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Rodríguez-González S, Izquierdo-Suzán M, Rocha-Ortega M, Córdoba-Aguilar A. Vector mosquito distribution and richness are predicted by socio-economic, and ecological variables. Acta Trop 2024; 254:107179. [PMID: 38522629 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107179] [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: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Mosquitoes of vectorial importance represent a ubiquitous and constant threat of potentially devastating arboviral outbreaks. Our ability to predict such outcomes is still restricted. To answer this, we have used an extensive data collection of 23 vector and 233 non-vector mosquito species distributed throughout the Mexican territory and linked them to social and environmental factors. Our aim was to predict vector and non-vector mosquitoes' distribution and species richness based on socioeconomic and environmental data. We found that lack of health services, human population variation, ecological degradation, and urban-rural categorization contributed significantly to explain the distribution of vector mosquitoes. mosquitoes. This phenomenon is probably attributed to the degradation of natural ecosystems as it creates favorable conditions for the proliferation of vector mosquitoes. The richness of vector mosquitoes was similarly explained by most of these variables as well as altitude. As for non-vector mosquitoes, social marginalization, ecological degradation, anthropogenic impact, and altitude explain species richness and distribution. These findings illustrate the complex interaction of environmental and socioeconomic factors behind the distribution of mosquitoes, and the potential for arboviral disease outbreaks. Areas with human populations at highest risk for mosquito-borne diseases should be primary targets for vector control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephany Rodríguez-González
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Ciudad Universitaria 3000, Coyoacán, 04510, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Mónica Izquierdo-Suzán
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Ciudad Universitaria 3000, Coyoacán, 04510, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Maya Rocha-Ortega
- Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apdo. Postal 70-275, Circuito Exterior, Ciudad Universitaria 04510 Coyoacán, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Alex Córdoba-Aguilar
- Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apdo. Postal 70-275, Circuito Exterior, Ciudad Universitaria 04510 Coyoacán, Ciudad de México, Mexico.
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Cerri J, Sciandra C, Contardo T, Bertolino S. Local Economic Conditions Affect Aedes albopictus Management. ECOHEALTH 2024; 21:9-20. [PMID: 38658454 PMCID: PMC11127834 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-024-01682-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Invasive mosquitoes are an emerging public health issue, as many species are competent vectors for pathogens. We assessed how multiple environmental and socio-economic factors affected the engagement of municipalities in Italy (n = 7679) in actions against Aedes albopictus, an invasive mosquito affecting human health and well-being, between 2000 and 2020. We collected information about mosquito control from official documents and municipal websites and modeled the role played by multiple environmental and socioeconomic factors characterizing each municipality through the random forest algorithm. Municipalities are more prone to manage A. albopictus if more urbanized, in lowlands and with long infestation periods. Moreover, these variables are more predictive of management in municipalities with a high median income and thus more economic resources. Only 25.5% of Italian municipalities approved regulations for managing A. albopictus, and very few of them were in Southern Italy, the most deprived area of the country. Our findings indicate that local economic conditions moderate the effect of other drivers of mosquito control and ultimately can lead to better management of A. albopictus. If the management of invasive mosquitoes, or other forms of global change, is subjected to local economic conditions, economic inequalities will jeopardize the success of large-scale policies, also raising issues of environmental and climate justice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacopo Cerri
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100, Sassari, Italy.
| | - Chiara Sciandra
- Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification (CREA-DC), Florence, Italy
| | - Tania Contardo
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Architettura, Territorio, Ambiente e di Matematica, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Via Branze 43, 25121, Brescia, Italy
| | - Sandro Bertolino
- Dipartimento di Scienze Della Vita e Biologia dei Sistemi, Università degli Studi di Torino, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Turin, Italy
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Newman EA, Feng X, Onland JD, Walker KR, Young S, Smith K, Townsend J, Damian D, Ernst K. Defining the roles of local precipitation and anthropogenic water sources in driving the abundance of Aedes aegypti, an emerging disease vector in urban, arid landscapes. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2058. [PMID: 38267474 PMCID: PMC10808563 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50346-3] [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: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding drivers of disease vectors' population dynamics is a pressing challenge. For short-lived organisms like mosquitoes, landscape-scale models must account for their highly local and rapid life cycles. Aedes aegypti, a vector of multiple emerging diseases, has become abundant in desert population centers where water from precipitation could be a limiting factor. To explain this apparent paradox, we examined Ae. aegypti abundances at > 660 trapping locations per year for 3 years in the urbanized Maricopa County (metropolitan Phoenix), Arizona, USA. We created daily precipitation layers from weather station data using a kriging algorithm, and connected localized daily precipitation to numbers of mosquitoes trapped at each location on subsequent days. Precipitation events occurring in either of two critical developmental periods for mosquitoes were correlated to suppressed subsequent adult female presence and abundance. LASSO models supported these analyses for female presence but not abundance. Precipitation may explain 72% of Ae. aegypti presence and 90% of abundance, with anthropogenic water sources supporting mosquitoes during long, precipitation-free periods. The method of using kriging and weather station data may be generally applicable to the study of various ecological processes and patterns, and lead to insights into microclimates associated with a variety of organisms' life cycles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica A Newman
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA.
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
| | - Xiao Feng
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | | | - Kathleen R Walker
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, 1140 E South Campus Drive, Forbes 410, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Steven Young
- Maricopa County Environmental Services Vector Control Division, 3220 W Gibson Ln, Phoenix, AZ, 85009, USA
| | - Kirk Smith
- Maricopa County Environmental Services Vector Control Division, 3220 W Gibson Ln, Phoenix, AZ, 85009, USA
| | - John Townsend
- Maricopa County Environmental Services Vector Control Division, 3220 W Gibson Ln, Phoenix, AZ, 85009, USA
| | - Dan Damian
- Maricopa County Office of Enterprise Technology, 301 S 4Th Ave #200, Phoenix, AZ, 85003, USA
| | - Kacey Ernst
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
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Srivastava DS, Harris N, Páez N, Rogy P, Westwood NE, Sandoval-Acuña P, Seetharaman K. Insects in the city: Determinants of a contained aquatic microecosystem across an urbanized landscape. Ecology 2024; 105:e4204. [PMID: 37926440 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.4204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Cities can have profound impacts on ecosystems, yet our understanding of these impacts is currently limited. First, the effects of the socioeconomic dimensions of human society are often overlooked. Second, correlative analyses are common, limiting our causal understanding of mechanisms. Third, most research has focused on terrestrial systems, ignoring aquatic systems that also provide important ecosystem services. Here we compare the effects of human population density and low-income prevalence on the macroinvertebrate communities and ecosystem processes within water-filled artificial tree holes. We hypothesized that these human demographic variables would affect tree holes in different ways via changes in temperature, water nutrients, and the local tree hole environment. We recruited community scientists across Greater Vancouver (Canada) to provide host trees and tend 50 tree holes over 14 weeks of colonization. We quantified tree hole ecosystems in terms of aquatic invertebrates, litter decomposition, and chlorophyll a (chl a). We compiled potential explanatory variables from field measurements, satellite images, or census databases. Using structural equation models, we showed that invertebrate abundance was affected by low-income prevalence but not human population density. This was driven by cosmopolitan species of Ceratopogonidae (Diptera) with known associations to anthropogenic containers. Invertebrate diversity and abundance were also affected by environmental factors, such as temperature, elevation, water nutrients, litter quantity, and exposure. By contrast, invertebrate biomass, chl a, and litter decomposition were not affected by any measured variables. In summary, this study shows that some urban ecosystems can be largely unaffected by human population density. Our study also demonstrates the potential of using artificial tree holes as a standardized, replicated habitat for studying urbanization. Finally, by combining community science and urban ecology, we were able to involve our local community in this pandemic research pivot.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diane S Srivastava
- Biodiversity Research Centre and Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Noam Harris
- Biodiversity Research Centre and Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Nadia Páez
- Biodiversity Research Centre and Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Pierre Rogy
- Biodiversity Research Centre and Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Natalie Elena Westwood
- Biodiversity Research Centre and Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Pablo Sandoval-Acuña
- Biodiversity Research Centre and Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Keerthikrutha Seetharaman
- Biodiversity Research Centre and Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
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Uelmen JA, Mapes CD, Prasauskas A, Boohene C, Burns L, Stuck J, Carney RM. A Habitat Model for Disease Vector Aedes aegypti in the Tampa Bay Area, FloridA. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MOSQUITO CONTROL ASSOCIATION 2023; 39:96-107. [PMID: 37364184 DOI: 10.2987/22-7109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Within the contiguous USA, Florida is unique in having tropical and subtropical climates, a great abundance and diversity of mosquito vectors, and high rates of human travel. These factors contribute to the state being the national ground zero for exotic mosquito-borne diseases, as evidenced by local transmission of viruses spread by Aedes aegypti, including outbreaks of dengue in 2022 and Zika in 2016. Because of limited treatment options, integrated vector management is a key part of mitigating these arboviruses. Practical knowledge of when and where mosquito populations of interest exist is critical for surveillance and control efforts, and habitat predictions at various geographic scales typically rely on ecological niche modeling. However, most of these models, usually created in partnership with academic institutions, demand resources that otherwise may be too time-demanding or difficult for mosquito control programs to replicate and use effectively. Such resources may include intensive computational requirements, high spatiotemporal resolutions of data not regularly available, and/or expert knowledge of statistical analysis. Therefore, our study aims to partner with mosquito control agencies in generating operationally useful mosquito abundance models. Given the increasing threat of mosquito-borne disease transmission in Florida, our analytic approach targets recent Ae. aegypti abundance in the Tampa Bay area. We investigate explanatory variables that: 1) are publicly available, 2) require little to no preprocessing for use, and 3) are known factors associated with Ae. aegypti ecology. Out of our 4 final models, none required more than 5 out of the 36 predictors assessed (13.9%). Similar to previous literature, the strongest predictors were consistently 3- and 4-wk temperature and precipitation lags, followed closely by 1 of 2 environmental predictors: land use/land cover or normalized difference vegetation index. Surprisingly, 3 of our 4 final models included one or more socioeconomic or demographic predictors. In general, larger sample sizes of trap collections and/or citizen science observations should result in greater confidence in model predictions and validation. However, given disparities in trap collections across jurisdictions, individual county models rather than a multicounty conglomerate model would likely yield stronger model fits. Ultimately, we hope that the results of our assessment will enable more accurate and precise mosquito surveillance and control of Ae. aegypti in Florida and beyond.
