring and Surveillance Center for Zoonotic Diseases in Wildlife and Exotic Animals (MoZWE), Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand
| | - Tanawat Chaiphongpachara
- Department of Public Health and Health Promotion, College of Allied Health Sciences, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Samut Songkhram 75000, Thailand.
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Laojun S, Changbunjong T, Abdulloh A, Chaiphongpachara T. Geometric morphometrics to differentiate species and explore seasonal variation in three Mansonia species (Diptera: Culicidae) in central Thailand and their association with meteorological factors. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 38608184 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Mansonia mosquito species are recognised as a significant vector of human pathogens, primarily transmitting the filarial nematode, Brugia malayi. In central Thailand, the three most prevalent Mansonia species are Mansonia annulifera, Mansonia indiana and Mansonia uniformis. This study explored the influence of seasonal changes on the phenotypic variation of these Mansonia species in central Thailand using the geometric morphometrics (GM). To ensure accurate species identification, we integrated GM techniques with DNA barcoding, examining distinctions in both phenotype and genotype among the species. The intraspecific genetic divergence ranged from 0.00% to 1.69%, whereas the interspecific genetic divergence ranged from 10.52% to 16.36%. The clear distinction between intra- and interspecific distances demonstrated the presence of a barcoding gap, confirming the successful differentiation of the three Mansonia mosquito species through DNA barcoding. Similarly, the interspecies GM assessment for classifying Mansonia species demonstrated a high degree of accuracy, with an overall performance of 98.12%. Exploring seasonal variation in the three Mansonia species revealed wing variations across different seasons, and pronounced variations appearing in the cool season. Regarding their association with meteorological factors, Ma. annulifera and Ma. uniformis showed significant positive correlations with temperature (p < 0.05), and Ma. uniformis also displayed a significant negative correlation with atmospheric pressure (p < 0.05). The insights from this study will deepen our understanding of the adaptive patterns of Mansonia mosquitoes in Thailand's central region, paving the way for enhanced disease surveillance related to these vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sedthapong Laojun
- Department of Public Health and Health Promotion, College of Allied Health Sciences, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Samut Songkhram, Thailand
| | - Tanasak Changbunjong
- Department of Pre-Clinic and Applied Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
- The Monitoring and Surveillance Center for Zoonotic Diseases in Wildlife and Exotic Animals (MoZWE), Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Arina Abdulloh
- Department of Public Health and Health Promotion, College of Allied Health Sciences, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Samut Songkhram, Thailand
| | - Tanawat Chaiphongpachara
- Department of Public Health and Health Promotion, College of Allied Health Sciences, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Samut Songkhram, Thailand
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Hounkanrin G, Tchibozo C, Sauer FG, Agboli E, Schmidt-Chanasit J, Yadouleton A, Lühken R, Jöst H. Genetic diversity and wing geometric morphometrics among four populations of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) from Benin. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:320. [PMID: 37684701 PMCID: PMC10492319 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05943-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The impact of the arbovirus vector Aedes aegypti is of major concern for global public health as the viruses that it transmits affect millions of people each year worldwide. Originating in Africa, Ae. aegypti has now spread throughout much of the world. While the genetic makeup of Ae. aegypti in the New World has been extensively studied, there is limited knowledge on its genetic diversity in Africa, particularly at a microgeographical level. METHODS We investigated mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I of four Ae. aegypti populations from Benin and employed wing morphometric analyses as a cost-effective and reliable tool to explore population structure. Our sampling encompassed various areas of Benin, from the southern to the northern borders of the country, and included urban, semi-urban, and sylvatic sites. RESULTS We observed a notable level of genetic diversity (haplotype diversity of 0.8333) and nucleotide diversity (0.00421986), and identified seven distinct haplotypes. Sylvatic and semi-urban sites exhibited a greater number of haplotypes compared to urban sites. Utilizing 18 wing landmarks, we calculated the centroid size, which revealed significant variation among the three landscape types. However, principal component analysis, employed to assess wing shape variation, did not demonstrate significant differences between populations based on landscape type. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate substantial genetic and morphological diversity among Ae. aegypti populations in Benin, and provide insight into important biological characteristics of these populations with respect to their potential to transmit viruses. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study undertaken in Africa to integrate genetics with morphology to analyse the population structure of the major arbovirus vector Ae. aegypti.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gildas Hounkanrin
- Laboratory of Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers and Arboviruses of Benin, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Carine Tchibozo
- Laboratory of Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers and Arboviruses of Benin, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Felix Gregor Sauer
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, WHO Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Haemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Eric Agboli
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, WHO Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Haemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Hamburg, Germany
- School of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
| | - Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, WHO Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Haemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Hamburg, Germany
- Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anges Yadouleton
- Laboratory of Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers and Arboviruses of Benin, Cotonou, Benin
- Centre de Recherche Entomologique de Cotonou, Cotonou, Benin
- Ecole Normale Supérieure de Natitingou, National University of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, Abomey, Benin
| | - Renke Lühken
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, WHO Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Haemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hanna Jöst
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, WHO Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Haemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Hamburg, Germany.
