Abstract
We investigated the role of socio-economic factors in the proliferation of mosquito vectors in two adjacent but socio-economically contrasting neighborhoods in Baton Rouge, LA, USA. We surveyed mosquito larvae habitat, mosquito larvae, and adult mosquitoes during the summer of 2020. We also evaluated the number of requests for mosquito abatement services in the years preceding the study for each area. While we did not find differences in terms of the most abundant species, Culex quinquefasicatus (F1,30 = 0.329, p = 0.57), we did find a higher abundance of mosquito habitats, particularly discarded tires, as well as larvae (z = 13.83, p < 0.001) and adults (F1,30 = 4.207, p = 0.049) of the species Aedes albopictus in the low-income neighborhood. In contrast, mosquito abatement requests were significantly higher in the high socio-economic neighborhood (z = −8.561, p < 0.001). This study shows how factors such as adjudicated properties, discarded tires and pest abatement requests can influence the abundance of mosquito vectors, disproportionately affecting low-income groups. This study also highlights how Aedes spp. may be better indicators than Culex spp. of socio-economic differences between nearby neighborhoods, due to their short flight range and habitat preferences, and this should be considered in future studies attempting to detect such disparities in the future.
Highlights
Container-breeding mosquitoes such as Aedes albopictus and Culex quinquefasciatus are important vectors of diseases such as Zika and West Nile virus, respectively
This study is the first to evaluate the role of socio-economic drivers on the presence of larvae and adult mosquito vectors of Culex and Aedes species in the state of Louisiana, a state with ideal climatic conditions for mosquito vectors, and which has some of the highest poverty rates in the country
While we found no difference in terms of larvae and adults of the species Cx. quinquefasciatus, we did find more Ae. albopictus in the low-income neighborhood
Summary
Container-breeding mosquitoes such as Aedes albopictus and Culex quinquefasciatus are important vectors of diseases such as Zika and West Nile virus, respectively. The proliferation of these vectors in residential neighborhoods may be linked to a variety of environmental and socio-economic factors that influence habitat availability and suitability. Important environmental drivers include temperature, precipitation, and vegetation cover, while socio-economic drivers are often associated with residential decay [1,2]. One of the main factors driving residential decay is the proportion of adjudicated properties and subsequent home abandonment. Abandoned properties may become the focus of illegal waste disposal practices within a neighborhood, further increasing mosquito habitat availability. Aside from abandonment, other factors may vary in relation to socio-economic gradients that can be directly tied to public health disparities
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