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A Survey on Native and Invasive Mosquitoes and Other Biting Dipterans in Northern Spain. Acta Parasitol 2022; 67:867-877. [PMID: 35298775 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-022-00529-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Haematophagous Diptera, such as mosquitoes (Culicidae), biting midges (Ceratopogonidae), and black flies (Simuliidae), are important insects for public and animal health due to their capacity to bite and transmit pathogens. Outdoor recreation areas are usually affected by biting species and provide suitable habitats to both adult and immature stages. This study aimed to determine the species diversity and larval sites of these Diptera groups in two golf courses. METHODS A multi-method collection approach using ultraviolet-CDC traps, human landing catches, collection in breeding sites, and ovitraps was implemented during summer 2020 in northern Spain. Insects were determined by morphological features accompanied by DNA barcoding. RESULTS A total of ten native mosquito species were recorded either as adults or as larval stages. The invasive species Aedes japonicus was collected only at egg or pupa stage in ovitraps. Culex pipiens s.l. and Culex torrentium were both common mosquito species accounting for 47.9% of the total larval site collections and their larvae might be found in a wide range of natural and artificial sites. Culiseta longiareolata specimens were also prominent (30.1% of the total) and occurred exclusively in man-made water-filled containers. A total of 13 Culicoides species were identified, 10 of which were captured by ultraviolet-CDC traps, particularly members of the Obsoletus complex (Culicoides obsoletus/Culicoides scoticus, 74.9%) and seven species by emergence traps, being the two most abundant C. kibunensis (44.8%) and C. festivipennis (34.9%). Simulium cryophilum was also collected hovering around the operator under field sampling. CONCLUSION A comprehensive representation of the blood-sucking Diptera fauna and their larval sites was obtained by the multi-method approach in two Spanish golf courses.
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Bertola M, Mazzucato M, Pombi M, Montarsi F. Updated occurrence and bionomics of potential malaria vectors in Europe: a systematic review (2000-2021). Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:88. [PMID: 35292106 PMCID: PMC8922938 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05204-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the eradication of malaria across most European countries in the 1960s and 1970s, the anopheline vectors are still present. Most of the malaria cases that have been reported in Europe up to the present time have been infections acquired in endemic areas by travelers. However, the possibility of acquiring malaria by locally infected mosquitoes has been poorly investigated in Europe, despite autochthonous malaria cases having been occasionally reported in several European countries. Here we present an update on the occurrence of potential malaria vector species in Europe. Adopting a systematic review approach, we selected 288 papers published between 2000 and 2021 for inclusion in the review based on retrieval of accurate information on the following Anopheles species: An. atroparvus, An. hyrcanus sensu lato (s.l.), An. labranchiae, An. maculipennis sensu stricto (s.s.), An. messeae/daciae, An. sacharovi, An. superpictus and An. plumbeus. The distribution of these potential vector species across Europe is critically reviewed in relation to areas of major presence and principal bionomic features, including vector competence to Plasmodium. Additional information, such as geographical details, sampling approaches and species identification methods, are also reported. We compare the information on each species extracted from the most recent studies to comparable information reported from studies published in the early 2000s, with particular reference to the role of each species in malaria transmission before eradication. The picture that emerges from this review is that potential vector species are still widespread in Europe, with the largest diversity in the Mediterranean area, Italy in particular. Despite information on their vectorial capacity being fragmentary, the information retrieved suggests a re-definition of the relative importance of potential vector species, indicating An. hyrcanus s.l., An. labranchiae, An. plumbeus and An. sacharovi as potential vectors of higher importance, while An. messeae/daciae and An. maculipennis s.s. can be considered to be moderately important species. In contrast, An. atroparvus and An. superpictus should be considered as vectors of lower importance, particularly in relation to their low anthropophily. The presence of gaps in current knowledge of vectorial systems in Europe becomes evident in this review, not only in terms of vector competence but also in the definition of sampling approaches, highlighting the need for further research to adopt the appropriate surveillance system for each species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Bertola
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università 10, 35020, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Matteo Mazzucato
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università 10, 35020, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Marco Pombi
- Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica e Malattie Infettive, Università di Roma "Sapienza", P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Roma, Italy.