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Laojun S, Changbunjong T, Sumruayphol S, Chaiphongpachara T. Molecular and morphometric differentiation of secondary filariasis vector Coquillettidia mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Thailand. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2023:105452. [PMID: 37257802 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2023.105452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Coquillettidia mosquitoes are important nuisance-biting pests and a vector of brugian filariasis in Thailand. However, comprehensive information about these mosquitoes remains unavailable such as molecular and morphometric differences among species. The lack of vector knowledge on Coquillettidia species could affect future disease control. This study aims to investigate differences in molecular variations based on mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene and wing geometric traits of three Coquillettidia species, namely Cq. crassipes, Cq. nigrosignata, and Cq. ochracea in Thailand. The results of molecular analyses revealed the differences among three Coquillettidia species. The genetic difference measure based on the Kimura two-parameter model among three Coquillettidia species showed low intraspecific distances (0%-3.05%) and large interspecific distances (10.10%-12.41%). The values of intra- and inter-genetic differences of three Coquillettidia species did not overlap which showed the existence of a barcoding gap indicating the efficiency of the identification based on the COI gene. As with molecular analysis, the landmark-based geometric morphometrics approach based on wing shape analysis indicated three distinct species groups which were supported by the high total performance score of cross-validated classification (97.16%). These results provide the first evidence of taxonomic signal based on molecular and wing geometric differences to support species identification and biological variations of Coquillettidia mosquitoes in Thailand for understanding these rare vector mosquitoes in depth and leading to effective further mosquito control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sedthapong Laojun
- Department of Public Health and Health Promotion, College of Allied Health Sciences, Suan Sunandha Ra-jabhat University, Samut Songkhram 75000, Thailand
| | - Tanasak Changbunjong
- Department of Pre-Clinic and Applied Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand; The Monitoring and Surveillance Center for Zoonotic Diseases in Wildlife and Exotic Animals (MoZWE), Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand
| | - Suchada Sumruayphol
- Department of Medical Entomology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Tanawat Chaiphongpachara
- Department of Public Health and Health Promotion, College of Allied Health Sciences, Suan Sunandha Ra-jabhat University, Samut Songkhram 75000, Thailand.
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Chaiphongpachara T, Weluwanarak T, Changbunjong T. Intraspecific variation in wing geometry among Tabanus rubidus (Diptera: Tabanidae) populations in Thailand. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:920755. [PMID: 36118331 PMCID: PMC9480827 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.920755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tabanus rubidus (Wiedemann, 1821) (Diptera: Tabanidae) is a hematophagous insect of veterinary and medical importance and is the predominant Tabanus spp. in Thailand. It is a potential mechanical vector of Trypanosoma evansi, which causes surra in domestic and wild animals. Wing geometric morphometrics is widely used as morphological markers for species identification and to assess the insect population structure. Herein, we investigated the intraspecific variation in wing geometry among T. rubidus populations in Thailand using landmark-based geometric morphometric analysis. Tabanus rubidus females were collected from five populations in four geographical regions in Thailand. The left wings of 240 specimens were removed and digitized using 22 landmarks for analysis. While wing size variations were found between some populations, wing shape variations were detected in all. These intraspecific variations in T. rubidus populations indicate an adaptive response to the local environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanawat Chaiphongpachara
- Department of Public Health and Health Promotion, College of Allied Health Sciences, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Thekhawet Weluwanarak
- The Monitoring and Surveillance Center for Zoonotic Diseases in Wildlife and Exotic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Tanasak Changbunjong
- The Monitoring and Surveillance Center for Zoonotic Diseases in Wildlife and Exotic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
- Department of Pre-clinic and Applied Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
- *Correspondence: Tanasak Changbunjong
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Chaiphongpachara T, Duvallet G, Changbunjong T. Wing Phenotypic Variation among Stomoxys calcitrans (Diptera: Muscidae) Populations in Thailand. INSECTS 2022; 13:insects13050405. [PMID: 35621741 PMCID: PMC9143182 DOI: 10.3390/insects13050405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Simple Summary The stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (Diptera: Muscidae), is the predominant Stomoxys spp. in Thailand and is considered a pest for livestock, pets, wildlife, and occasionally humans. This study investigated the phenotypic variation in the wing size and shape of S. calcitrans populations from different geographical regions in Thailand using landmark-based geometric morphometric analysis. Results showed strong spatial variation in wing shape among S. calcitrans populations and thus suggested the existence of phenotypic plasticity in this fly. Abstract Stomoxys calcitrans (Linnaeus, 1758) (Diptera: Muscidae) is a cosmopolitan hematophagous ectoparasite of veterinary and medical importance. It is an important mechanical vector of several animal pathogens and can cause significant economic losses. However, the morphological variation of this species remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the phenotypic variation in the wing size and shape of S. calcitrans populations in Thailand based on a landmark-based geometric morphometric approach. Specimens were collected from five populations in five geographical regions in Thailand. A total of 490 left wings of S. calcitrans (245 female and 245 male individuals) were used for geometric morphometric analysis. Wing size differences were detected between some populations of S. calcitrans, whereas wing shape differences were found among populations. Therefore, the phenotypic variation in S. calcitrans populations indicated that these populations are adaptive responses to local environmental pressures, suggesting the presence of phenotypic plasticity in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanawat Chaiphongpachara
- Department of Public Health and Health Promotion, College of Allied Health Sciences, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Bangkok 10300, Thailand;
| | - Gerard Duvallet
- UMR5175, Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier, 34090 Montpellier, France;
| | - Tanasak Changbunjong
- Department of Pre-Clinic and Applied Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand
- The Monitoring and Surveillance Center for Zoonotic Diseases in Wildlife and Exotic Animals (MoZWE), Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand
- Correspondence:
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Champakaew D, Junkum A, Sontigun N, Sanit S, Limsopatham K, Saeung A, Somboon P, Pitasawat B. Geometric morphometric wing analysis as a tool to discriminate female mosquitoes from different suburban areas of Chiang Mai province, Thailand. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260333. [PMID: 34843516 PMCID: PMC8629303 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mosquitoes are hematophagous insects that transmit parasites and pathogens with devastating effects on humans, particularly in subtropical regions. Different mosquito species display various behaviors, breeding sites, and geographic distribution; however, they can be difficult to distinguish in the field due to morphological similarities between species and damage caused during trapping and transportation. Vector control methods for controlling mosquito-borne disease epidemics require an understanding of which vector species are present in the area as well as the epidemiological patterns of disease transmission. Although molecular techniques can accurately distinguish between mosquito species, they are costly and laborious, making them unsuitable for extensive use in the field. Thus, alternative techniques are required. Geometric morphometrics (GM) is a rapid and inexpensive technique that can be used to analyze the size, shape, and shape variation of individuals based on a range of traits. Here, we used GM to analyze the wings of 1,040 female mosquitoes from 12 different species in Thailand. The right wing of each specimen was removed, imaged microscopically, and digitized using 17 landmarks. Wing shape variation among genera and species was analyzed using canonical variate analysis (CVA), while discriminant function analysis was used to cross-validate classification reliability based on Mahalanobis distances. Phenetic relationships were constructed to illustrate the discrimination patterns for genera and species. CVA of the morphological variation among Aedes, Anopheles, Armigeres, Culex, and Mansonia mosquito genera revealed five clusters. In particular, we demonstrated a high percentage of correctly-distinguished samples among Aedes (97.48%), Armigeres (96.15%), Culex (90.07%), and Mansonia (91.67%), but not Anopheles (64.54%). Together, these findings suggest that wing landmark-based GM analysis is an efficient method for identifying mosquito species, particularly among the Aedes, Armigeres, Culex, and Mansonia genera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danita Champakaew
- School of Public Health, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand and Excellent Center for Dengue and Community Public Health (EC for DACH), Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
- * E-mail:
| | - Anuluck Junkum
- Department of Parasitology, Center of Insect Vector Study, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Narin Sontigun
- Akkhraratchakumari Veterinary College, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
| | - Sangob Sanit
- Department of Parasitology, Center of Insect Vector Study, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Kwankamol Limsopatham
- Department of Parasitology, Center of Insect Vector Study, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Atiporn Saeung
- Department of Parasitology, Center of Insect Vector Study, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Pradya Somboon
- Department of Parasitology, Center of Insect Vector Study, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Benjawan Pitasawat
- Department of Parasitology, Center of Insect Vector Study, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
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Landmark Data to Distinguish and Identify Morphologically Close Tabanus spp. (Diptera: Tabanidae). INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12110974. [PMID: 34821775 PMCID: PMC8622361 DOI: 10.3390/insects12110974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 10/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Tabanus spp., also known as horse flies (Diptera: Tabanidae), are important vectors of several animal pathogens. Adult females of Tabanus megalops and Tabanus striatus, which are members of the T. striatus complex, are morphologically similar and hence difficult to distinguish using morphological characteristics. In addition, molecular identification by DNA barcoding is also unable to distinguish these species. These two species can occur sympatrically with Tabanus rubidus, which is morphologically similar to T. megalops and T. striatus. Wing geometric morphometrics has been widely used in various insects to distinguish morphologically similar species. This study explored the effectiveness of landmark-based geometrics at distinguishing and identifying T. megalops, T. rubidus, and T. striatus in Thailand. Specimens were collected from different geographical regions of Thailand, and only unambiguously identified specimens were used for geometric morphometric analyses. Left wings of females of T. megalops (n = 160), T. rubidus (n = 165), and T. striatus (n = 85) were photographed, and 22 wing landmarks were used for the analysis. Wing shape was able to distinguish among species with high accuracy scores, ranging from 94.38% to 99.39%. We showed that morphologically very close species of Tabanus can be reliably distinguished by the geometry of their wing venation, and we showed how our experimental material could be used as a reference to tentatively identify new field collected specimens.
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Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of the Asian Tiger Mosquito ( Aedes albopictus) in Vietnam: Evidence for Genetic Differentiation by Climate Region. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12101579. [PMID: 34680974 PMCID: PMC8535633 DOI: 10.3390/genes12101579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Aedes albopictus is a native mosquito to Southeast Asia with a high potential for disease transmission. Understanding how Ae. albopictus populations that develop in the species' native range is useful for planning future control strategies and for identifying the sources of invasive ranges. The present study aims to investigate the genetic diversity and population structure of Ae. albopictus across various climatic regions of Vietnam. We analyzed mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene sequences from specimens collected from 16 localities, and we used distance-based redundancy analysis to evaluate the amount of variation in the genetic distance that could be explained by both geographic distance and climatic factors. High levels of genetic polymorphism were detected, and the haplotypes were similar to those sequences from both temperate and tropical regions worldwide. Of note, these haplotype groups were geographically distributed, resulting in a distinct population structure in which northeastern populations and the remaining populations were genetically differentiated. Notably, genetic variation among the Ae. albopictus populations was driven primarily by climatic factors (64.55%) and to a lesser extent was also influenced by geographic distance (33.73%). These findings fill important gaps in the current understanding of the population genetics of Ae. albopictus in Vietnam, especially with respect to providing data to track the origin of the invaded regions worldwide.
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López-Mercadal J, Barretto Bruno Wilke A, Barceló C, Miranda MA. Evidence of Wing Shape Sexual Dimorphism in Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus in Mallorca, Spain. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.569034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1894) is a highly invasive species widely distributed on the Spanish Mediterranean coast and the Balearic archipelago. Most studies involving this species in Spain have been focused on surveillance and control methods. However, micro-evolutionary studies for Ae. albopictus in Spain have been traditionally neglected. Morphological diversity could be the result of long-term evolutionary diversification in responses to selective pressures such as temperature, precipitation, food availability, predation, or competition that may influence flight activity, host-seeking, and blood-feeding behavior. Wing geometric morphometric have been used not only to study micro- and macro-evolution in mosquitoes but also in studies of population structuring and sexual dimorphism. Therefore, the main goal of this study was to investigate the wing shape patterns of Ae. albopictus populations to unveil sexual dimorphism that could provide information about their ecology and behavior. Mosquito eggs were collected using oviposition traps at the main campus of the University of the Balearic Islands (Palma de Mallorca, Spain) and reared under laboratory conditions. In order to study wing shape variation patterns in Ae. albopictus males and females, the left wing of each adult mosquito was removed and analyzed based on 18 landmarks. Our results indicated strong levels of sexual dimorphism between Ae. albopictus males and females. Furthermore, according to the cross-validated reclassification test, males were correctly distinguished from females with an accuracy of 84% and females from males 75%. We observed a significant sexual dimorphism in the wing shape patterns of Ae. albopictus when considering different seasonal patterns (spring vs. autumn). Our results suggested that selective pressures may affect males differently to females. Host-seeking, blood-feeding, and oviposition behavior of females may act as a major driver for wing shape sexual dimorphism. These results should be considered for the development of more effective and targeted mosquito control strategies.