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Thongsripong P, Carter BH, Ward MJ, Jameson SB, Michaels SR, Yukich JO, Wesson DM. Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) Oviposition Activity and the Associated Socio-environmental Factors in the New Orleans Area. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 60:392-400. [PMID: 36683424 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjad007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The transmission of Aedes-borne viruses is on the rise globally. Their mosquito vectors, Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, Diptera: Culicidae) and Ae. albopictus (Skuse, Diptera: Culicidae), are focally abundant in the Southern United States. Mosquito surveillance is an important component of a mosquito control program. However, there is a lack of long-term surveillance data and an incomplete understanding of the factors influencing vector populations in the Southern United States. Our surveillance program monitored Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus oviposition intensity in the New Orleans area using ovicups in a total of 75 sites from 2009 to 2016. We found both Aedes spp. throughout the study period and sites. The average number of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus hatched from collected eggs per site per week was 34.1 (SD = 57.7) and 29.0 (SD = 46.5), respectively. Based on current literature, we formed multiple hypotheses on how environmental variables influence Aedes oviposition intensity, and constructed Generalized Linear Mixed Effect models with a negative binomial distribution and an autocorrelation structure to test these hypotheses. We found significant associations between housing unit density and Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus oviposition intensity, and between median household income and Ae. albopictus oviposition intensity. Temperature, relative humidity, and accumulated rainfall had either a lagged or an immediate significant association with oviposition. This study provides the first long-term record of Aedes spp. distribution in the New Orleans area, and sheds light on factors associated with their oviposition activity. This information is vital for the control of potential Aedes-borne virus transmission in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panpim Thongsripong
- Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, University of Florida, 200 9th Street SE, Vero Beach, FL, USA
| | - Brendan H Carter
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 2301, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Matthew J Ward
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 2301, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Samuel B Jameson
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 2301, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Sarah R Michaels
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 2301, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Joshua O Yukich
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 2301, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Dawn M Wesson
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 2301, New Orleans, LA, USA
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7
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Fernandez SA, Sun H, Dickens BL, Ng LC, Cook AR, Lim JT. Features of the urban environment associated with Aedes aegypti abundance in high-rise public apartments in Singapore: An environmental case-control study. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011075. [PMID: 36730440 PMCID: PMC9928025 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Aedes aegypti abundance in residential estates is hypothesized to contribute to localised outbreaks of dengue in Singapore. Knowing the factors in the urban environment underlying high Ae. aegypti abundance could guide intervention efforts to reduce Ae. aegypti breeding and the incidence of dengue. In this study, objective data on Ae. aegypti abundance in public apartment blocks estimated by Singapore's nationally representative Gravitrap surveillance system was obtained from the National Environmental Agency. Low and high abundance status public apartment blocks were classified based on the Gravitrap Aegypti Index, corresponding to the lowest and highest quartiles respectively. An environmental case-control study was conducted, wherein a blinded assessment of urban features hypothesised to form breeding habitats was conducted in 50 randomly sampled public apartment blocks with low and high abundance statuses each. Logistic regression was performed to identify features that correlated with abundance status. A multivariable logistic model was created to determine key urban features found in corridors and void decks which were predictive of the Ae. aegypti abundance status of the public apartment block. At a statistical level of significance of 0.20, the presence of gully traps [Odds Ratio (OR): 1.34, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.10, 1.66], age of the public apartment block [OR: 2.23, 95% CI: 1.48, 3.60], housing price [OR: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.16, 0.61] and corridor cleanliness [OR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.40, 1.07] were identified as important predictors of abundance status. To reduce Ae. aegypti abundance around public apartment blocks and potential onward dengue transmission, gully traps could be remodelled or replaced by other drainage types. Routine inspections of Ae. aegypti breeding should be targeted at older and low-income neighbourhoods. Campaigns for cleaner corridors should be promoted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie A. Fernandez
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Haoyang Sun
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Borame L. Dickens
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Lee Ching Ng
- Environmental Health Institute, National Environmental Agency, Singapore
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Alex R. Cook
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Jue Tao Lim
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
- * E-mail:
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McMahon A, França CMB, Wimberly MC. Comparing Satellite and Ground-Based Measurements of Environmental Suitability for Vector Mosquitoes in an Urban Landscape. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 59:1936-1946. [PMID: 36189969 PMCID: PMC9667728 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjac145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to mosquito-borne diseases is influenced by landscape patterns and microclimates associated with land cover. These influences can be particularly strong in heterogeneous urban landscapes where human populations are concentrated. We investigated how land cover and climate influenced abundances of Ae. albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae) and Cx. quinquefasciatus (Say) (Diptera: Culicidae) in Norman, Oklahoma (United States). From June-October 2019 and May-October 2020 we sampled mosquitoes along an urban-rural gradient using CO2 baited BG Sentinel traps. Microclimate sensors at these sites measured temperature and humidity. We mapped environmental variables using satellite images from Landsat, Sentinel-2, and VIIRS, and the CHIRPS rainfall dataset. We also obtained meteorological data from the closest weather station. We compared statistical models of mosquito abundance based on microclimate, satellite, weather station, and land cover data. Mosquitoes were more abundant on trap days with higher temperature and relative humidity. Rainfall 2 wk prior to the trap day negatively affected mosquito abundances. Impervious surface cover was positively associated with Cx. quinquefasciatus and tree cover was negatively associated with Ae. albopictus. Among the data sources, models based on satellite variables and land cover data had the best fits for Ae. albopictus (R2 = 0.7) and Cx. quinquefasciatus (R2 = 0.51). Models based on weather station or microclimate data had weaker fits (R2 between 0.09 and 0.17) but were improved by adding land cover variables (R2 between 0.44 and 0.61). These results demonstrate the potential for using satellite remote sensing for mosquito habitat analyses in urban areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea McMahon
- Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability, University of Oklahoma, Norman OK, USA
| | - Caio M B França
- Department of Biology, Southern Nazarene University, Bethany, OK, USA
- Quetzal Education and Research Center, Southern Nazarene University, San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica
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City puzzles: Does urban land scape affect genetic population structure in Aedes aegypti? PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010549. [PMID: 35793338 PMCID: PMC9292108 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2021] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cities usually offer a suitable environment for the dengue vector Aedes aegypti, providing oviposition sites, accessibility to human hosts and nectar meals. However, large urban centres are highly heterogeneous environments, forming a patched landscape that could affect Ae. aegypti population dynamics and dispersal. Here, we performed a genome-wide analysis using Rad-seq data from 99 Ae. aegypti specimens collected in three areas within Buenos Aires city with varying levels of urbanization/land use: highly urbanized Area 1, intermediate Area 2 and poorly urbanized Area 3. We found an inverse association between urbanization levels and spatial genetic structure. Populations from highly urbanized Area 1 did not present genetic structure whereas two and three clusters were detected in Areas 2 and 3, respectively. In the case of Area 3, initial analyses showed separation in clusters was mostly due to elevated consanguinity within sites although three clusters were still detected after closely related individuals were discarded. Mosquitoes around each site displayed a high degree of isolation, evidencing a close dependence between the vector and human dwellings. Interestingly, specimens from distant boroughs (within the limits of the city) and the city’s outskirts formed a single cluster with inner city sites (Area 1), highlighting the role of passive transport in shaping population structure. Genetic distances were poorly correlated with geographic distances in Buenos Aires, suggesting a stronger influence of passive than active dispersal on population structure. Only Area 2 displayed a significant isolation-by-distance pattern (p = 0.046), with males dispersing more than females (p = 0.004 and p = 0.016, respectively). Kinship analyses allowed us to detect full-siblings located 1.5 km apart in Area 1, which could be due to an extreme event of active female dispersal. Effective population size was higher in Area 2 confirming that cemeteries represent highly favourable environments for Ae. aegypti and need to be specifically targeted. Our results suggest that control programs should take into account urban landscape heterogeneity in order to improve vector control. Arboviral vector Aedes aegypti usually thrives in urban areas due to its close dependence of human dwellings on breeding sites and meals. However, urban landscapes are heterogeneous and present varying levels of urbanization and land use, affecting Ae. aegypti spatial structure and dispersal. We used nuclear Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms to analyze 99 Ae. aegypti specimens from three areas within the city of Buenos Aires: highly urbanized Area 1, intermediate urbanized Area 2 and poorly urbanized Area 3. We found an inverse association between urbanization levels and spatial genetic structure: mosquitoes from Area 1 did not present genetic structure. On the other hand, mosquitoes from Area 2 and 3 displayed 2 and 3 clusters, respectively. Human-mediated transport plays an important role in highly urbanized areas, connecting mosquito populations from distant locations. Potential active dispersal was detected in Area 1 where we found pairs of full-siblings located 1500m apart. In less urbanized areas, the distribution of breeding sites also affected spatial genetic structure. In Area 3, spatial structure was mostly due to consanguinity, but it also reflected the effect of urban landscape on Ae. aegypti population dynamics. Area 2 presented the highest effective population size. This could be partially explained by the advantageous conditions that cemeteries offer to vector populations which can also spill over surrounding neighbourhoods. Our results suggest that vector programs should consider the heterogeneity of urban landscapes to improve the effectiveness of control measures.
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Zettle M, Anderson E, LaDeau SL. Changes in Container-Breeding Mosquito Diversity and Abundance Along an Urbanization Gradient are Associated With Dominance of Arboviral Vectors. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 59:843-854. [PMID: 35388898 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjac023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Environmental conditions associated with urbanization are likely to influence the composition and abundance of mosquito (Diptera, Culicidae) assemblages through effects on juvenile stages, with important consequences for human disease risk. We present six years (2011-2016) of weekly juvenile mosquito data from distributed standardized ovitraps and evaluate how variation in impervious cover and temperature affect the composition and abundance of container-breeding mosquito species in Maryland, USA. Species richness and evenness were lowest at sites with high impervious cover (>60% in 100-m buffer). However, peak diversity was recorded at sites with intermediate impervious cover (28-35%). Four species were observed at all sites, including two recent invasives (Aedes albopictus Skuse, Ae. japonicus Theobald), an established resident (Culex pipiens L), and one native (Cx. restuans Theobald). All four are viral vectors in zoonotic or human transmission cycles. Temperature was a positive predictor of weekly larval abundance during the growing season for each species, as well as a positive predictor of rapid pupal development. Despite being observed at all sites, each species responded differently to impervious cover. Abundance of Ae. albopictus larvae was positively associated with impervious cover, emphasizing that this medically-important vector not only persists in the warmer, impervious urban landscape but is positively associated with it. Positive temperature effects in our models of larval abundance and pupae occurrence in container habitats suggest that these four vector species are likely to continue to be present and abundant in temperate cities under future temperature scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- MyKenna Zettle
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY 12545, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA
| | - Elsa Anderson
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY 12545, USA
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11
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Association between densities of adult and immature stages of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in space and time: implications for vector surveillance. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:133. [PMID: 35440010 PMCID: PMC9020056 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05244-4] [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: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mosquito control is currently the main tool available to contain the spread of several arboviruses in Brazil. We have evaluated the association between entomological surveys of female adult Aedes aegypti and the Breteau index (BI) in space and time in a hyperendemic area, and compared the human resources costs required to measure each of these indicators. METHODS Entomological surveys were conducted between 2016 and 2019 in Vila Toninho, a neighborhood in the city of São José do Rio Preto, Brazil. Monthly records of collected mosquito specimens were made and then grouped by season. RESULTS Our findings showed that adult and immature mosquitoes are more related in time than in space, possibly due to differences in their habitats or in climate variables. Bayesian temporal modeling revealed that an increase in 1 standard deviation in the BI was associated with a 27% increase in the number of adult female mosquitoes when adjusted for climatic conditions. The cost of entomological surveys of adult mosquitoes was found to be 83% lower than the cost of determining the BI when covering the same geographic area. CONCLUSIONS For fine-scale assessments, a simple measure of adult Ae. aegypti abundance may be more realistic than aquatic indicators, but the adult indices are not necessarily the only reliable measure. Surveying adult female mosquitoes has significant potential for optimizing vector control strategies because, unlike the BI, this tool provides an effective indicator for micro-areas within an urban region. It should be noted that the results of the present study may be due to specific features of of the study area, and future studies should analyze whether the patterns found in the study neighborhood are also found in other regions.
