Abstract
BackgroundIn the last 50 years, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has experienced rapid population growth and urbanization. Urbanization is known to influence biodiversity, and there appears to be a link between the emergence of arboviruses and urban growth. Very little is known about the UAE mosquito species richness and dominant vectors. We performed a mosquito survey comparing peri-urban sites in Dubai and Al Ain to a protected, natural site in Fujairah emirate. We measured mosquito biodiversity and species composition, and screened mosquito pools for common arboviruses to measure arbovirus activity in the region.ResultsWe report ten species of mosquitoes from the UAE, with highest species diversity in the natural site, a protected wadi near the eastern coast. The predominant mosquito was Culex perexiguus, and was associated with peri-urban habitats. The site with lowest mosquito species diversity but relatively high species richness was the peri-urban site of Al Ain Zoo, where we identified Bagaza virus and Barkedji virus, two flaviviruses, in pools of Cx. perexiguus.ConclusionsDecreased mosquito biodiversity was associated with increased levels of urbanization. The predominance of two species at peri-urban sites was related to the availability of their larval habitats. Arboviruses were associated with the presence of a single predominant mosquito species, Cx. perexiguus.
Highlights
In the last 50 years, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has experienced rapid population growth and urbanization
Mosquito abundance was lower at secondary sites at Qudra lakes and Lake Zakher, only collecting 2 specimens each in the winter season, and collections were not continued at these sites
Mosquitoes at Wadi Wurayah National Park (WW) were less abundant than at other collection stations: 7.0% of total collections were from WW; 53.6% of total collections were from AAZ; and 39.0% of total collections were from Ras al Khor (RK)
Summary
In the last 50 years, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has experienced rapid population growth and urbanization. Urbanization is known to influence biodiversity, and there appears to be a link between the emergence of arboviruses and urban growth. Very little is known about the UAE mosquito species richness and dominant vectors. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has experienced an extremely high rate of urbanization and development in the last 50 years. Urban centers of Dubai and Al Ain (eastern Abu Dhabi emirate) have experienced rapid urban sprawl, with increases in tourism, shipping, and the population of foreign laborers [1, 2]. Urban sprawl and expanding agriculture increase the probability of spillover of enzootic arbovirus transmission cycles into humans and livestock [11]. Urban centers and peri-urban areas are sites of high population
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