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The Unequal Taxonomic Signal of Mosquito Wing Cells. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12050376. [PMID: 33919376 PMCID: PMC8143324 DOI: 10.3390/insects12050376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 03/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Mosquitoes of the genus Aedes include important vectors of human disease viruses, including dengue, chikungunya and Zika. Surveillance programs used to detect and control these pests need accurate, fast and low-cost techniques to track the primary target and monitor possible re-infestations. Geometric morphometrics of mosquito wings is a convenient tool in mosquito species identification, but this method requires a complete wing in good condition for maximum accuracy. In this study, we investigate the amount of taxonomic signal provided by shape analysis of the internal cells of the wing. We show that (i) the internal cells of the wing provide differing amounts of taxonomic information, and (ii) the taxonomic signal of a given cell depends on the species under comparison. Since some of these cells are very informative, our study suggests that even damaged wings may provide key taxonomic information to differentiate among species found in mixed species surveillance collections. Abstract Accurate identification of mosquito species is critically important for monitoring and controlling the impact of human diseases they transmit. Here, we investigate four mosquito species: Aedes aegypti, Ae. albopictus, Ae. scutellaris and Verrallina dux that co-occur in tropical and subtropical regions, and whose morphological similarity challenges their accurate identification, a crucial requirement in entomological surveillance programs. Previous publications reveal a clear taxonomic signal embedded in wing cell landmark configuration, as well as in the external contour of the wings. We explored this signal for internal cells of the wings as well, to determine whether internal cells could uniformly provide the same taxonomic information. For each cell to be tentatively assigned to its respective species, i.e., to measure the amount of its taxonomic information, we used the shape of its contour, rather than its size. We show that (i) the taxonomic signal of wing shape is not uniformly spread among internal cells of the wing, and (ii) the amount of taxonomic information of a given cell depends on the species under comparison. This unequal taxonomic signal of internal cells is not related to size, nor to apparent shape complexity. The strong taxonomic signal of some cells ensures that even partly damaged wings can be used to improve species recognition.
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Virginio F, Domingues V, da Silva LCG, Andrade L, Braghetto KR, Suesdek L. WingBank: A Wing Image Database of Mosquitoes. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.660941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mosquito-borne diseases affect millions of people and cause thousands of deaths yearly. Vaccines have been hitherto insufficient to mitigate them, which makes mosquito control the most viable approach. But vector control depends on correct species identification and geographical assignment, and the taxonomic characters of mosquitoes are often inconspicuous to non-taxonomists, which are restricted to a life stage and/or even damaged. Thus, geometric morphometry, a low cost and precise technique that has proven to be efficient for identifying subtle morphological dissimilarities, may contribute to the resolution of these types of problems. We have been applying this technique for more than 10 years and have accumulated thousands of wing images with their metadata. Therefore, the aims of this work were to develop a prototype of a platform for the storage of biological data related to wing morphometry, by means of a relational database and a web system named “WingBank.” In order to build the WingBank prototype, a multidisciplinary team performed a gathering of requirements, modeled and designed the relational database, and implemented a web platform. WingBank was designed to enforce data completeness, to ease data query, to leverage meta-studies, and to support applications of automatic identification of mosquitoes. Currently, the database of the WingBank contains data referring to 77 species belonging to 15 genera of Culicidae. From the 13,287 wing records currently cataloged in the database, 2,138 were already made available for use by third parties. As far as we know, this is the largest database of Culicidae wings of the world.
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Chaiphongpachara T, Laojun S. Wing morphometric variability of the malaria vector Anopheles (Cellia) epiroticus Linton et Harbach (Diptera: Culicidae) for the duration of the rainy season in coastal areas of Samut Songkhram, Thailand. Folia Parasitol (Praha) 2020; 67. [PMID: 32350157 DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
In Thailand, Anopheles (Cellia) epiroticus Linton et Harbach (Diptera: Culicidae) is the secondary vector of human malaria along coastal regions. While there are some studies of phenotypic variability and population structure of A. epiroticus, more information on morphological variation would enhance epidemiological understanding of medically important mosquito vectors. This research examined morphological variation at three different distances from coastlines of Samut Songkhram Province, Thailand, using landmark-based geometric morphometrics. Wing shape of A. epiroticus was significantly different in the area 0.2 km away from the sea compared to areas 2 and 4 km away from the sea (p < 0.05). Phenotypic variability in wing shape is associated with distance from the sea. Morphological variations in the area closest to the sea were most pronounced, showing a relationship between A. epiroticus and the ecosystem that affects wing geometry. These results provide important information to understand morphological variation of A. epiroticus in coastal areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanawat Chaiphongpachara
- Department of Public Health and Health Promotion, College of Allied Health Science, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Samut Songkhram, Thailand
| | - Sedthapong Laojun
- College of Allied Health Sciences, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Samut Songkhram,Thailand
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Liu H, Liu L, Cheng P, Yang L, Chen J, Lu Y, Wang H, Chen XG, Gong M. Bionomics and insecticide resistance of Aedes albopictus in Shandong, a high latitude and high-risk dengue transmission area in China. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:11. [PMID: 31918753 PMCID: PMC6953264 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-3880-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2019] [Accepted: 01/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dengue fever outbreaks tend to spread northward in China, and Jining is the northernmost region where local dengue fever cases have been detected. Therefore, it is important to investigate the density of Aedes albopictus and its resistance to deltamethrin. METHODS The Breteau index (BI) and container index (CI) were calculated to assess the larval density of Ae. albopictus and human-baited double net trap (HDN) surveillance was performed in six subordinate counties (Rencheng, Yanzhou, Sishui, Liangshan, Zoucheng and Jiaxiang) of Jining City in 2017 and 2018. The resistance of Ae. albopictus adults to deltamethrin was evaluated using the World Health Organization (WHO) standard resistance bioassay. The mutations at Vgsc codons 1532 and 1534 were also analysed to determine the association between kdr mutations and phenotypic resistance in adult mosquitoes. RESULTS The average BI, CI and biting rate at Jining were 45.30, 16.02 and 1.97 (female /man/hour) in 2017 and 15.95, 7.86 and 0.59 f/m/h in 2018, respectively. In August 26, 2017, when the first dengue fever case was diagnosed, the BI at Qianli village in Jiaxiang County was 107.27. The application of prevention and control measures by the government sharply decreased the BI to a value of 4.95 in September 3, 2017. The mortality of field-collected Ae. albopictus females from Jiaxiang was 41.98%. I1532T, F1534L and F1534S mutations were found in domain III of the Vgsc gene. This study provides the first demonstration that both I1532T and F1534S mutations are positively correlated with the deltamethrin-resistant phenotype. CONCLUSIONS Mosquito density surveillance, resistance monitoring and risk assessment should be strengthened in areas at risk for dengue to ensure the sustainable control of Ae. albopictus and thus the prevention and control of dengue transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongmei Liu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China. .,Shandong Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jining, 272033, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
| | - Luhong Liu
- Jining Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jining, 272033, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Peng Cheng
- Shandong Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jining, 272033, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Linlin Yang
- Jining Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jining, 272033, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Junhu Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Institute of Biological Products and Materia Medica, Guangzhou, 510440, People's Republic of China
| | - Yao Lu
- Jining Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jining, 272033, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Haifang Wang
- Shandong Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jining, 272033, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Guang Chen
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
| | - Maoqing Gong
- Shandong Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jining, 272033, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
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Wiese D, Escalante AA, Murphy H, Henry KA, Gutierrez-Velez VH. Integrating environmental and neighborhood factors in MaxEnt modeling to predict species distributions: A case study of Aedes albopictus in southeastern Pennsylvania. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0223821. [PMID: 31622396 PMCID: PMC6797167 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Aedes albopictus is a viable vector for several infectious diseases such as Zika, West Nile, Dengue viruses and others. Originating from Asia, this invasive species is rapidly expanding into North American temperate areas and urbanized places causing major concerns for public health. Previous analyses show that warm temperatures and high humidity during the mosquito season are ideal conditions for A. albopictus development, while its distribution is correlated with population density. To better understand A. albopictus expansion into urban places it is important to consider the role of both environmental and neighborhood factors. The present study aims to assess the relative importance of both environmental variables and neighborhood factors in the prediction of A. albopictus’ presence in Southeast Pennsylvania using MaxEnt (version 3.4.1) machine-learning algorithm. Three models are developed that include: (1) exclusively environmental variables, (2) exclusively neighborhood factors, and (3) a combination of environmental variables and neighborhood factors. Outcomes from the three models are compared in terms of variable importance, accuracy, and the spatial distribution of predicted A. albopictus’ presence. All three models predicted the presence of A. albopictus in urban centers, however, each to a different spatial extent. The combined model resulted in the highest accuracy (74.7%) compared to the model with only environmental variables (73.5%) and to the model with only neighborhood factors (72.1%) separately. Although the combined model does not essentially increase the accuracy in the prediction, the spatial patterns of mosquito distribution are different when compared to environmental or neighborhood factors alone. Environmental variables help to explain conditions associated with mosquitoes in suburban/rural areas, while neighborhood factors summarize the local conditions that can also impact mosquito habitats in predominantly urban places. Overall, the present study shows that MaxEnt is suitable for integrating neighborhood factors associated with mosquito presence that can complement and improve species distribution modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Wiese
- Department of Geography and Urban Studies, College of Liberal Arts, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Ananias A. Escalante
- Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Heather Murphy
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Kevin A. Henry
- Department of Geography and Urban Studies, College of Liberal Arts, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Victor Hugo Gutierrez-Velez
- Department of Geography and Urban Studies, College of Liberal Arts, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Prudhomme J, Velo E, Bino S, Kadriaj P, Mersini K, Gunay F, Alten B. Altitudinal variations in wing morphology of Aedes albopictus (Diptera, Culicidae) in Albania, the region where it was first recorded in Europe. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 26:55. [PMID: 31489838 PMCID: PMC6729119 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2019053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
The rapid spread and settlement of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes across at least 28 countries in Europe, as well as several countries in Asia Minor, the Middle East and Africa, has made it one of the most invasive species of all time. Even though the biology of Ae. albopictus in its native tropical environment has been documented for a long time, the biology and ecology of this species in newly colonized temperate environments remain poorly known despite its important role as a vector for about twenty arboviruses. In this context, the main goals of this work were to investigate Ae. albopictus phenotypic variations at a local scale in Albania, the country where Ae. albopictus was first recorded in Europe, and to determine if its phenotypes could be affected by altitude. Analysis of Ae. albopictus wing phenotypes was performed using a geometric morphometric approach. We observed shape and size variations among altitudinal populations of Ae. albopictus. Differences of wing phenotypes were highlighted between altitude groups for male and female mosquitoes. The phenotypic variations observed in Ae. albopictus between altitudinal groups indicated these populations are exposed to environmental and ecological pressures. These results suggest the presence of phenotypic plasticity in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorian Prudhomme
- UMR MIVEGEC (IRD 224 - CNRS 5290 - Université de Montpellier), 911 Avenue Agropolis, 34394 Montpellier, France
| | - Enkelejda Velo
- Department of Control of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Public Health, Str. "Aleksandër Moisiu" No. 80, 1010 Tirana, Albania
| | - Silvia Bino
- Department of Control of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Public Health, Str. "Aleksandër Moisiu" No. 80, 1010 Tirana, Albania