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de Oliveira Lage M, Barbosa G, Andrade V, Gomes H, Chiaravalloti F, Quintanilha JA. Ovipositional Reproduction of the Dengue Vector for Identifying High-Risk Urban Areas. ECOHEALTH 2022; 19:85-98. [PMID: 35441255 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-022-01581-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Identification and classification of high-risk areas for the presence of Aedes aegypti is not an easy task. To develop suitable methods to identify this areas is an essential task that will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of control measures and to optimize the use of resources. The objectives of this study were to identify high- risk areas for the presence of Ae. aegypti using mosquito traps and household visits to identify breeding sites; to identify and validate aspects of the remote sensing images that could characterize these areas; to evaluate the relationship between this spatial risk classification and the occurrence of Ae. aegypti; and provide a methodology to the health and control vector services and prioritize these areas for development of control measure. Information about the geographical coordinates of these traps will enable us to apply the kriging spatial analysis tool to generate maps with the predicted numbers of Ae. aegypti. Satellite images were used to identify the characteristic features the four areas, so that other areas could also be classified using only the sensing remote images. The developed methodology enables the identification of high-risk areas for Ae. aegypti and for the occurrence of Dengue, as well as Zika fever and Chikungunya fever using only sensing remote images. These results allow health and vector control services to prioritize these areas for developing surveillance and control measures. The use of the available resources can be optimized and potentially promote a decrease in the expected incidences of these diseases, particularly Dengue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana de Oliveira Lage
- Universidade de São Paulo - USP, PROCAM USP - Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais, Av. Prof. Luciano Gualberto, 1289, Cidade Universitária, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, CEP: 05508-090, Brazil.
| | - Gerson Barbosa
- Superintendência de Controle de Endemias - SUCEN, R. Paula Sousa, Centro, São Paulo, SP, 166 - CEP: 01027-000 Centro, Brazil
| | - Valmir Andrade
- Superintendência de Controle de Endemias - SUCEN, R. Paula Sousa, Centro, São Paulo, SP, 166 - CEP: 01027-000 Centro, Brazil
| | - Henrique Gomes
- Superintendência de Controle de Endemias - SUCEN, R. Paula Sousa, Centro, São Paulo, SP, 166 - CEP: 01027-000 Centro, Brazil
| | - Francisco Chiaravalloti
- Universidade de São Paulo - USP, FSP USP - Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Pública, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 715. CEP: 03178-200 Cerqueira César, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - José Alberto Quintanilha
- Institute of Energy and Environment - IEEUSP, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, Av. Prof. Luciano Gualberto, 1289, Cidade Universitária, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, CEP: 05508-090, Brazil
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Little EAH, Hutchinson ML, Price KJ, Marini A, Shepard JJ, Molaei G. Spatiotemporal distribution, abundance, and host interactions of two invasive vectors of arboviruses, Aedes albopictus and Aedes japonicus, in Pennsylvania, USA. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:36. [PMID: 35073977 PMCID: PMC8785538 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05151-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Aedes albopictus and Aedes japonicus, two invasive mosquito species in the United States, are implicated in the transmission of arboviruses. Studies have shown interactions of these two mosquito species with a variety of vertebrate hosts; however, regional differences exist and may influence their contribution to arbovirus transmission. Methods We investigated the distribution, abundance, host interactions, and West Nile virus infection prevalence of Ae. albopictus and Ae. japonicus by examining Pennsylvania mosquito and arbovirus surveillance data for the period between 2010 and 2018. Mosquitoes were primarily collected using gravid traps and BG-Sentinel traps, and sources of blood meals were determined by analyzing mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequences amplified in PCR assays. Results A total of 10,878,727 female mosquitoes representing 51 species were collected in Pennsylvania over the 9-year study period, with Ae. albopictus and Ae. japonicus representing 4.06% and 3.02% of all collected mosquitoes, respectively. Aedes albopictus was distributed in 39 counties and Ae. japonicus in all 67 counties, and the abundance of these species increased between 2010 and 2018. Models suggested an increase in the spatial extent of Ae. albopictus during the study period, while that of Ae. japonicus remained unchanged. We found a differential association between the abundance of the two mosquito species and environmental conditions, percent development, and median household income. Of 110 Ae. albopictus and 97 Ae. japonicus blood meals successfully identified to species level, 98% and 100% were derived from mammalian hosts, respectively. Among 12 mammalian species, domestic cats, humans, and white-tailed deer served as the most frequent hosts for the two mosquito species. A limited number of Ae. albopictus acquired blood meals from avian hosts solely or in mixed blood meals. West Nile virus was detected in 31 pools (n = 3582 total number of pools) of Ae. albopictus and 12 pools (n = 977 total pools) of Ae. japonicus. Conclusions Extensive distribution, high abundance, and frequent interactions with mammalian hosts suggest potential involvement of Ae. albopictus and Ae. japonicus in the transmission of human arboviruses including Cache Valley, Jamestown Canyon, La Crosse, dengue, chikungunya, and Zika should any of these viruses become prevalent in Pennsylvania. Limited interaction with avian hosts suggests that Ae. albopictus might occasionally be involved in transmission of arboviruses such as West Nile in the region. Graphical Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-022-05151-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliza A H Little
- Department of Entomology, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA.,Center for Vector Biology and Zoonotic Diseases and Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Michael L Hutchinson
- Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, 2301 North Cameron Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17110, USA.,Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17101, USA
| | - Keith J Price
- Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17101, USA
| | - Alyssa Marini
- Department of Environmental Sciences, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - John J Shepard
- Center for Vector Biology and Zoonotic Diseases and Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA.,Department of Environmental Sciences, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Goudarz Molaei
- Center for Vector Biology and Zoonotic Diseases and Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA. .,Department of Environmental Sciences, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA. .,Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, 60 College Street, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA.
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Urbanization favors the proliferation of Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus in urban areas of Miami-Dade County, Florida. Sci Rep 2021; 11:22989. [PMID: 34836970 PMCID: PMC8626430 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02061-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Urbanization processes are increasing globally. Anthropogenic alterations in the environment have profound effects on biodiversity. Decreased biodiversity due to biotic homogenization processes as a consequence of urbanization often result in increased levels of mosquito vector species and vector-borne pathogen transmission. Understanding how anthropogenic alterations in the environment will affect the abundance, richness, and composition of vector mosquito species is crucial for the implementation of effective and targeted mosquito control strategies. We hypothesized that anthropogenic alterations in the environment are responsible for increasing the abundance of mosquito species that are adapted to urban environments such as Aedesaegypti and Culexquinquefasciatus. Therefore, our objective was to survey mosquito relative abundance, richness, and community composition in Miami-Dade County, Florida, in areas with different levels of urbanization. We selected 24 areas, 16 remote areas comprised of natural and rural areas, and 8 urban areas comprised of residential and touristic areas in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Mosquitoes were collected weekly in each area for 24 h for 5 consecutive weeks from August to October 2020 using BG-Sentinel traps baited with dry ice. A total of 36,645 mosquitoes were collected, from which 34,048 were collected in the remote areas and 2,597 in the urban areas. Our results show a clear and well-defined pattern of abundance, richness, and community composition according to anthropogenic modifications in land use and land cover. The more urbanized a given area the fewer species were found and those were primary vectors of arboviruses, Ae.aegypti and Cx.quinquefasciatus.
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15
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Leisnham PT, LaDeau SL, Saunders MEM, Villena OC. Condition-Specific Competitive Effects of the Invasive Mosquito Aedes albopictus on the Resident Culex pipiens among Different Urban Container Habitats May Explain Their Coexistence in the Field. INSECTS 2021; 12:993. [PMID: 34821793 PMCID: PMC8621322 DOI: 10.3390/insects12110993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Condition-specific competition, when environmental conditions alter the outcome of competition, can foster the persistence of resident species after the invasion of a competitively superior invader. We test whether condition-specific competition can facilitate the areawide persistence of the resident and principal West Nile virus vector mosquito Culex pipiens with the competitively superior invasive Aedes albopictus in water from different urban container habitats. (2) Methods: We tested the effects of manipulated numbers of A. albopictus on C. pipiens' survival and development in water collected from common functional and discarded containers in Baltimore, MD, USA. The experiment was conducted with typical numbers of larvae found in field surveys of C. pipiens and A. albopictus and container water quality. (3) Results: We found increased densities of A. albopictus negatively affected the survivorship and development of C. pipiens in water from discarded containers but had little effect in water from functional containers. This finding was driven by water from trash cans, which allowed consistently higher C. pipiens' survival and development and had greater mean ammonia and nitrate concentrations that can promote microbial food than other container types. (4) Conclusions: These results suggest that the contents of different urban containers alter the effects of invasive A. albopictus competition on resident C. pipiens, that trash cans, in particular, facilitate the persistence of C. pipiens, and that there could be implications for West Nile virus risk as a result.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul T. Leisnham
- Department of Environmental Science & Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA; (M.E.M.S.); (O.C.V.)
| | - Shannon L. LaDeau
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, 2801 Sharon Turnpike, P.O. Box AB, Millbrook, NY 12545, USA;
| | - Megan E. M. Saunders
- Department of Environmental Science & Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA; (M.E.M.S.); (O.C.V.)
| | - Oswaldo C. Villena
- Department of Environmental Science & Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA; (M.E.M.S.); (O.C.V.)