| | - Fabrizio Montarsi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università 10, 35020, Legnaro, Italy.,Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica e Malattie Infettive, Università di Roma "Sapienza", P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Roma, Italy
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González MA, Cevidanes A, Goiri F, Barandika JF, García-Pérez AL. Diversity and distribution of larval habitats of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in northern Spain: from urban to natural areas. JOURNAL OF VECTOR ECOLOGY : JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR VECTOR ECOLOGY 2021; 46:173-185. [PMID: 35230022 DOI: 10.52707/1081-1710-46.2.173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Studies of the biodiversity of mosquito larval habitats are important for vector-borne disease control programs and help to improve vector distribution maps. This study was designed to investigate the geographical distribution of mosquito species and their larval habitats in urban, rural, and natural areas in northern Spain. Pre-imaginal stages were collected over two sampling periods (spring and summer) in 2019. In the laboratory, immature specimens were reared to the adult stage for species identification by morphological taxonomy and/or molecular methods. In total, 2,182 specimens belonging to 13 different native mosquito species of five genera were collected from 135 sampling points of which 59.2% harbored larvae. Culex pipiens s.l. was the most abundant species (45.1%), followed by Culex torrentium (12.3%), Anopheles maculipennis s.l. (10.2%), Culex hortensis (9.5%), and nine other species with lower frequencies that accounted for less than 25%. By molecular identification, An. maculipennis s.s. was identified as the only species within the An. maculipennis species complex and Cx. pipiens pipiens as the predominant subspecies of the Cx. pipiens species complex. Margins in large sunlit water bodies were the most suitable sites for An. maculipennis s.l., whereas Cx. pipiens s.l. was present in both natural and artificial habitats. The larval site index, species richness, and relative abundance of the mosquitoes were determined based on the characteristics of the sites where they were collected. The public health importance and ecology of some identified mosquitoes is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikel A González
- Department of Animal Health. NEIKER-Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development. Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Bizkaia, 48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Aitor Cevidanes
- Department of Animal Health. NEIKER-Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development. Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Bizkaia, 48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Fátima Goiri
- Department of Animal Health. NEIKER-Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development. Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Bizkaia, 48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Jesús F Barandika
- Department of Animal Health. NEIKER-Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development. Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Bizkaia, 48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Ana L García-Pérez
- Department of Animal Health. NEIKER-Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development. Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Bizkaia, 48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain,
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Raele DA, Severini F, Boccolini D, Menegon M, Toma L, Vasco I, Franco E, Miccolis P, Desiante F, Nola V, Salerno P, Cafiero MA, Di Luca M. Entomological Surveillance in Former Malaria-endemic Areas of Southern Italy. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10111521. [PMID: 34832676 PMCID: PMC8619560 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10111521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria still represents a potential public health issue in Italy, and the presence of former Anopheles vectors and cases imported annually merit continuous surveillance. In areas no longer endemic, the concurrent presence of gametocyte carriers and competent vectors makes re-emergence of local transmission possible, as recently reported in Greece. In October 2017, due to the occurrence of four suspected introduced malaria cases in the province of Taranto (Apulia region), entomological investigations were performed to verify the involvement of local anopheline species. In 2019–2020 entomological surveys were extended to other areas historically prone to malaria between the provinces of Taranto and Matera and the province of Foggia (Gargano Promontory). Resting mosquitoes were collected in animal shelters and human dwellings, larvae were sampled in natural and artificial breeding sites, and specimens were both morphologically and molecularly identified. A total of 2228 mosquitoes were collected, 54.3% of which were anophelines. In all the investigated areas, Anopheles labranchiae was the most widespread species, while Anopheles algeriensis was predominant at the Gargano sites, and Anopheles superpictus and Anopheles plumbeus were recorded in the province of Matera. Our findings showed a potentially high receptivity in the surveyed areas, where the abundance of the two former malaria vectors, An. labranchiae and An. superpictus, is related to environmental and climatic parameters and to anthropic activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donato Antonio Raele
- Laboratorio di Entomologia Sanitaria, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata, 71121 Foggia, Italy; (D.A.R.); (I.V.); (M.A.C.)
