Abstract
Due to the absence of a perfect method for mosquito sex separation, the combination of the sterile insect technique and the incompatible insect technique is now being considered as a potentially effective method to control Aedes albopictus. In this present study first we examine the minimum pupal irradiation dose required to induce complete sterility in Wolbachia triple-infected (HC), double-infected (GUA) and uninfected (GT) female Ae. albopictus. The HC line is a candidate for Ae. albopictus population suppression programmes, but due to the risk of population replacement which characterizes this triple infected line, the individuals to be released need to be additionally irradiated. After determining the minimum irradiation dose required for complete female sterility, we test whether sterilization is sufficient to prevent invasion of the triple infection from the HC females into double-infected (GUA) populations. Our results indicate that irradiated Ae. albopictus HC, GUA and GT strain females have decreased fecundity and egg hatch rate when irradiated, inversely proportional to the dose, and the complete sterilization of females can be acquired by pupal irradiation with doses above 28 Gy. PCR-based analysis of F1 and F2 progeny indicate that the irradiated HC females, cannot spread the new Wolbachia wPip strain into a small cage GUA population, released at a 1:5 ratio. Considering the above results, we conclude that irradiation can be used to reduce the risk of population replacement caused by an unintentional release of Wolbachia triple-infected Ae. albopictus HC strain females during male release for population suppression.
Highlights
Aedes albopictus is a competent vector of several severe arthropod-borne diseases including dengue fever, yellow fever and chikungunya [1,2,3]
In the absence of a robust and efficient sexing system for Ae. albopictus, we proposed the combination of sterile insect technique (SIT) and incompatible insect technique (IIT) to control natural populations of this mosquito species using the tripleinfected HC strain [32]
We tested the scenario of the accidental release of triple-infected HC females, irradiated and non-irradiated, into naturally double-infected GUA populations in laboratory cages
Summary
Aedes albopictus is a competent vector of several severe arthropod-borne diseases including dengue fever, yellow fever and chikungunya [1,2,3]. Conventional control methods, such as those relying on insecticides, copepods, larval source reduction and community participation, are not sufficient to keep this species’ population density below the epidemic risk threshold [4,5]. SIT or IIT is based on mass-rearing of the target species, sterilization (by irradiation or infection with Wolbachia pipentis) and continuous release of the sterile insects into the target population [10]. Bidirectional CI is expressed in crosses between males and females infected with different Wolbachia strains
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