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Talbot B, Sander B, Cevallos V, González C, Benítez D, Carissimo C, Carrasquilla Ferro MC, Gauto N, Litwiñiuk S, López K, Ortiz MI, Ponce P, Villota SD, Zelaya F, Espinel M, Wu J, Miretti M, Kulkarni MA. Determinants of Aedes mosquito density as an indicator of arbovirus transmission risk in three sites affected by co-circulation of globally spreading arboviruses in Colombia, Ecuador and Argentina. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:482. [PMID: 34538276 PMCID: PMC8451087 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04984-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The global impact of Zika virus in Latin America has drawn renewed attention to circulating mosquito-borne viruses in this region, such as dengue and chikungunya. Our objective was to assess socio-ecological factors associated with Aedes mosquito vector density as a measure of arbovirus transmission risk in three cities of potentially recent Zika virus introduction: Ibagué, Colombia; Manta, Ecuador; and Posadas, Argentina, in order to inform disease mitigation strategies. Methods We sampled Aedes mosquito populations in a total of 1086 households, using indoor and peridomestic mosquito collection methods, including light traps, resting traps, traps equipped with chemical attractant and aspirators. For each sampled household, we collected socio-economic data using structured questionnaires and data on microenvironmental conditions using iButton data loggers. Results A total of 3230 female Aedes mosquitoes were collected, of which 99.8% were Aedes aegypti and 0.2% were Aedes albopictus. Mean female Aedes mosquito density per household was 1.71 (standard deviation: 2.84). We used mixed-effects generalized linear Poisson regression analyses to identify predictors of Aedes density, using month, neighborhood and country as random-effects variables. Across study sites, the number of household occupants [incidence rate ratio (IRR): 1.08, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01–1.14], presence of entry points for mosquitoes into the household (IRR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.30–1.76) and presence of decorative vegetation (IRR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.22–1.88) were associated with higher Aedes density; while being in the highest wealth tertile of household wealth (IRR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.66–0.92), knowledge of how arboviruses are transmitted (IRR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.89–1.00) and regular emptying of water containers by occupants (IRR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.67–0.92) were associated with lower Aedes density. Conclusions Our study addresses the complexities of arbovirus vectors of global significance at the interface between human and mosquito populations. Our results point to several predictors of Aedes mosquito vector density in countries with co-circulation of multiple Aedes-borne viruses, and point to modifiable risk factors that may be useful for disease prevention and control. Graphical Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-021-04984-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benoit Talbot
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
| | - Beate Sander
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Varsovia Cevallos
- Development and Innovation Management Unit (CZ9), Instituto Nacional de Investigación en Salud Pública, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Camila González
- Center for Investigation in Tropical Microbiology and Parasitology, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Denisse Benítez
- Development and Innovation Management Unit (CZ9), Instituto Nacional de Investigación en Salud Pública, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Claudio Carissimo
- Municipal Institute for Surveillance and Control of Vectors, Municipalidad de Posadas, Posadas, Argentina
| | - María C Carrasquilla Ferro
- Center for Investigation in Tropical Microbiology and Parasitology, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Neris Gauto
- Municipal Institute for Surveillance and Control of Vectors, Municipalidad de Posadas, Posadas, Argentina
| | - Sergio Litwiñiuk
- Group for Investigation in Applied Genetics (GIGA), IBS, UNaM-CONICET, Posadas, Argentina
| | - Karen López
- Municipal Institute for Surveillance and Control of Vectors, Municipalidad de Posadas, Posadas, Argentina
| | - Mario I Ortiz
- Center for Investigation in Tropical Microbiology and Parasitology, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Patricio Ponce
- Development and Innovation Management Unit (CZ9), Instituto Nacional de Investigación en Salud Pública, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Stephany D Villota
- Development and Innovation Management Unit (CZ9), Instituto Nacional de Investigación en Salud Pública, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Fabian Zelaya
- Municipal Institute for Surveillance and Control of Vectors, Municipalidad de Posadas, Posadas, Argentina
| | - Mauricio Espinel
- School of Medicine, Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí, Manta, Ecuador
| | - Jianhong Wu
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Marcos Miretti
- Group for Investigation in Applied Genetics (GIGA), IBS, UNaM-CONICET, Posadas, Argentina
| | - Manisha A Kulkarni
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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Arboviral diseases and poverty in Alabama, 2007-2017. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009535. [PMID: 34228748 PMCID: PMC8284636 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Mosquito-borne viruses cause diseases of great public health concern. Arboviral disease case distributions have complex relationships with socioeconomic and environmental factors. We combined information about socio-economic (population, and poverty rate) and environmental (precipitation, and land use) characteristics with reported human cases of arboviral disease in the counties of Alabama, USA, from 2007–2017. We used county level data on West Nile virus (WNV), dengue virus (DENV), chikungunya virus (CHIKV), Zika virus (ZIKV), California serogroup virus, Eastern equine encephalitis virus, and Saint Louis encephalitis virus to provide a detailed description of their spatio-temporal pattern. We found a significant spatial convergence between incidence of WNV and poverty rate clustered in the southern part of Alabama. DENV, CHIKV and ZIKV cases showed a different spatial pattern, being mostly located in the northern part, in areas of high socioeconomic status. The results of our study establish that poverty-driven inequities in arboviral risk exist in the southern USA, and should be taken into account when planning prevention and intervention strategies. Mosquito-borne arboviruses like West Nile virus (WNV), dengue virus (DENV), chikungunya virus (CHIKV), Zika virus (ZIKV), California serogroup virus (CSV), Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEE), and Saint Louis encephalitis virus (SLE) are on the rise globally. Socioeconomic and environmental conditions have played a role in directing in this expansion by creating conditions ideal for mosquito vectors and transmission. In this study, we used 10 years (2007–2017) of county level human arboviral case data from the US state of Alabama to better understand the roles socioeconomics (poverty rate) and environmental (land use, precipitation, land cover) conditions may play in driving patterns of arboviral disease in the southern US. We found a significant association between poverty rate and incidence of WNV, an arbovirus primarily transmitted by Culex spp. mosquitoes, which are known for thriving in contaminated water sources and sewage overflow. Conversely, cases of DENV, CHIKV, and ZIKV, arboviruses primarily transmitted by Aedes spp. mosquitoes, were reported in areas of high socioeconomic status. These findings suggest differential distribution of arboviruses relevant to human health in Alabama, and that poverty in the southern US is a significant factor that should be considered when planning WNV prevention and intervention strategies.
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Rothman SE, Jones JA, LaDeau SL, Leisnham PT. Higher West Nile Virus Infection in Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) and Culex (Diptera: Culicidae) Mosquitoes From Lower Income Neighborhoods in Urban Baltimore, MD. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 58:1424-1428. [PMID: 33257956 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjaa262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The temperate United States has experienced increasing incidence of mosquito-borne diseases. Recent studies conducted in Baltimore, MD have demonstrated a negative relationship between abundances of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) and Culex mosquitoes and mean neighborhood income level, but have not looked at the presence of pathogens. Mosquitoes collected from five socioeconomically variable neighborhoods were tested for infection by West Nile, chikungunya, and Zika viruses in 2015 and 2016, and again from four of the neighborhoods in 2017. Minimum infection rates of pooled samples were compared among neighborhoods for each year, as well as among individual blocks in 2017. West Nile virus was detected in both Ae. albopictus and Culex pools from all neighborhoods sampled in 2015 and 2017. No infected pools were detected in any year for chikungunya or Zika viruses, and none of the target viruses were detected in 2016. Infection rates were consistently higher for Culex than for Ae. albopictus. Minimum infection rate was negatively associated with mean neighborhood income for both species in 2015. Although earlier work has shown a positive association between block-level abandonment and mosquito abundance, no association was detected in this study. Still, we demonstrate that viral infection in mosquito pools can differ substantially across adjacent urban neighborhoods that vary by income. Though trap security and accessibility often inform city sampling locations, detecting and managing arboviral risk requires surveillance across neighborhoods that vary in socioeconomics, including lower income areas that may be less accessible and secure but have higher infection rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Rothman
- Department of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland, MD
| | - Jennifer A Jones
- Department of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland, MD
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD
| | | | - Paul T Leisnham
- Department of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland, MD
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Holeva-Eklund WM, Behrens TK, Hepp CM. Systematic review: the impact of socioeconomic factors on Aedes aegypti mosquito distribution in the mainland United States. REVIEWS ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 2021; 36:63-75. [PMID: 32853170 DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2020-0028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are primary vectors of dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya and Zika viruses. Ae. aegypti is highly anthropophilic and relies nearly exclusively on human blood meals and habitats for reproduction. Socioeconomic factors may be associated with the spread of Ae. aegypti due to their close relationship with humans. This paper describes and summarizes the published literature on the association between socioeconomic variables and the distribution of Ae. aegypti mosquitoes in the mainland United States. A comprehensive search of PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and EBSCO Academic Search Complete through June 12, 2019 was used to retrieve all articles published in English on the association of socioeconomic factors and the distribution of Ae. aegypti mosquitoes. Additionally, a hand search of mosquito control association websites was conducted in an attempt to identify relevant grey literature. Articles were screened for eligibility using the process described in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Initially, 3,493 articles were identified through the database searches and previously known literature. After checking for duplicates, 2,145 articles remained. 570 additional records were identified through the grey literature search for a total of 2,715 articles. These articles were screened for eligibility using their titles and abstracts, and 2,677 articles were excluded for not meeting the eligibility criteria. Finally, the full text for each of the remaining articles (n=38) was read to determine eligibility. Through this screening process, 11 articles were identified for inclusion in this review. The findings for these 11 studies revealed inconsistent relationships between the studied socioeconomic factors and the distribution and abundance of Ae. aegypti. The findings of this review suggest a gap in the literature and understanding of the association between anthropogenic factors and the distribution of Ae. aegypti that could hinder efforts to implement effective public health prevention and control strategies should a disease outbreak occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Whitney M Holeva-Eklund
- Department of Health Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
- School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
| | - Timothy K Behrens
- Department of Health Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
- College of Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Crystal M Hepp
- School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
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Scavo NA, Barrera R, Reyes-Torres LJ, Yee DA. Lower socioeconomic status neighborhoods in Puerto Rico have more diverse mosquito communities and higher Aedes aegypti abundance. JOURNAL OF URBAN ECOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/jue/juab009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Mosquito community dynamics in urban areas are influenced by an array of both social and ecological factors. Human socioeconomic factors (SEF) can be related to mosquito abundance and diversity as urban mosquito development sites are modified by varying human activity, e.g., level of abandoned structures or amount of accumulated trash. The goal of this study was to investigate the relationships among mosquito diversity, populations of Aedes aegypti, and SEF in a tropical urban setting. Mosquitoes were collected using BG Sentinel 2 traps and CDC light traps during three periods between late 2018 and early 2019 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and were identified to species. SEFs (i.e. median household income, population density, college-level educational attainment, unemployment, health insurance coverage, percentage of households below the poverty line, amount of trash and level of abandoned homes) were measured using foot surveys and U.S. Census data. We found 19 species with the two most abundant species being Culex quinquefasciatus (n = 10 641, 87.6%) and Ae. aegypti (n = 1558, 12.8%). We found a positive association between Ae. aegypti abundance and mosquito diversity, which were both negatively related to SES and ecological factors. Specifically, lower socioeconomic status neighborhoods had both more Ae. aegypti and more diverse communities, due to more favorable development habitat, indicating that control efforts should be focused in these areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole A Scavo
- School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
| | - Roberto Barrera
- Dengue Branch, Division of Vector-Borne and Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Limarie J Reyes-Torres
- School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
| | - Donald A Yee
- School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
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21
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Aedes albopictus Populations and Larval Habitat Characteristics across the Landscape: Significant Differences Exist between Urban and Rural Land Use Types. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12030196. [PMID: 33668917 PMCID: PMC7996563 DOI: 10.3390/insects12030196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
One of the most profound recent global changes has been the proliferation of urban metropolitan areas. A consequence of urbanization is a reduction in abundance, or diversity, of wildlife. One exception, is the proliferation of vectors of disease; recent years have seen the emergence and resurgence of diseases vectored by species closely associated with humans. Aedes albopictus, a mosquito with a near global range and broad ecological niche, has been described as an urban, suburban, or rural vector, or a forest edge species depending on local conditions. We tested the hypothesis that abundance and phenological patterns of this species vary among different land use types in a temperate city because of the variation in the biotic and abiotic conditions characteristic of those habitat types. A. albopictus populations in urban and suburban areas were an order of magnitude larger than in rural areas and were detected several weeks earlier in the season. Additionally, we found fewer overall mosquito species, higher temperatures, lower nitrogen, higher pH, and faster water evaporation in larval habitats in urban vs. rural areas. By understanding the ecological differences that facilitate a species in one habitat and not another, we can potentially exploit those differences for targeted control.