| | - Francesco Severini
- Dipartimento Malattie Infettive, Reparto Malattie Trasmesse da Vettori, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (F.S.); (D.B.); (M.M.); (L.T.)
| | - Daniela Boccolini
- Dipartimento Malattie Infettive, Reparto Malattie Trasmesse da Vettori, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (F.S.); (D.B.); (M.M.); (L.T.)
| | - Michela Menegon
- Dipartimento Malattie Infettive, Reparto Malattie Trasmesse da Vettori, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (F.S.); (D.B.); (M.M.); (L.T.)
| | - Luciano Toma
- Dipartimento Malattie Infettive, Reparto Malattie Trasmesse da Vettori, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (F.S.); (D.B.); (M.M.); (L.T.)
| | - Ilaria Vasco
- Laboratorio di Entomologia Sanitaria, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata, 71121 Foggia, Italy; (D.A.R.); (I.V.); (M.A.C.)
| | - Ettore Franco
- Dipartimento di Prevenzione, Azienda Sanitaria Locale, 74121 Taranto, Italy; (E.F.); (P.M.); (F.D.)
| | - Pasquale Miccolis
- Dipartimento di Prevenzione, Azienda Sanitaria Locale, 74121 Taranto, Italy; (E.F.); (P.M.); (F.D.)
| | - Francesco Desiante
- Dipartimento di Prevenzione, Azienda Sanitaria Locale, 74121 Taranto, Italy; (E.F.); (P.M.); (F.D.)
| | - Vincenzo Nola
- Dipartimento di Prevenzione, Sanità e Benessere Animale, Azienda Sanitaria Locale, 75100 Matera, Italy; (V.N.); (P.S.)
| | - Pietrangelo Salerno
- Dipartimento di Prevenzione, Sanità e Benessere Animale, Azienda Sanitaria Locale, 75100 Matera, Italy; (V.N.); (P.S.)
| | - Maria Assunta Cafiero
- Laboratorio di Entomologia Sanitaria, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata, 71121 Foggia, Italy; (D.A.R.); (I.V.); (M.A.C.)
| | - Marco Di Luca
- Dipartimento Malattie Infettive, Reparto Malattie Trasmesse da Vettori, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (F.S.); (D.B.); (M.M.); (L.T.)
- Correspondence:
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Spanoudis CG, Pappas CS, Savopoulou-Soultani M, Andreadis SS. Composition, seasonal abundance, and public health importance of mosquito species in the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Northern Greece. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:3083-3090. [PMID: 34338859 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07264-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) are the largest group of blood-feeding insects that disturb not only humans but also other mammals and birds. This study reports the presence of native mosquito species in the regional unit of Thessaloniki and the monitoring of their population. In total, 13 mosquito species belonging to four genera were identified. The most dominant species was Culex pipiens, followed by Aedes caspius. In the present study, we report for the first time the presence of Ae. vittatus in Greece and of Anopheles plumbeus in the regional unit of Thessaloniki. Regarding the seasonal variation, species of the genus Aedes were the ones that first appeared in late March, followed by Culex species at the end of April and finally species of the genus Anopheles in July. Species of the Aedes genus were found to be the most abundant in the first quarter of the year (late March to early April). Population of Cx. pipiens remained at high levels from late April to late September. Species of the genus Anopheles were found in high densities from early August to October. The current study contributes to the knowledge of the mosquito species composition and their relative abundance in an area where West Nile virus caused severe epidemic outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christos G Spanoudis
- Laboratory of Applied Zoology and Parasitology, Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Christos S Pappas
- Laboratory of Applied Zoology and Parasitology, Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Matilda Savopoulou-Soultani
- Laboratory of Applied Zoology and Parasitology, Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Stefanos S Andreadis
- Hellenic Agricultural Organization Dimitra, Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, 57001, Thermi, Greece.
