Evidence for the spread of the alien species Aedes koreicus in the Lombardy region, Italy

Agata Negri,Irene Arnoldi,Sara Epis,Matteo Brilli,Claudio Bandi,Paolo Gabrieli

doi:10.1186/s13071-021-05031-7

Agata Negri, Irene Arnoldi + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-021-05031-7

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Abstract

BackgroundAedes koreicus is a mosquito species characterized by marked anthropophilic behavior, and a potential vector of nematodes and viruses. It is native to East Asia, but its presence has recently been reported in many regions of Europe. In Italy, these mosquitoes had been detected in the northeast since 2011 and are now spreading towards the southwest of the country.MethodsIn 2020, during a surveillance program for invasive mosquito species in the district of Bergamo (Lombardy Region, Italy), about 6000 mosquito larvae were collected. Emerged adults were assigned to mosquito species according to morphological analyses, followed by amplification and sequencing of genetic markers (COI, ND4, ITS2 and D2).ResultsAccording to the morphological and genetic data, about 50 individuals belonged to the species Ae. koreicus.ConclusionWe report the presence of Ae. koreicus in the district of Bergamo, which confirms the spread of this species in the north of Italy and raises concerns about its possible role as a vector of diseases in the Alpine area.Graphical

Highlights

Aedes koreicus is a mosquito species characterized by marked anthropophilic behavior, and a potential vector of nematodes and viruses
In addition to the well-known tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus, another species of this genus, Ae. koreicus, is spreading in Europe [2, 3]. This species is native to East Asia (Japan, Korea, China and Russia) [4] and was reported in Europe for the first time in Belgium in 2008, in the industrial zone of Maasmechelen [5]
We report the detection of a novel population of Ae. koreicus in Italy, in the Bergamo district

Summary

Introduction

Aedes koreicus is a mosquito species characterized by marked anthropophilic behavior, and a potential vector of nematodes and viruses. In addition to the well-known tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus, another species of this genus, Ae. koreicus, is spreading in Europe [2, 3]. We report the detection of a novel population of Ae. koreicus in Italy, in the Bergamo district (in the Lombardy region).

Results

Conclusion