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Hopken MW, Reyes-Torres LJ, Scavo N, Piaggio AJ, Abdo Z, Taylor D, Pierce J, Yee DA. Temporal and Spatial Blood Feeding Patterns of Urban Mosquitoes in the San Juan Metropolitan Area, Puerto Rico. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12020129. [PMID: 33540671 PMCID: PMC7913113 DOI: 10.3390/insects12020129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Understanding the biodiversity of urban ecosystems is critical for management of invasive and pest species, conserving native species, and disease control. Mosquitoes (Culicidae) are ubiquitous and abundant in urban ecosystems, and rely on blood meals taken from vertebrates. We used DNA from freshly blood-fed mosquitoes to characterize the diversity of vertebrate host species in the San Juan Metropolitan Area, Puerto Rico. We collected two mosquito species that fed on a variety of vertebrates. Culex quinquefasciatus fed on 17 avian taxa (81.2% of blood meals), seven mammalian taxa (17.9%), and one reptilian taxon (0.85%). Aedes aegypti blood meals were from a less diverse group, with two avian taxa (11.1%) and three mammalian taxa (88.9%) identified. Domestic chickens dominated the blood meals of Cx. quinquefasciatus, both temporally and spatially, and no statistically significant shift from birds to mammals was detected. The species we detected from the mosquito blood meals provided a snapshot of the vertebrate community in the San Juan Metropolitan Area, most of which were domestic species. However, we also identified a variety of native and nonnative wild species. These results add knowledge about potential ecological factors that impact vector-borne disease management in urban habitats. Abstract Urban ecosystems are a patchwork of habitats that host a broad diversity of animal species. Insects comprise a large portion of urban biodiversity which includes many pest species, including those that transmit pathogens. Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) inhabit urban environments and rely on sympatric vertebrate species to complete their life cycles, and in this process transmit pathogens to animals and humans. Given that mosquitoes feed upon vertebrates, they can also act as efficient samplers that facilitate detection of vertebrate species that utilize urban ecosystems. In this study, we analyzed DNA extracted from mosquito blood meals collected temporally in multiple neighborhoods of the San Juan Metropolitan Area, Puerto Rico to evaluate the presence of vertebrate fauna. DNA was collected from 604 individual mosquitoes that represented two common urban species, Culex quinquefasciatus (n = 586) and Aedes aegypti (n = 18). Culex quinquefasciatus fed on 17 avian taxa (81.2% of blood meals), seven mammalian taxa (17.9%), and one reptilian taxon (0.85%). Domestic chickens dominated these blood meals both temporally and spatially, and no statistically significant shift from birds to mammals was detected. Aedes aegypti blood meals were from a less diverse group, with two avian taxa (11.1%) and three mammalian taxa (88.9%) identified. The blood meals we identified provided a snapshot of the vertebrate community in the San Juan Metropolitan Area and have potential implications for vector-borne pathogen transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew W. Hopken
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (Z.A.); (J.P.)
- United States Department of Agriculture National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA; (A.J.P.); (D.T.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Limarie J. Reyes-Torres
- School of Biological, Environmental, & Earth Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA; (L.J.R.-T.); (N.S.); (D.A.Y.)
| | - Nicole Scavo
- School of Biological, Environmental, & Earth Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA; (L.J.R.-T.); (N.S.); (D.A.Y.)
| | - Antoinette J. Piaggio
- United States Department of Agriculture National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA; (A.J.P.); (D.T.)
| | - Zaid Abdo
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (Z.A.); (J.P.)
| | - Daniel Taylor
- United States Department of Agriculture National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA; (A.J.P.); (D.T.)
| | - James Pierce
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (Z.A.); (J.P.)
| | - Donald A. Yee
- School of Biological, Environmental, & Earth Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA; (L.J.R.-T.); (N.S.); (D.A.Y.)
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Neff E, Dharmarajan G. The direct and indirect effects of copper on vector-borne disease dynamics. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 269:116213. [PMID: 33302085 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 10/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Metal pollution is a growing concern that affects the health of humans and animals globally. Copper is an essential insect micronutrient required for respiration, pigmentation and oxidative stress protection but can also act as a potentially toxic trace element. While several studies have focused on the negative fitness effects of copper on the aquatic larvae of mosquitoes, the effects of larval copper exposure on adult mosquito fitness (i.e., survival and fecundity) and their ability to transmit parasites (i.e., vector competence) remains unclear. Here, using a well-studied model vector-parasite system, the mosquito Aedes aegypti and parasite Dirofilaria immitis, we show that sublethal copper exposure in larval mosquitoes alters adult female fecundity and vector competence. Specifically, mosquitoes exposed to copper had a hormetic fecundity response and mosquitoes exposed to 600 μg/L of copper had significantly fewer infective parasite larvae than control mosquitoes not exposed to copper. Thus, exposure of mosquito larvae to copper levels far below EPA-mandated safe drinking water limits (1300 μg/L) can impact vector-borne disease dynamics not only by reducing mosquito abundance (through increased larval mortality), but also by reducing parasite transmission risk. Our results also demonstrated that larval copper is retained through metamorphosis to adulthood in mosquitoes, indicating that these insects could transfer copper from aquatic to terrestrial foodwebs, especially in urban areas where they are abundant. To our knowledge this is the first study to directly link metal exposure with vector competence (i.e., ability to transmit parasites) in any vector-parasite system. Additionally, it also demonstrates unequivocally that mosquitoes can transfer contaminants from aquatic to terrestrial ecosystems. These results have broad implications for public health because they directly linking contaminants and vector-borne disease dynamics, as well as linking mosquitoes and contaminant dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Neff
- Savannah River Ecology Lab, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, 29801, USA; Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
| | - Guha Dharmarajan
- Savannah River Ecology Lab, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, 29801, USA
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Lindsay SW, Davies M, Alabaster G, Altamirano H, Jatta E, Jawara M, Carrasco-Tenezaca M, von Seidlein L, Shenton FC, Tusting LS, Wilson AL, Knudsen J. Recommendations for building out mosquito-transmitted diseases in sub-Saharan Africa: the DELIVER mnemonic. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2020; 376:20190814. [PMID: 33357059 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
In sub-Saharan Africa, most transmission of mosquito-transmitted diseases, such as malaria or dengue, occurs within or around houses. Preventing mosquito house entry and reducing mosquito production around the home would help reduce the transmission of these diseases. Based on recent research, we make key recommendations for reducing the threat of mosquito-transmitted diseases through changes to the built environment. The mnemonic, DELIVER, recommends the following best practices: (i) Doors should be screened, self-closing and without surrounding gaps; (ii) Eaves, the space between the wall and roof, should be closed or screened; (iii) houses should be Lifted above the ground; (iv) Insecticide-treated nets should be used when sleeping in houses at night; (v) houses should be Ventilated, with at least two large-screened windows to facilitate airflow; (vi) Environmental management should be conducted regularly inside and around the home; and (vii) Roofs should be solid, rather than thatch. DELIVER is a package of interventions to be used in combination for maximum impact. Simple changes to the built environment will reduce exposure to mosquito-transmitted diseases and help keep regions free from these diseases after elimination. This article is part of the theme issue 'Novel control strategies for mosquito-borne diseases'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven W Lindsay
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Michael Davies
- Bartlett School Environment, Energy & Resources, Faculty of the Built Environment, University College London, London WC1H 0NN, UK
| | | | - Hector Altamirano
- Bartlett School Environment, Energy & Resources, Faculty of the Built Environment, University College London, London WC1H 0NN, UK
| | - Ebrima Jatta
- National Malaria Control Programme, Banjul, The Gambia
| | - Musa Jawara
- Medical Research Council Unit Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, The Gambia
| | | | - Lorenz von Seidlein
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Fiona C Shenton
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Lucy S Tusting
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Anne L Wilson
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Jakob Knudsen
- The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture, Design and Conservation, The School of Architecture, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Landscape and Anthropogenic Factors Associated with Adult Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in Small Cities in the Southern Great Plains. INSECTS 2020; 11:insects11100699. [PMID: 33066330 PMCID: PMC7602065 DOI: 10.3390/insects11100699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Mosquito-borne diseases are a growing human health concern in the United States. While recent studies have updated the distribution of Aedes aegypti in southern Great Plains, little is known about what factors can be used to predict where important mosquito species thrive in the region. The aim of the study assessed different factors associated with encountering adult container-breeding mosquitoes in small cities in southern Oklahoma. Collections using two types of traps were carried out over a ten week period from June to August 2017 along two geographical transects, each consisting of three cities, equally distant from the Red River/Texas border. After five rounds of collection, 6628 female mosquitoes were collected from 242 commercial or residential sites in six cities. Of the mosquitoes collected, 80% consisted of container-breeding species. Regionally, Ae. aegypti was most likely to be collected in cities closest to the Texas border while Aedes albopictus was spread throughout the region. In general, Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus were more associated with residential sites or sites featuring no or low vegetation. The study highlighted important factors involved in the distribution of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus in small cities in the southern Great Plains. Abstract As mosquito-borne diseases are a growing human health concern in the United States, the distribution and potential arbovirus risk from container-breeding Aedes mosquitoes is understudied in the southern Great Plains. The aim of the study was to assess landscape and anthropogenic factors associated with encountering adult container-breeding mosquitoes in small cities in southern Oklahoma. Collections were carried out over a 10 week period from June to August 2017 along two geographical transects, each consisting of three cities, equally distant from the Red River/Texas border. Mosquitoes were collected weekly using two trap types along with data for 13 landscape, vegetation, and anthropogenic variables. After five rounds of collection, 6628 female mosquitoes were collected over 2110 trap-nights involving 242 commercial or residential sites in six cities. Of the mosquitoes collected, 80% consisted of container-breeding species: Aedes albopictus (72%), Culex pipiens complex (16%) and Aedes aegypti (8%). Regionally, Aedes aegypti was more likely present in cities closest to the Texas border while Ae. albopictus was spread throughout the region. In general, Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus were significantly more present in sites featuring no or low vegetation and residential sites. Variables associated with Ae. albopictus presence and abundance varied between cities and highlighted the urban nature of the species. The study highlighted the distribution of Ae. aegypti geographically and within the urban context, indicated potential habitat preferences of container-breeding mosquito species in small towns, and demonstrated the usefulness of Gravid Aedes traps (GAT) traps for monitoring Aedes populations in urban habitats in small cities.