| | - Perparim Kadriaj
- Department of Control of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Public Health, Str. "Aleksandër Moisiu" No. 80, 1010 Tirana, Albania
| | - Kujtim Mersini
- Southeast European Center for Surveillance and Control of Infectious Diseases (SECID), Str. "Aleksandër Moisiu" No. 80, 1010 Tirana, Albania
| | - Filiz Gunay
- Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Ecology Section, Vector Ecology Research Group Laboratories, Hacettepe University, 06800 Ankara, Turkey
| | - Bulent Alten
- Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Ecology Section, Vector Ecology Research Group Laboratories, Hacettepe University, 06800 Ankara, Turkey
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Gojković N, Ludoški J, Krtinić B, Milankov V. The First Molecular and Phenotypic Characterization of the Invasive Population of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) from the Central Balkans. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2019; 56:1433-1440. [PMID: 31100120 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjz064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Aedes (Stegomya) albopictus (Skuse 1984), the Asian tiger mosquito, represents the most invasive and one of the medically most important mosquito vectors. Although native to South East Asia, the species has recently spread globally, and was registered in the city of Novi Sad (Serbia, Central Balkans) in August 2018. We characterized the invasive population using phenotypic (wing size and shape) and molecular (nuclear, internal transcribed spacer 2- ITS2, and mitochondrial, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I- COI) markers. The results of phenotypic analyses indicated that the Serbian population could be differentiated from the native (Thailand) and invasive (Hawaii and Florida) populations due to restricted gene flow, founder effect, and supposed different strain origin. The Serbian population showed genetic homogeneity, indicative of a small founder number (bottleneck invasion model). Despite the incorporation of ITS2 GenBank sequences into the data set, neither spatial (Geneland) nor nonspatial (BAPS) genetic structuring analyses helped infer the Serbian population origin. However, the comparison of the retrieved COI haplotype with previously characterized mitogenomes indicated a temperate strain origin, capable of overwintering. Such findings suggest that the newly registered Ae. albopictus population could be able to establish itself since previous studies outlined Novi Sad as a suitable area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nemanja Gojković
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Jasmina Ludoški
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | | | - Vesna Milankov
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića, Novi Sad, Serbia
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Geometric morphometrics approach towards discrimination of three member species of Maculatus group in Thailand. Acta Trop 2019; 192:66-74. [PMID: 30710534 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.01.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Revised: 01/29/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Members of the Maculatus group are important malaria vectors in the border regions of Thailand. However, the role of each species in malaria transmission remains unclear because of their highly similar morphologies, making them difficult to be differentiated. Whereas An. pseudowillmori may be identified by the color pattern of some scales on abdomen and wings, the distinction between An. maculatus and An. sawadwongporni relies on the wings only. Scales are labile structures, as they may be accidentally removed during capture and transportation to the laboratory. To discriminate among the species of this group, we tested the suitability of geometric techniques. Shape variables were used as input for discriminant analyses and validated reclassification. Both landmark- and outline-based geometric techniques disclosed significant differences between the three species. For the delicate An. maculatus - An. sawadwongporni distinction, the outline-based approach appeared as the most promising, with validated reclassification scores reaching 93%, as compared to 77% obtained by landmark data. For An. pseudowillmori, reclassification scores were 100% and 94%, respectively. Geometric morphometrics may provide an alternative and useful complement for discriminating members of the Maculatus group.
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Sungvornyothin S, Kumlert R, Paris DH, Prasartvit A, Sonthayanon P, Apiwathnasorn C, Morand S, Stekolnikov AA, Sumruayphol S. Geometric morphometrics of the scutum for differentiation of trombiculid mites within the genus Walchia (Acariformes: Prostigmata: Trombiculidae), a probable vector of scrub typhus. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2018; 10:495-503. [PMID: 30501981 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2018] [Revised: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The vectors of scrub typhus are the larval stage of trombiculid mites, termed "chiggers". These vectors are very small - the larvae are approximately 0.2 mm in size - and therefore their morphological identification is difficult. Trombiculid mites are widely distributed across Asia and they can be identified at the genus level by the shape, size and setae/sensilla distribution of their dorsal chitin plate (scutum = shield), while morphological identification at the species level requires more mite characteristics. We recently developed a methodology to ascertain paired matched genotype and morphotype of individual chiggers, based on autofluorescence and brightfield microscopy with subsequent molecular identification using the COI gene (approximately 640bp length). However, based on 20 chigger specimens characterised by paired genotypic and morphological data consisting of the four species [Walchia ewingi with 2 subspecies]: Walchia ewingi lupella (n = 9), W. ewingi ewingi (n = 2), W. alpestris (n = 2), W. kritochaeta (n = 5) and W. minuscuta (n = 2) we found evidence of genetic polymorphism and morphological plasticity within the genus Walchia. The phylogenetic inference of the intra-genus relationships within the Walchia spp., based on COI gene (Blankaartia spp. served as outgroup), delineated the five included species by an average interspecific divergence of mean distance 0.218 (0.126 - 0.323). We therefore applied landmark-based and outline-based geometric morphometric (GM) approaches to differentiate Walchia species using scutum measurements. A total of 261 scutum images of Walchia spp. were examined by landmark-based GM (140 chigger specimens) and outline-based GM (121 specimens) techniques. All Walchia spp. showed significant differences in scutum size and shape. W. minuscuta showed the smallest mean scutum size in both techniques. The largest scutum was found in W. ewingi lupella and W. ewingi ewingi by landmark-based and outline-based GM analysis, respectively. The scutum shapes of W. alpestris and W. minuscuta were clearly distinguished from the other species. Cross-validated classification scores were different depending on species and digitizing techniques and landmark-based GM showed better scores than outline-based GM. We conclude that the morphologically closely-related trombiculid mite species can be further differentiated by their scutum features alone, using GM approaches. This technique is a promising tool for the much-needed characterization studies of chiggers and needs evaluation using matched morphometric and genotyping data for other genera of trombiculids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sungsit Sungvornyothin