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Brindicci G, Santoro CR, Loconsole D, Martinelli D, Prato R, Lonero G, Loperfido P, Buccoliero GB, Chironna M. A Cluster of Cryptic Plasmodium falciparum Malaria in African Migrants in Southern Italy, October 2017. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2020; 20:927-931. [PMID: 32833595 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2019.2607] [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] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Italy was declared malaria free by the World Health Organization in 1970. Despite this, nonimport malaria cases are on the increase in Italy and throughout the Mediterranean area. In Italy, in the period between 2011 and 2015, seven cases of locally acquired malaria have been reported, including one introduced case of Plasmodium vivax; moreover, the last certain case of introduced malaria (by P. vivax) has been reported in Tuscany in 1997. No case of introduced malaria from Plasmodium falciparum has been reported in Italy since 1970. Case Presentation: A cluster of four cryptic P. falciparum malaria cases were ascertained in migrant farm workers (three from Morocco and one from Sudan) in Apulia (southern Italy) with clinical onset between September 20 and 27, 2017. None of the patients reported a history of a recent trip to malaria-endemic areas or hospitalization or other risk factors. Typing of malaria was also confirmed using molecular biology methods in two different laboratories. There were no cases of severe malaria in our four patients, and only one in need of transfusion. All patients were discharged cured after being treated with mefloquine due to the unavailability of other antimalarials. Conclusions: In recent years, numerous reports of locally acquired malaria have been made in southern Europe. The cases described in this article represent the first cluster of malaria caused by P. falciparum in Europe. Today, clinical presentation in the diagnosis of malaria is more important than ever, since epidemiological criterion cannot be considered unfailing. The mode of transmission has not been proven and further biological and entomological studies are necessary to define our case as cryptic or confirm the presence of mosquitoes capable of transmitting P. falciparum and/or the capacity of Anopheles labranchiae, An. superpictus, or An. plumbeus to transmit it on Italian territory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaetano Brindicci
- Operative Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, San Giuseppe Moscati Hospital, Taranto, Italy
| | - Carmen Rita Santoro
- Operative Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, San Giuseppe Moscati Hospital, Taranto, Italy
| | - Daniela Loconsole
- Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, Hospital-University Polyclinic, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Domenico Martinelli
- Department of Medical and Surgical Science, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Rosa Prato
- Department of Medical and Surgical Science, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Gaetano Lonero
- Operative Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, San Giuseppe Moscati Hospital, Taranto, Italy
| | - Pietro Loperfido
- Operative Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, San Giuseppe Moscati Hospital, Taranto, Italy
| | | | - Maria Chironna
- Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, Hospital-University Polyclinic, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
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Boccolini D, Menegon M, Di Luca M, Toma L, Severini F, Marucci G, D'Amato S, Caraglia A, Maraglino FP, Rezza G, Romi R, Gradoni L, Severini C. Non-imported malaria in Italy: paradigmatic approaches and public health implications following an unusual cluster of cases in 2017. BMC Public Health 2020; 20:857. [PMID: 32503526 PMCID: PMC7275312 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-08748-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The European region achieved interruption of malaria transmission during the 1970s. Since then, malaria control programs were replaced by surveillance systems in order to prevent possible re-emergence of this disease. Sporadic cases of non-imported malaria were recorded in several European countries in the past decade and locally transmitted outbreaks of Plasmodium vivax, most probably supported by Anopheles sacharovi, have been repeatedly reported from Greece since 2009. The possibility of locally-transmitted malaria has been extensively studied in Italy where the former malaria vector An. labranchiae survived the control campaign which led to malaria elimination. In this study, we present paradigmatic cases that occurred during a 2017 unusual cluster, which caused strong concern in public opinion and were carefully investigated after the implementation of the updated malaria surveillance system. METHODS For suspected locally-transmitted malaria cases, alerts to Ministry of Health (MoH) and the National Institute of Health (ISS) were mandated by the Local Health Services (LHS). Epidemiological investigations on the transmission modes and the identification of possible infection's source were carried out by LHS, MoH and ISS. Entomological investigations were implemented locally for all suspected locally-transmitted cases that occurred in periods suitable to anopheline activity. Molecular diagnosis by nested-PCR for the five human Plasmodium species was performed to support microscopic diagnosis. In addition, genotyping of P. falciparum isolate was carried out to investigate putative sources of infection and transmission modalities. RESULTS In 2017, a cluster of seven non-imported cases was recorded from August through October. Among them, P. ovale curtisi was responsible of one case whereas six cases were caused by P. falciparum. Two cases were proved to be nosocomial while the other five were recorded as cryptic at the end of epidemiological investigations. CONCLUSIONS The epidemiological evidence shows that the locally acquired events are sporadic, often remain unresolved and classified as cryptic ones despite investigative efforts. The "cluster" of seven non-imported cases that occurred in 2017 in different regions of Italy therefore represents a conscious alert that should lead us to maintain a constant level of surveillance in a former malaria endemic country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Boccolini