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Wimberly MC, Davis JK, Evans MV, Hess A, Newberry PM, Solano-Asamoah N, Murdock CC. Land cover affects microclimate and temperature suitability for arbovirus transmission in an urban landscape. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008614. [PMID: 32956355 PMCID: PMC7529312 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of mosquito-transmitted viruses poses a global threat to human health. Combining mechanistic epidemiological models based on temperature-trait relationships with climatological data is a powerful technique for environmental risk assessment. However, a limitation of this approach is that the local microclimates experienced by mosquitoes can differ substantially from macroclimate measurements, particularly in heterogeneous urban environments. To address this scaling mismatch, we modeled spatial variation in microclimate temperatures and the thermal potential for dengue transmission by Aedes albopictus across an urban-to-rural gradient in Athens-Clarke County GA. Microclimate data were collected across gradients of tree cover and impervious surface cover. We developed statistical models to predict daily minimum and maximum microclimate temperatures using coarse-resolution gridded macroclimate data (4000 m) and high-resolution land cover data (30 m). The resulting high-resolution microclimate maps were integrated with temperature-dependent mosquito abundance and vectorial capacity models to generate monthly predictions for the summer and early fall of 2018. The highest vectorial capacities were predicted for patches of trees in urban areas with high cover of impervious surfaces. Vectorial capacity was most sensitive to tree cover during the summer and became more sensitive to impervious surfaces in the early fall. Predictions from the same models using temperature data from a local meteorological station consistently over-predicted vectorial capacity compared to the microclimate-based estimates. This work demonstrates that it is feasible to model variation in mosquito microenvironments across an urban-to-rural gradient using satellite Earth observations. Epidemiological models applied to the microclimate maps revealed localized patterns of temperature suitability for disease transmission that would not be detectable using macroclimate data. Incorporating microclimate data into disease transmission models has the potential to yield more spatially precise and ecologically interpretable metrics of mosquito-borne disease transmission risk in urban landscapes. Predicting the effects of temperature on mosquito abundance and arbovirus transmission cycles is essential for mapping hot spots of disease risk and projecting responses to climate change. In urban landscapes, the built environment and natural features create distinctive environments. Buildings and roads generate warmer conditions through the urban heat island effect, while vegetation can have a cooling effect because of shading and evaporative heat loss. We used land cover data to map microclimate temperature in Athens-Clarke County, GA and applied a temperature-dependent vectorial capacity model to predict the effects of microclimate on dengue transmission by Aedes albopictus. The highest vectorial capacity was predicted in patches of trees located in the urbanized portion of the study area. These locations had relatively warm nighttime and cool daytime temperature, which kept temperatures close to the optimum for disease transmission. This work demonstrates the feasibility of predicting variation in mosquito microenvironments in urban landscapes using satellite Earth observations. Incorporating microclimate data into disease transmission models has the potential to yield more spatially precise and ecologically interpretable metrics of mosquito-borne disease transmission risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael C. Wimberly
- Department of Geography and Environmental Suitability, University of Oklahoma, Norman Oklahoma, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MCW); (CCM)
| | - Justin K. Davis
- Department of Geography and Environmental Suitability, University of Oklahoma, Norman Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Michelle V. Evans
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- Center for Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Andrea Hess
- Department of Geography and Environmental Suitability, University of Oklahoma, Norman Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Philip M. Newberry
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Nicole Solano-Asamoah
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- Center for Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Courtney C. Murdock
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- Center for Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- Center for Tropical Global and Emerging Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- Center for Vaccines and Immunology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- River Basin Center, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MCW); (CCM)
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Barbosa GL, Lage MDO, Andrade VR, Gomes AHA, Quintanilha JA, Chiaravalloti Neto F. Use of an Extended Premise Condition Index for detection of priority areas for vector control actions. Acta Trop 2020; 209:105543. [PMID: 32470332 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The Premise Condition Index (PCI), proposed by Tun-Lin and colleagues in 1995, is a score that considers the conditions of a premise as well its yards and degree of shading. They hypothesized that the higher its value the greater the probability of the premise having the presence of Aedes aegypti. This study aimed to evaluate if there is a correspondence between PCI and Ae. aegypti infestation in four areas of a large city in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, if the inclusion of new categories related to the presence of animals in premises would increase the probability of detecting predictive areas for vector control actions and, if so, to propose an expanded PCI. The positivity of the premises for the presence of Ae. aegypti was modeled considering a Bernoulli probability distribution, in a Bayesian context using the Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation. The study showed that, in general, the higher the value of the PCI of a premise, the more likely it is to have the presence of Ae. aegypti, and the inclusion of information on the animals' presence can increase the discriminatory power of PCI. These results support the proposition of an extended PCI that would consider, in addition to the conditions of the premise, the presence of animals to classify it regarding the risk of the presence of Ae. aegypti.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerson Laurindo Barbosa
- Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, Secretaria de Saúde do Estado de São Paulo. Rua Paula Souza, 166, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, 01027-000.
| | - Mariana de Oliveira Lage
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciência Ambiental, Universidade de São Paulo. Avenida Professor Luciano Gualberto, 1289, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, 05508-010.
| | - Valmir Roberto Andrade
- Serviço Regional de Campinas, Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, Secretaria de Saúde do Estado de São Paulo. Rua Fernão Pompeu de Camargo, 372, Campinas, SP, Brazil, 13041-025.
| | - Antônio Henrique Alves Gomes
- Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, Secretaria de Saúde do Estado de São Paulo. Rua Paula Souza, 166, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, 01027-000.
| | - Jose Alberto Quintanilha
- Instituo de Energia e Ambiente, Universidade de São Paulo. Avenida, 1289, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, 05508-010..
| | - Francisco Chiaravalloti Neto
- Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo. Avenida Doutor Arnaldo, 715, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, 01246-904.
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Li Z, Gurgel H, Dessay N, Hu L, Xu L, Gong P. Semi-Supervised Text Classification Framework: An Overview of Dengue Landscape Factors and Satellite Earth Observation. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E4509. [PMID: 32585932 PMCID: PMC7344967 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17124509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
In recent years there has been an increasing use of satellite Earth observation (EO) data in dengue research, in particular the identification of landscape factors affecting dengue transmission. Summarizing landscape factors and satellite EO data sources, and making the information public are helpful for guiding future research and improving health decision-making. In this case, a review of the literature would appear to be an appropriate tool. However, this is not an easy-to-use tool. The review process mainly includes defining the topic, searching, screening at both title/abstract and full-text levels and data extraction that needs consistent knowledge from experts and is time-consuming and labor intensive. In this context, this study integrates the review process, text scoring, active learning (AL) mechanism, and bidirectional long short-term memory (BiLSTM) networks, and proposes a semi-supervised text classification framework that enables the efficient and accurate selection of the relevant articles. Specifically, text scoring and BiLSTM-based active learning were used to replace the title/abstract screening and full-text screening, respectively, which greatly reduces the human workload. In this study, 101 relevant articles were selected from 4 bibliographic databases, and a catalogue of essential dengue landscape factors was identified and divided into four categories: land use (LU), land cover (LC), topography and continuous land surface features. Moreover, various satellite EO sensors and products used for identifying landscape factors were tabulated. Finally, possible future directions of applying satellite EO data in dengue research in terms of landscape patterns, satellite sensors and deep learning were proposed. The proposed semi-supervised text classification framework was successfully applied in research evidence synthesis that could be easily applied to other topics, particularly in an interdisciplinary context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhichao Li
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Earth System Modeling, Department of Earth System, Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; (Z.L.); (L.X.)
| | - Helen Gurgel
- Department of Geography, University of Brasilia (UnB), Brasilia CEP 70910-900, Brazil;
- International Joint Laboratory Sentinela, FIOCRUZ, UnB, IRD, Rio de Janeiro RJ-21040-900, Brazil;
| | - Nadine Dessay
- International Joint Laboratory Sentinela, FIOCRUZ, UnB, IRD, Rio de Janeiro RJ-21040-900, Brazil;
- IRD, UM, UR, UG, UA, UMR ESPACE-DEV, 34090 Montpellier, France
| | - Luojia Hu
- Qian Xuesen Laboratory of Space Technology, China Academy of Space Technology, Beijing 100094, China;
| | - Lei Xu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Earth System Modeling, Department of Earth System, Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; (Z.L.); (L.X.)
| | - Peng Gong
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Earth System Modeling, Department of Earth System, Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; (Z.L.); (L.X.)
- Center for Healthy Cities, Institute for China Sustainable Urbanization, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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Barrera R, Amador M, Ruiz-Valcárcel J, Acevedo V. Factors Modulating Captures of Gravid Aedes aegypti Females. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MOSQUITO CONTROL ASSOCIATION 2020; 36:66-73. [PMID: 33647132 PMCID: PMC8491133 DOI: 10.2987/20-6931.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
To improve detection and assessment of Aedes aegypti abundance, we investigated whether microhabitat factors of the location of autocidal gravid ovitraps (AGO traps) influenced captures of gravid females in 2 locations in southern Puerto Rico. One location had been under vector control for several years using mass AGO trapping (intervention site), where Ae. aegypti abundance was several times lower than in the other study site without mosquito control (nonintervention site). We observed 10 environmental factors describing trap microhabitat location, and monitored water volume and minimum, maximum, and average temperature in AGO traps. Air temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall were recorded at each site. We conducted a hot-spot analysis of AGO traps to understand whether trap captures were influenced by the local abundance of mosquitoes rather than or in addition to trap microhabitat factors. AGO traps were classified using a 2-step cluster analysis based on attributes of trap microhabitats, water temperature, and water volume. Captures of female Ae. aegypti in each cluster per site were compared between resulting clusters to determine whether trap microhabitat factors defining the clusters were associated with trap captures. Trap captures in both study sites were mostly correlated with captures in nearby traps regardless of trap microhabitat factors, possibly reflecting the influence of the spatial aggregation of mosquitoes coming from nearby aquatic habitats or the concentration of dispersing adults. These results indicated that AGO traps can be located at places that can be easily reached during periodic inspections, such as in front of houses, without much regard to local microhabitat conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Barrera
- Entomology and Ecology Activity, Dengue Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1324 Calle Canada, San Juan, PR 00920
| | - Manuel Amador
- Entomology and Ecology Activity, Dengue Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1324 Calle Canada, San Juan, PR 00920
| | - Jose Ruiz-Valcárcel
- Entomology and Ecology Activity, Dengue Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1324 Calle Canada, San Juan, PR 00920
| | - Veronica Acevedo
- Entomology and Ecology Activity, Dengue Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1324 Calle Canada, San Juan, PR 00920
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Lorenz C, Chiaravalloti-Neto F, de Oliveira Lage M, Quintanilha JA, Parra MC, Dibo MR, Fávaro EA, Guirado MM, Nogueira ML. Remote sensing for risk mapping of Aedes aegypti infestations: Is this a practical task? Acta Trop 2020; 205:105398. [PMID: 32068030 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Revised: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Mosquito-borne diseases affect millions of individuals worldwide; the area of endemic transmission has been increasing due to several factors linked to globalization, urban sprawl, and climate change. The Aedes aegypti mosquito plays a central role in the dissemination of dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and urban yellow fever. Current preventive measures include mosquito control programs; however, identifying high-risk areas for mosquito infestation over a large geographic region based only on field surveys is labor-intensive and time-consuming. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the potential of remote satellite images (WorldView) for determining land features associated with Ae. aegypti adult infestations in São José do Rio Preto/SP, Brazil. We used data from 60 adult mosquito traps distributed along four summers; the remote sensing images were classified by land cover types using a supervised classification method. We modeled the number of Ae. aegypti using a Poisson probability distribution with a geostatistical approach. The models were constructed in a Bayesian context using the Integrated nested Laplace Approximations and Stochastic Partial Differential Equation method. We showed that an infestation of Ae. aegypti adult mosquitoes was positively associated with the presence of asbestos roofing and roof slabs. This may be related to several other factors, such as socioeconomic or environmental factors. The usage of asbestos roofing may be more prevalent in socioeconomically poor areas, while roof slabs may retain rainwater and contribute to the generation of temporary mosquito breeding sites. Although preliminary, our results demonstrate the utility of satellite remote sensing in identifying landscape differences in urban environments using a geostatistical approach, and indicated directions for future research. Further analyses including other variables, such as land surface temperature, may reveal more complex relationships between urban mosquito micro-habitats and land cover features.