- Department of Medical Entomology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Rawadee Kumlert
- Department of Medical Entomology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; The Office of Disease Prevention and Control 12, Songkhla Province, Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand
| | - Daniel H Paris
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Department of Medicine, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; Faculty of Medicine, University Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Anchana Prasartvit
- Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand
| | - Piengchan Sonthayanon
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Department of Molecular Tropical Medicine and Genetics, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Chamnarn Apiwathnasorn
- Department of Medical Entomology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Serge Morand
- Centre d'Infectiologie Christophe Merieux Laos, Samsenthai Road, Kaoyot Village, Sisathanak District, Vientiane Capital, Laos
| | - Alexandr A Stekolnikov
- Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya Embankment 1, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Suchada Sumruayphol
- Department of Medical Entomology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
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Chaiphongpachara T. Comparison of Landmark- and Outline-Based Geometric Morphometrics for Discriminating Mosquito Vectors in Ratchaburi Province, Thailand. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 2018:6170502. [PMID: 30533435 PMCID: PMC6247772 DOI: 10.1155/2018/6170502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2018] [Accepted: 10/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
It is often challenging to identify mosquito vectors in the field based on morphological features due to their similar morphologies and difficulties in obtaining undamaged samples but is required for their successful control. Geometric morphometrics (GM) overcomes this issue by analyzing a suite of traits simultaneously and has the added advantages of being easy to use, low cost, and quick. Therefore, this research compared the efficiency and precision of landmark- and outline-based GM techniques for separating species of mosquitoes in Huay Nam Nak village, Ratchaburi Province, Thailand. This research collected 273 individuals belonging to seven species: Anopheles barbirostris, An. subpictus, Culex quinquefasciatus, Cx. vishnui, Cx. whitmorei, Aedes aegypti, and Ae. albopictus. Both landmark-based and outline-based GM techniques could identify malaria vectors in this area to the genus level successfully and were also very effective for identifying the malaria vectors Anopheles spp. and the dengue vectors Aedes spp. to the species level. However, they were less effective for distinguishing between species of Culex. Therefore, GM represents a valuable tool for the identification of mosquito vectors in the field, which will facilitate their successful control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanawat Chaiphongpachara
- College of Allied Health Science, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Samut Songkhram 75000, Thailand
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Lorenz C, Almeida F, Almeida-Lopes F, Louise C, Pereira SN, Petersen V, Vidal PO, Virginio F, Suesdek L. Geometric morphometrics in mosquitoes: What has been measured? INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2017; 54:205-215. [DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2017.06.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2017] [Revised: 06/26/2017] [Accepted: 06/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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Changbunjong T, Sumruayphol S, Weluwanarak T, Ruangsittichai J, Dujardin JP. Landmark and outline-based geometric morphometrics analysis of three Stomoxys flies (Diptera: Muscidae). Folia Parasitol (Praha) 2016; 63. [DOI: 10.14411/fp.2016.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Sumruayphol S, Apiwathnasorn C, Ruangsittichai J, Sriwichai P, Attrapadung S, Samung Y, Dujardin JP. DNA barcoding and wing morphometrics to distinguish three Aedes vectors in Thailand. Acta Trop 2016; 159:1-10. [PMID: 26987285 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2016.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2015] [Revised: 02/20/2016] [Accepted: 03/09/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) (L.), Ae. albopictus (Skuse), and Ae. scutellaris (Walker) are important mosquito vectors of dengue and chikungunya viruses. They are morphologically similar and sympatric in some parts of their distribution; therefore, there is a risk of incorrect morphological identification. Any confusion could have a negative impact on epidemiological studies or control strategies. Therefore, we explored two modern tools to supplement current morphological identification: DNA barcoding and geometric morphometric analyses. Field larvae were reared to adults and carefully classified based on morphological traits. The genetic analysis was based on the 658bp each of 30COI sequences. Some Culex spp., Mansonia bonneae, were included as outgroups, and inclusion of a few other Aedes spp. facilitated phylogenetic inference of the relationship between Ae. albopictus and Ae. scutellaris. The two species were separated by an average interspecific divergence of 0.123 (0.119-0.127). Morphometric examination included landmark- (392 specimens) and outline-based (317 specimens) techniques. The shape of the wing showed different discriminating power based on sex and digitizing technique. This is the first time that Ae. scutellaris and Ae. albopictus have been compared using these two techniques. We confirm that these morphologically close species are valid, and that geometric morphometrics can considerably increase the reliability of morphological identification.
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Population genetics of the Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus, an invasive vector of human diseases. Heredity (Edinb) 2016; 117:125-34. [PMID: 27273325 PMCID: PMC4981682 DOI: 10.1038/hdy.2016.35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2015] [Revised: 03/24/2016] [Accepted: 04/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus is currently one of the most threatening invasive species in the world. Native to Southeast Asia, the species has spread throughout the world in the past 30 years and is now present in every continent but Antarctica. Because it was the main vector of recent Dengue and Chikungunya outbreaks, and because of its competency for numerous other viruses and pathogens such as the Zika virus, A. albopictus stands out as a model species for invasive diseases vector studies. A synthesis of the current knowledge about the genetic diversity of A. albopictus is needed, knowing the interplays between the vector, the pathogens, the environment and their epidemiological consequences. Such resources are also valuable for assessing the role of genetic diversity in the invasive success. We review here the large but sometimes dispersed literature about the population genetics of A. albopictus. We first debate about the experimental design of these studies and present an up-to-date assessment of the available molecular markers. We then summarize the main genetic characteristics of natural populations and synthesize the available data regarding the worldwide structuring of the vector. Finally, we pinpoint the gaps that remain to be addressed and suggest possible research directions.
