Abstract
Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) are important vectors for a wide range of pathogenic organisms. As large parts of the human population in developed countries live in cities, the occurrence of vector-borne diseases in urban areas is of particular interest for epidemiologists and public health authorities. In this study, we investigated the mosquito occurrence in the city of Vienna, Austria, in order to estimate the risk of transmission of mosquito-borne diseases. Mosquitoes were captured using different sampling techniques at 17 sites in the city of Vienna. Species belonging to the Culex pipiens complex (78.8 %) were most abundant, followed by Coquillettidia richiardii (10.2 %), Anopheles plumbeus (5.4 %), Aedes vexans (3.8 %), and Ochlerotatus sticticus (0.7 %). Individuals of the Cx. pipiens complex were found at 80.2 % of the trap sites, while 58.8 % of the trap sites were positive for Cq. richiardii and Ae. vexans. Oc. sticticus was captured at 35.3 % of the sites, and An. plumbeus only at 23.5 % of the trap sites. Cx. pipiens complex is known to be a potent vector and pathogens like West Nile virus (WNV), Usutu virus (USUV), Tahyna virus (TAHV), Sindbis virus (SINV), Plasmodium sp., and Dirofilaria repens can be transmitted by this species. Cq. richiardii is a known vector species for Batai virus (BATV), SINV, TAHV, and WNV, while Ae. vexans can transmit TAHV, USUV, WNV, and Dirofilaria repens. An. plumbeus and Oc. sticticus seem to play only a minor role in the transmission of vector-borne diseases in Vienna. WNV, which is already wide-spread in Europe, is likely to be the highest threat in Vienna as it can be transmitted by several of the most common species, has already been shown to pose a higher risk in cities, and has the possibility to cause severe illness.
Highlights
Culicidae are of medical importance especially regarding mosquitos of the genera Anopheles, Aedes, and Culex—and of other genera—which are known to transmit viruses, protozoa, and nematodes (Hubálek 2008; Sinka et al 2010; Ledesma and Harrington 2011)
Species belonging to the Cx. pipiens complex (78.8 %) were most abundant, followed by Coquillettidia richiardii (10.2 %), Anopheles plumbeus (5.4 %), Aedes vexans (3.8 %), and Ochlerotatus sticticus (0.7 %)
The present study showed that the Cx. pipiens complex followed by Cq. richiardii are the most common species in the city of Vienna and diseases passed on by those mosquito species are likely to be transmitted at higher rates (Table 2)
Summary
Culicidae are of medical importance especially regarding mosquitos of the genera Anopheles, Aedes, and Culex—and of other genera—which are known to transmit viruses, protozoa, and nematodes (Hubálek 2008; Sinka et al 2010; Ledesma and Harrington 2011). Due to the (re-)emergence of several mosquito-borne diseases, like West Nile virus (WNV) or Usutu virus (USUV), those diseases and their vectors have become the main focus for many researchers (e.g., Gratz 1999; Takken et al 2007; Hubálek 2008), and for public health authorities (e.g., Vazquez-Prokopec et al 2010). In comparison to the surrounding rural regions, urban areas are characterized by habitat loss resulting in a reduced diversity of species (McKinney 2002). Previous studies conducted in the USA already revealed the effect of urban land use on the abundance of Culicidae species.
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