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Evans MV, Hintz CW, Jones L, Shiau J, Solano N, Drake JM, Murdock CC. Microclimate and Larval Habitat Density Predict Adult Aedes albopictus Abundance in Urban Areas. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2020; 101:362-370. [PMID: 31190685 PMCID: PMC6685558 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.19-0220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, transmits several arboviruses of public health importance, including chikungunya and dengue. Since its introduction to the United States in 1985, the species has invaded more than 40 states, including temperate areas not previously at risk of Aedes-transmitted arboviruses. Mathematical models incorporate climatic variables in predictions of site-specific Ae. albopictus abundances to identify human populations at risk of disease. However, these models rely on coarse resolutions of environmental data that may not accurately represent the climatic profile experienced by mosquitoes in the field, particularly in climatically heterogeneous urban areas. In this study, we pair field surveys of larval and adult Ae. albopictus mosquitoes with site-specific microclimate data across a range of land use types to investigate the relationships between microclimate, density of larval habitat, and adult mosquito abundance and determine whether these relationships change across an urban gradient. We find no evidence for a difference in larval habitat density or adult abundance between rural, suburban, and urban land classes. Adult abundance increases with increasing larval habitat density, which itself is dependent on microclimate. Adult abundance is strongly explained by microclimate variables, demonstrating that theoretically derived, laboratory-parameterized relationships in ectotherm physiology apply to the field. Our results support the continued use of temperature-dependent models to predict Ae. albopictus abundance in urban areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle V Evans
- Center for Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.,Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
| | - Carl W Hintz
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
| | - Lindsey Jones
- Department of Biology, Albany State University, Albany, Georgia
| | - Justine Shiau
- Department of Infectious Disease, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
| | - Nicole Solano
- Center for Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.,Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
| | - John M Drake
- Center for Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.,Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
| | - Courtney C Murdock
- Department of Infectious Disease, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.,Center for Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.,Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
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Katz G, Leisnham PT, LaDeau SL. Aedes albopictus Body Size Differs Across Neighborhoods With Varying Infrastructural Abandonment. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2020; 57:615-619. [PMID: 31584098 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjz170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Mosquitoes pose an increasing risk in urban landscapes, where spatial heterogeneity in juvenile habitat can influence fine-scale differences in mosquito density and biting activity. We examine how differences in juvenile mosquito habitat along a spectrum of urban infrastructure abandonment can influence the adult body size of the invasive tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae). Adult Ae. albopictus were collected across 3 yr (2015-2017) from residential blocks in Baltimore, MD, that varied in abandonment level, defined by the proportion of houses with boarded-up doors. We show that female Ae. albopictus collected from sites with higher abandonment were significantly larger than those collected from higher income, low abandonment blocks. Heterogeneity in mosquito body size, including wing length, has been shown to reflect differences in important traits, including longevity and vector competence. The present work demonstrates that heterogeneity in female size may reflect juvenile habitat variability across the spatial scales most relevant to adult Aedes dispersal and human exposure risk in urban landscapes. Previous work has shown that failure to manage abandonment and waste issues in impoverished neighborhoods supports greater mosquito production, and this study suggests that mosquitoes in these same neighborhoods could live longer, produce more eggs, and have different vector potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace Katz
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY
| | - Paul T Leisnham
- Department of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
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Mosquito diversity and dog heartworm prevalence in suburban areas. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:12. [PMID: 31924253 PMCID: PMC6953185 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3874-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Urbanization is occurring rapidly on a global scale and is altering mosquito communities, creating assemblages that are characteristically less diverse. Despite high rates of urbanization and ample examples of vector-borne diseases transmitted by multiple species, the effects of urbanization-driven mosquito diversity losses on disease transmission has not been well explored. We investigated this question using the dog heartworm, a filarial parasite vectored by numerous mosquito species. Methods We trapped host-seeking mosquitoes in undeveloped areas and neighborhoods of different ages in Wake County, North Carolina, USA, analyzing captured mosquitoes for heartworm DNA. We compared within-mosquito heartworm infection across land-use types by Kruskal–Wallis and likelihood ratio tests. Using zip code level data acquired from dogs in a local shelter, we performed linear regressions of within-host heartworm prevalence by within-mosquito heartworm prevalence as well as by three mosquito diversity measures. We also determined the best predictor of host-level prevalence among models including within-mosquito infection, mosquito diversity and abundance, and socioeconomic status as variables. Results Suburban areas had lower within-mosquito heartworm prevalence and lower likelihood of heartworm-positive mosquitoes than did undeveloped field sites, although no differences were seen between suburban and undeveloped wooded sites. No relationships were noted between within-mosquito and within-host heartworm prevalence. However, mosquito diversity metrics were positively correlated with host heartworm prevalence. Model selection revealed within-host prevalence was best predicted by a positive relationship with mosquito Shannon–Wiener diversity and a negative relationship with household income. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that decreases in mosquito diversity due to urbanization alter vector-borne disease risk. With regard to dog heartworm disease, this loss of mosquito diversity is associated with decreased heartworm prevalence within both the vector and the host. Although the response is likely different for diseases transmitted by one or few species, mosquito diversity losses leading to decreased transmission could be generalizable to other pathogens with multiple vectors. This study contributes to better understanding of the effects of urbanization and the role of vector diversity in multi-vectored pathosystems.![]()
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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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Whiteman A, Desjardins MR, Eskildsen GA, Loaiza JR. Detecting space-time clusters of dengue fever in Panama after adjusting for vector surveillance data. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007266. [PMID: 31545819 PMCID: PMC6776363 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2019] [Revised: 10/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Long term surveillance of vectors and arboviruses is an integral aspect of disease prevention and control systems in countries affected by increasing risk. Yet, little effort has been made to adjust space-time risk estimation by integrating disease case counts with vector surveillance data, which may result in inaccurate risk projection when several vector species are present, and when little is known about their likely role in local transmission. Here, we integrate 13 years of dengue case surveillance and associated Aedes occurrence data across 462 localities in 63 districts to estimate the risk of infection in the Republic of Panama. Our exploratory space-time modelling approach detected the presence of five clusters, which varied by duration, relative risk, and spatial extent after incorporating vector species as covariates. The Ae. aegypti model contained the highest number of districts with more dengue cases than would be expected given baseline population levels, followed by the model accounting for both Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. This implies that arbovirus case surveillance coupled with entomological surveillance can affect cluster detection and risk estimation, potentially improving efforts to understand outbreak dynamics at national scales. Dengue cases have increased in tropical regions worldwide owing to urbanization, globalization, and climate change facilitating the spread of Aedes mosquito vectors. National surveillance programs monitor trends in dengue fever and inform the public about epidemiological scenarios where outbreak preventive actions are most needed. Yet, most estimations of dengue risk so far derive only from disease case data, ignoring Aedes occurrence as a key aspect of dengue transmission dynamic. Here we illustrate how incorporating vector presence and absence as a model covariate can considerably alter the characteristics of space-time cluster estimations of dengue cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ari Whiteman
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa Ancón, Republic of Panama
- Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, Center for Applied Geographic Information Science, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Michael R. Desjardins
- Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, Center for Applied Geographic Information Science, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, United States of America
| | | | - Jose R. Loaiza
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa Ancón, Republic of Panama
- Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología, Panama City, Republic of Panama
- Programa Centroamericano de Maestría en Entomología, Universidad de Panamá, Panama City, Republic of Panama
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Whiteman A, Gomez C, Rovira J, Chen G, McMillan WO, Loaiza J. Aedes Mosquito Infestation in Socioeconomically Contrasting Neighborhoods of Panama City. ECOHEALTH 2019; 16:210-221. [PMID: 31114946 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-019-01417-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Revised: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The global expansion and proliferation of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus represents a growing public health threat due to their capacity to transmit a variety of arboviruses to humans, including dengue, chikungunya, and Zika. Particularly important in urban regions, where these species have evolved to breed in man-made containers and feed nearly exclusively on human hosts, the threat of vector-borne disease has risen in recent decades due to the growth of cities, progression of climate change, and increase in globalization. While the dynamics of Aedes populations in urban settings have been well studied in relation to ecological features of the landscape, relatively less is known about the relationship between neighborhood socioeconomic status and Aedes infestation. Here, we compare infestation levels of both A. aegypti and A. albopictus in four socioeconomically contrasting neighborhoods of urban Panama City, Panama. Our results indicate that infestation levels for both Aedes species vary between neighborhoods of contrasting socioeconomic status, being higher in neighborhoods having lower percentage of residents with bachelor degrees and lower monthly household income. Additionally, we find that proximity between socioeconomically contrasting neighborhoods can predict infestation levels by species, with A. aegypti increasing and A. albopictus decreasing with proximity between neighborhoods. These findings hold key implications for the control and prevention of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika in Panama, a region with ongoing arbovirus outbreaks and high economic inequity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ari Whiteman
- Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd, Charlotte, NC, 28223, USA.