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Tsunoda T, Chaves LF, Nguyen GTT, Nguyen YT, Takagi M. Winter Activity and Diapause of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Hanoi, Northern Vietnam. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2015; 52:1203-1212. [PMID: 26336261 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjv122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2015] [Accepted: 07/25/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
We studied the winter activity of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) from November 2008 to April 2009 in Bat Trang village of Hanoi, Vietnam. We selected 12 houses and collected: 1) adults with BG sentinel traps, 2) pupae from household water containers, and 3) eggs with ovitraps. Aedes albopictus adults, pupae, and eggs were not collected from early January to early February. Though the egg hatching probability tended to be initially high at longer day length, the maximum probability gradually shifted to shorter day length, as the observation period elapsed. When females were reared under long day length and their eggs were immersed 1 or 5 wk after oviposition, >50% of eggs hatched within 20 days. However, when females were reared under short day length and their eggs were immersed after 1 wk, hatching was suppressed for 60 days. When females were reared under short day length, the median hatching day occurred earlier in eggs kept dry for 5 and 10 wk after oviposition than in those dried for only 1 wk. This indicates that the extended dry periods accelerate egg hatching. Our results showed that hatchability gradually changed with day length, suggesting that selection for overwintering is not as strong relative to Ae. albopictus living in the temperate zone, where winter conditions are less favorable than in tropical and subtropical areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Tsunoda
- Department of Vector Ecology and Environment, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan.
| | - Luis Fernando Chaves
- Department of Vector Ecology and Environment, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan. Programa de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (PIET), Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional, Apartado Postal 304-3000, Heredia, Costa Rica
| | - Giang Thi Tra Nguyen
- Department of Medical Entomology and Zoology, National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, 1 Yersin str., Hai Ba Trung dist., Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Yen Thi Nguyen
- Department of Medical Entomology and Zoology, National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, 1 Yersin str., Hai Ba Trung dist., Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Masahiro Takagi
- Department of Vector Ecology and Environment, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
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26
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Abstract
Scientific research into the epidemiology of dengue frequently focuses on the microevolution and dispersion of the mosquito Aedes aegypti. One of the world’s largest urban agglomerations infested by Ae. aegypti is the Brazilian megalopolis of Sao Paulo, where >26,900 cases of dengue were reported until June 2015. Unfortunately, the dynamics of the genetic variability of Ae. aegypti in the Sao Paulo area have not been well studied. To reduce this knowledge gap, we assessed the morphogenetic variability of a population of Ae. aegypti from a densely urbanised neighbourhood of Sao Paulo. We tested if allelic patterns could vary over a short term and if wing shape could be a predictor of the genetic variation. Over a period of 14 months, we examined the variation of genetic (microsatellites loci) and morphological (wing geometry) markers in Ae. aegypti. Polymorphisms were detected, as revealed by the variability of 20 microsatellite loci (115 alleles combined; overall Fst = 0.0358) and 18 wing landmarks (quantitative estimator Qst = 0.4732). These levels of polymorphism are higher than typically expected to an exotic species. Allelic frequencies of the loci changed over time and temporal variation in the wing shape was even more pronounced, permitting high reclassification levels of chronological samples. In spite of the fact that both markers underwent temporal variation, no correlation was detected between their dynamics. We concluded that microevolution was detected despite the short observational period, but the intensities of change of the markers were discrepant. Wing shape failed from predicting allelic temporal variation. Possibly, natural selection (Qst>Fst) or variance of expressivity of wing phenotype are involved in this discrepancy. Other possibly influential factors on microevolution of Ae. aegypti are worth searching. Additionally, the implications of the rapid evolution and high polymorphism of this mosquito vector on the efficacy of control methods have yet to be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Louise
- Laboratório Parasitologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Paloma Oliveira Vidal
- Laboratório Parasitologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia da Relação Patógeno-Hospedeiro, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Lincoln Suesdek
- Laboratório Parasitologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
- * E-mail:
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27
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Hidalgo K, Dujardin JP, Mouline K, Dabiré RK, Renault D, Simard F. Seasonal variation in wing size and shape between geographic populations of the malaria vector, Anopheles coluzzii in Burkina Faso (West Africa). Acta Trop 2015; 143:79-88. [PMID: 25579425 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2014.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2014] [Revised: 12/16/2014] [Accepted: 12/26/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The mosquito, Anopheles coluzzii is a major vector of human malaria in Africa with widespread distribution throughout the continent. The species hence populates a wide range of environments in contrasted ecological settings often exposed to strong seasonal fluctuations. In the dry savannahs of West Africa, this mosquito population dynamics closely follows the pace of surface water availability: the species pullulates during the rainy season and is able to reproduce throughout the dry season in areas where permanent water bodies are available for breeding. The impact of such environmental fluctuation on mosquito development and the phenotypic quality of emerging adults has however not been addressed in details. Here, we examined and compared phenotypic changes in the duration of pre-imaginal development, body dry mass at emergence and wing size, shape and surface area in young adult females An. coluzzii originated from five distinct geographic locations when they are reared in two contrasting conditions mimicking those experienced by mosquitoes during the rainy season (RS) and at the onset of the dry season (ODS) in Burkina Faso (West Africa). Our results demonstrated strong phenotypic plasticity in all traits, with differences in the magnitude and direction of changes between RS and ODS depending upon the geographic origin, hence the genetic background of the mosquito populations. Highest heterogeneity within population was observed in Bama, where large irrigation schemes allow year-round mosquito breeding. Further studies are needed to explore the adaptive value of such phenotypic plasticity and its relevance for local adaptation in An. coluzzii.
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