Abstract
BackgroundAedes albopictus is a very invasive mosquito, which has recently colonized tropical and temperate regions worldwide. Of concern is its role in the spread of emerging or re-emerging mosquito-borne diseases. Ae. albopictus from south-western Europe and Brazil were studied to infer genetic and phenetic diversity at intra-individual, intra-population and inter-population levels, and to analyse its spread.MethodsGenotyping was made by rDNA 5.8S-ITS-2 and mtDNA cox1 sequencing to assess haplotype and nucleotide diversity, genetic distances and phylogenetic networks. Male and female phenotyping included combined landmark-and outlined-based geometric morphometrics of wing size and shape.ResultsSpecimens from seven populations from Spain, France and Brazil provided 12 cox1 and 162 5.8S-ITS-2 haplotypes, with great genetic variability difference between both markers (0.9% vs 31.2%). Five cox1 haplotypes were shared with other countries, mainly Italy, USA and China, but none was shared between Europe and Brazil. The 5.8S-ITS-2 showed 2–7 intra-individual (mean 4.7) and 16–34 intra-/inter-population haplotypes (24.7), including haplotypes shared between Spain, France and Brazil. A 4.3% of ITS-2 haplotypes were shared, mainly with Italy, USA and Thailand, evidencing worldwide spread and introductions from areas where recent outbreaks of Ae. albopictus-transmitted pathogens occurred. Wing size showed sex differences. Wing shape distinguished between Brazilian and European specimens. Both genetic and morphometric markers showed differences between insular Spain and continental Spain, France and Brazil.ConclusionsITS-2 proves to be a useful marker to assess Ae. albopictus spread, providing pronouncedly more information than cox1, including intra-individual, intra-population and inter-population levels, furnishing a complete overview of the evolutionary exchanges followed by this mosquito. Wing morphometry proves to be a useful phenotyping marker, allowing to distinguish different populations at the level of both male and female specimens. Results indicate the need for periodic surveillance monitorings to verify that no Ae. albopictus with high virus transmission capacity is introduced into Europe.Graphical
Highlights
Aedes albopictus is a very invasive mosquito, which has recently colonized tropical and temperate regions worldwide
In the three distant localities analysed from Brazil (Goiás, Rio de Janeiro, and Amazonas States), only one haplotype was detected, which was not present in south-western Europe, but already reported in Brazil (KX383924, [33]) and in Los Angeles, USA (KZ690940, [51])
The pronounced Internal transcribed spacers (ITSs)-2 variability found in intra-individual clones suggests hybridizations with specimens of different origin and that these hybridizations were very recent
Summary
Aedes albopictus is a very invasive mosquito, which has recently colonized tropical and temperate regions worldwide. Of concern is its role in the spread of emerging or re-emerging mosquito-borne diseases. The Asian tiger mosquito Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse, 1894) is one of the most invasive species which has successfully colonized most tropical and temperate regions around the world [5]. This species is of importance in public health, for its role in the transmission of various pathogens (arboviruses and parasites) to humans, and for its considerable amount of nuisance biting in areas where it is well-stablished, reducing the quality of life of inhabitants [6], especially those who develop their activities outdoors
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