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, P.O. Box 0843-03092, Balboa Ancón, Republic of Panama.
| | - Carmelo Gomez
- Programa Centroamericano de Maestría en Entomología, Universidad de Panamá, Panama, Republic of Panama
| | - Jose Rovira
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, P.O. Box 0843-03092, Balboa Ancón, Republic of Panama
| | - Gang Chen
- Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd, Charlotte, NC, 28223, USA
| | - W Owen McMillan
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, P.O. Box 0843-03092, Balboa Ancón, Republic of Panama
| | - Jose Loaiza
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, P.O. Box 0843-03092, Balboa Ancón, Republic of Panama
- Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP), P.O. Box 0843-01103, Panama, Republic of Panama
- Programa Centroamericano de Maestría en Entomología, Universidad de Panamá, Panama, Republic of Panama
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Can urban greening increase vector abundance in cities? The impact of mowing, local vegetation, and landscape composition on adult mosquito populations. Urban Ecosyst 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-019-00857-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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Simplification of vector communities during suburban succession. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0215485. [PMID: 31042734 PMCID: PMC6493735 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Suburbanization is happening rapidly on a global scale, resulting in changes to the species assemblages present in previously undeveloped areas of land. Community-level changes after anthropogenic land-use change have been studied in a variety of organisms, but the effects on arthropods of medical and veterinary importance remain poorly characterized. Shifts in diversity, abundance, and community composition of such arthropods, like mosquitoes, can significantly impact vector-borne disease dynamics due to varying vectorial capacity between different species. In light of these potential implications for vector-borne diseases, we investigated changes in mosquito species assemblage after suburbanization by sampling mosquitoes in neighborhoods of different ages in Wake County, North Carolina, US. We found that independent of housing density and socioeconomic status, mosquito diversity measures decreased as suburban neighborhoods aged. In the oldest neighborhoods, the mosquito assemblage reached a distinct suburban climax community dominated by the invasive, peridomestic container-breeding Aedes albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito. Aedes albopictus is a competent vector of many pathogens of human concern, and its dominance in suburban areas places it in close proximity with humans, allowing for heightened potential of host-vector interactions. While further research is necessary to explicitly characterize the effects of mosquito community simplification on vector-borne disease transmission in highly suburbanized areas, the current study demonstrates that suburbanization is disrupting mosquito communities so severely that they do not recover their diversity even 100 years after the initial disturbance. Our understanding of the community-level effects of anthropogenic land-use change on arthropod vectors will become increasingly important as we look to mitigate disease spread in a global landscape that is continually developed and altered by humans.
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Shragai T, Harrington LC. Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) on an Invasive Edge: Abundance, Spatial Distribution, and Habitat Usage of Larvae and Pupae Across Urban and Socioeconomic Environmental Gradients. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2019; 56:472-482. [PMID: 30566612 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjy209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The Asian tiger mosquito [Aedes albopictus (Skuse)] is an invasive species of public health importance that is currently expanding its range in the Northeast United States. Effective Ae. albopictus control depends on a thorough understanding of factors influencing their abundance, spatial distribution, and habitat preference. We conducted a series of container surveys for Ae. albopictus larvae/pupae over 2 yr across nine sites in neighborhoods along its invasive range in southern New York. Selected sites represented a gradient of percent impervious surface and median household income. Two hypotheses were tested: 1) Ae. albopictus larval/pupal abundance increases and spatial distribution becomes less clustered as site-level median income decreases and percent impervious surface increases because of increased larval habitat quality and availability; and 2) container-level characteristics are predictive of Ae. albopictus larval/pupal infestation across a range of sites. In 2016, neither median household income nor impervious surface predicted Ae. albopictus abundance. In 2017, sites with greater impervious surface were more heavily infested by some measures. In both years, Ae. albopictus larval/pupal spatial distribution as measured by K-function was more clustered in with greater median household income. Most container characteristics were either not predictive of Ae. albopictus or varied between years. Based on the variability of predictive container characteristics, we conclude that identification of key containers is not useful in this region. However, Ae. albopictus can be nonhomogenously distributed or abundant based on income level and impervious surface. Improved control of immatures should consider these regional predictors of Ae. albopictus populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talya Shragai
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
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Bodner D, LaDeau SL, Leisnham PT. Relationships Among Immature-Stage Metrics and Adult Abundances of Mosquito Populations in Baltimore, MD. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2019; 56:192-198. [PMID: 30371851 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjy185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Reducing water-holding containers that provide habitat for immature-stage (eggs, larvae, pupae) mosquitoes is often an effective means of managing urban mosquito-borne diseases. It is generally accepted that adult mosquito abundances are strongly influenced by the availability of container habitat. Yet few studies have directly examined if adult abundances are associated with the presence and abundance of immature stages among city blocks, which is the spatial scale at which common urban mosquitoes disperse and management is often conducted. In this study, we compared larval and pupal population metrics to adult female abundances of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae) and Culex pipiens/restuans (Diptera: Culicidae) across 12 blocks in four socioeconomically diverse neighborhoods in Baltimore, MD. Aedes albopictus and Cx. pipiens/restuans were the most abundant taxa, constituting 81.8 and 95.8% of collected adult and immature-stage individuals, respectively. Despite being collected on all blocks in all neighborhoods, adult female Ae. albopictus but not Cx. pipiens/restuans were predicted by immature-stage population metrics. Adult female Ae. albopictus abundance was positively and consistently predicted by the mean number of occupied discarded containers per parcel across the four socioeconomically diverse neighborhoods. Our results suggest that immature-stage monitoring in landscapes dominated by container habitat may not be an effective predictor of adult Cx. pipiens/restuans abundance, but removing discarded container habitat should be a priority action to manage Ae. albopictus, which is usually the most pestiferous species in temperate cities in the eastern United States and many regions worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Bodner
- Ecosystem Health and Natural Resource Management, Department of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
| | | | - Paul T Leisnham
- Ecosystem Health and Natural Resource Management, Department of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
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A Novel Sampling Method to Measure Socioeconomic Drivers of Aedes Albopictus Distribution in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:ijerph15102179. [PMID: 30301172 PMCID: PMC6210768 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15102179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2018] [Revised: 09/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Climate change, urbanization, and globalization have facilitated the spread of Aedes mosquitoes into regions that were previously unsuitable, causing an increased threat of arbovirus transmission on a global scale. While numerous studies have addressed the urban ecology of Ae. albopictus, few have accounted for socioeconomic factors that affect their range in urban regions. Here we introduce an original sampling design for Ae. albopictus, that uses a spatial optimization process to identify urban collection sites based on both geographic parameters as well as the gradient of socioeconomic variables present in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, encompassing the city of Charlotte, a rapidly growing urban environment. We collected 3,645 specimens of Ae. albopictus (87% of total samples) across 12 weeks at the 90 optimized site locations and modelled the relationships between the abundance of gravid Ae. albopictus and a variety of neighborhood socioeconomic attributes as well as land cover characteristics. Our results demonstrate that the abundance of gravid Ae. albopictus is inversely related to the socioeconomic status of the neighborhood and directly related to both landscape heterogeneity as well as proportions of particular resident races/ethnicities. We present our results alongside a description of our novel sampling scheme and its usefulness as an approach to urban vector epidemiology. Additionally, we supply recommendations for future investigations into the socioeconomic determinants of vector-borne disease risk.
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Asset or Liability? Ecological and Sociological Tradeoffs of Urban Spontaneous Vegetation on Vacant Land in Shrinking Cities. SUSTAINABILITY 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/su10072139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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Risk factors for arbovirus infections in a low-income community of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2015-2016. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0198357. [PMID: 29879155 PMCID: PMC5991716 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0198357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2017] [Accepted: 05/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Dengue epidemics have occurred in the city of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) since 1986. In the year 2015, Zika and chikungunya viruses were introduced in the city, causing sequential and simultaneous epidemics. Poor socioeconomic conditions have been suggested as contributing factors of arboviral infection. Objective To describe the spatial distribution of human cases of symptomatic arboviral infections and to identify risk factors for infection in a poor community of Rio de Janeiro in the years 2015 and 2016. Methods We built thematic maps of incidence rates for 78 micro-areas in the Manguinhos neighborhood. The micro-areas congregate about 600 inhabitants. Simple and multiple multilevel logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between the incidence of arboviral diseases and socio-demographic factors at both the individual and micro-area levels. Results From 2015 to 2016, 370 human cases of arbovirus infection were reported in the Manguinhos community: 123 in 2015 and 247 in 2016. There was a significant difference in the risk of arbovirus diseases among different micro-areas, but this was not explained by water and sanitation indicators. The cumulative incidence rate was 849/100,000 in two years. The incidence was greater in those individuals with familiar vulnerability (1,156/100,000 vs. 794/100,000). The multilevel adjusted model showed that the odds of acquiring an arbovirus infection was 55% greater in those with familiar vulnerability. Conclusion Arbovirus infections cause a high burden of disease in Brazilian urban centers. Our results suggest that even in poor neighborhoods, there is a high spatial variability in the risk of acquiring an arbovirus infection. The conditions that favor vector proliferation and infection by arboviruses are complex and involve both individual and environmental characteristics that vary from place to place. To reduce the burden of arboviral diseases, continued public health policies and basic services should be provided to the communities at risk that consider specific local needs.
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Goodman H, Egizi A, Fonseca DM, Leisnham PT, LaDeau SL. Primary blood-hosts of mosquitoes are influenced by social and ecological conditions in a complex urban landscape. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:218. [PMID: 29631602 PMCID: PMC5891940 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2779-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Temperate urban landscapes support persistent and growing populations of Culex and Aedes mosquito vectors. Large urban mosquito populations can represent a significant risk for transmission of emergent arboviral infection. However, even large mosquito populations are only a risk to the animals they bite. The purpose of this study is to identify and assess spatial patterns of host-use in a temperate urban landscape with heterogeneous socio-economic and ecological conditions. Results Mosquito blood meals were collected from neighborhoods categorized along a socio-economic gradient in Baltimore, MD, USA. Blood meal hosts were identified for two Aedes (Ae. albopictus and Ae. japonicus) and three Culex (Cx. pipiens, Cx. restuans and Cx. salinarius) species. The brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) was the most frequently detected host in both Aedes species and Cx. salinarius. Human biting was evident in Aedes and Culex species and the proportion of human blood meals from Ae. albopictus varied significantly with neighborhood socio-economic status. Aedes albopictus was most likely to feed on human blood hosts (at 50%) in residential blocks categorized as having income above the city median, although there were still more total human bites detected from lower income blocks where Ae. albopictus was more abundant. Birds were the most frequently detected Culex blood hosts but were absent from all Aedes sampled. Conclusions This study highlights fine-scale variation in host-use by medically important mosquito vectors and specifically investigates blood meal composition at spatial scales relevant to urban mosquito dispersal and human exposure. Further, the work emphasizes the importance of neighborhood economics and infrastructure management in shaping both the relative abundance of vectors and local blood feeding strategies. The invasive brown rat was an important blood source across vector species and neighborhoods in Baltimore. We show that social and economic conditions can be important predictors of transmission potential in urban landscapes and identify important questions about the role of rodents in supporting urban mosquito populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Goodman
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY, 12545, USA
| | - Andrea Egizi
- Monmouth County Division of Mosquito Control, Tick-Borne Disease Laboratory, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
| | - Dina M Fonseca
- Center for Vector Biology, Entomology Department, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
| | - Paul T Leisnham
- Department of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
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