- Dipartimento Malattie Infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| | - Michela Menegon
- Dipartimento Malattie Infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Di Luca
- Dipartimento Malattie Infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Luciano Toma
- Dipartimento Malattie Infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Severini
- Dipartimento Malattie Infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Gianluca Marucci
- Dipartimento Malattie Infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania D'Amato
- Ministero della Salute, Direzione Generale della Prevenzione Sanitari, Ufficio 5 - Prevenzione delle Malattie Trasmissibili e Profilassi Internazionale, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Caraglia
- Ministero della Salute, Direzione Generale della Prevenzione Sanitaria, Ufficio 1 - Affari generali e segreteria tecnico-organizzativa, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Paolo Maraglino
- Ministero della Salute, Direzione Generale della Prevenzione Sanitari, Ufficio 5 - Prevenzione delle Malattie Trasmissibili e Profilassi Internazionale, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Rezza
- Dipartimento Malattie Infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Romi
- Dipartimento Malattie Infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi Gradoni
- Dipartimento Malattie Infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Severini
- Dipartimento Malattie Infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
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Mironova VA, Shartova NV, Beljaev AE, Varentsov MI, Korennoy FI, Grishchenko MY. Re-introduction of vivax malaria in a temperate area (Moscow region, Russia): a geographic investigation. Malar J 2020; 19:116. [PMID: 32188468 PMCID: PMC7081549 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-020-03187-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Between 1999 and 2008 Russia experienced a flare-up of transmission of vivax malaria following its massive importation with more than 500 autochthonous cases in European Russia, the Moscow region being the most affected. The outbreak waned soon after a decrease in importation in mid-2000s and strengthening the control measures. Compared with other post-eradication epidemics in Europe this one was unprecedented by its extension and duration. Methods The aim of this study is to identify geographical determinants of transmission. The degree of favourability of climate for vivax malaria was assessed by measuring the sum of effective temperatures and duration of season of effective infectivity using data from 22 weather stations. For geospatial analysis, the locations of each of 405 autochthonous cases detected in Moscow region have been ascertained. A MaxEnt method was used for modelling the territorial differentiation of Moscow region according to the suitability of infection re-emergence based on the statistically valid relationships between the distribution of autochthonous cases and environmental and climatic factors. Results In 1999–2004, in the beginning of the outbreak, meteorological conditions were extremely favourable for malaria in 1999, 2001 and 2002, especially within the borders of the city of Moscow and its immediate surroundings. The greatest number of cases occurred at the northwestern periphery of the city and in the adjoining rural areas. A significant role was played by rural construction activities attracting migrant labour, vegetation density and landscape division. A cut-off altitude of 200 m was observed, though the factor of altitude did not play a significant role at lower altitudes. Most likely, the urban heat island additionally amplified malaria re-introduction. Conclusion The malariogenic potential in relation to vivax malaria was high in Moscow region, albeit heterogeneous. It is in Moscow that the most favourable conditions exist for vivax malaria re-introduction in the case of a renewed importation. This recent event of large-scale re-introduction of vivax malaria in a temperate area can serve as a case study for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varvara A Mironova
- Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Natalia V Shartova
- Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia.
| | | | - Mikhail I Varentsov
- Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia.,A.M, Obukhov Institute of Atmospheric Physics, 3 Pyzhyovskiy Pereulok, Moscow, 119017, Russia.,Research Computing Center, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Fedor I Korennoy
- FGBI Federal Center for Animal Health (FGBI ARRIAH), Vladimir, 600901, Russia
| | - Mikhail Y Grishchenko
- Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia.,Faculty of Geography and Geoinformatics, Higher School of Economics, Moscow, 101000, Russia
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