Abstract
BackgroundAedes albopictus is an indigenous primary vector for dengue and Zika viruses in China. Compared with its insecticide resistance, biology and vector competence, little is known about its genetic variation, which corresponds to environmental variations. Thus, the present study examines how Ae. albopictus varies among different climatic regions in China and deciphers its potential dispersal patterns.MethodsThe genetic variation and population structure of 17 Ae. albopictus populations collected from three climatic regions of China were investigated with 11 microsatellite loci and the mitochondrial coxI gene.ResultsOf 44 isolated microsatellite markers, 11 pairs were chosen for genotyping analysis and had an average PIC value of 0.713, representing high polymorphism. The number of alleles was high in each population, with the ne value increasing from the temperate region (3.876) to the tropical region (4.144). Twenty-five coxI haplotypes were detected, and the highest diversity was observed in the tropical region. The mean Ho value (ca. 0.557) of all the regions was significantly lower than the mean He value (ca. 0.684), with nearly all populations significantly departing from HWE and displaying significant population expansion (p value < 0.05). Two genetically isolated groups and three haplotype clades were evaluated via STRUCTURE and haplotype phylogenetic analyses, and the tropical populations were significantly isolated from those in the other regions. Most genetic variation in Ae. albopictus was detected within populations and individuals at 31.40 and 63.04%, respectively, via the AMOVA test, and a relatively significant positive correlation was observed among only the temperate populations via IBD analysis (R2 = 0.6614, p = 0.048). Recent dispersions were observed among different Ae. albopictus populations, and four major migration trends with high gene flow (Nm > 0.4) were reconstructed between the tropical region and the other two regions. Environmental factors, especially temperature and rainfall, may be the leading causes of genetic diversity in different climatic regions.ConclusionsContinuous dispersion contributes to the genetic communication of Ae. albopictus populations across different climatic regions, and environmental factors, especially temperature and rainfall, may be the leading causes of genetic variation.Graphical
Highlights
Aedes albopictus is an indigenous primary vector for dengue and Zika viruses in China
Less research has focused on changes in the genetic diversity and population structure of Ae. albopictus populations associated with various environmental conditions [16,17,18], this information is essential for reconstructing the dispersion patterns of Ae. albopictus in certain regions and providing necessary information for subsequent mosquito control
Microsatellite marker isolation and assessment In the present study, a total of 44 pairs of microsatellite markers were isolated from the whole genome of Ae. albopictus, 11 pairs of which were highly polymorphic and were chosen for microsatellite genotyping analysis (Table 1)
Summary
Aedes albopictus is an indigenous primary vector for dengue and Zika viruses in China. Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus, known as the Asian tiger mosquito, is an epidemiologically critical vector for its transmission of several arboviruses, including dengue virus (DENV), Zika virus (ZIKV), chikungunya virus and filarial nematodes, such as Dirofilaria immitis [1,2,3,4]. An important and rapidly adapting insect with high fecundity and a short life cycle, Ae. albopictus has population dynamics and vector competence that are greatly influenced by environmental conditions [9, 10]. Numerous previous studies have discussed the effects of environmental variations on Ae. albopictus populations, mainly based on their influence on mosquito abundance, survival, size, fecundity and competence for certain arboviruses [11,12,13,14,15]. Less research has focused on changes in the genetic diversity and population structure of Ae. albopictus populations associated with various environmental conditions [16,17,18], this information is essential for reconstructing the dispersion patterns of Ae. albopictus in certain regions and providing necessary information for subsequent mosquito control
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