Abstract
Background Aedes mosquitoes in Taiwan mainly comprise Aedes albopictus and Ae. aegypti. However, the species contributing to autochthonous dengue spread and the extent at which it occurs remain unclear. Thus, in this study, we spatially analyzed real data to determine spatial features related to local dengue incidence and mosquito density, particularly that of Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti.MethodsWe used bivariate Moran’s I statistic and geographically weighted regression (GWR) spatial methods to analyze the globally spatial dependence and locally regressed relationship between (1) imported dengue incidences and Breteau indices (BIs) of Ae. albopictus, (2) imported dengue incidences and BI of Ae. aegypti, (3) autochthonous dengue incidences and BI of Ae. albopictus, (4) autochthonous dengue incidences and BI of Ae. aegypti, (5) all dengue incidences and BI of Ae. albopictus, (6) all dengue incidences and BI of Ae. aegypti, (7) BI of Ae. albopictus and human population density, and (8) BI of Ae. aegypti and human population density in 348 townships in Taiwan.ResultsIn the GWR models, regression coefficients of spatially regressed relationships between the incidence of autochthonous dengue and vector density of Ae. aegypti were significant and positive in most townships in Taiwan. However, Ae. albopictus had significant but negative regression coefficients in clusters of dengue epidemics. In the global bivariate Moran’s index, spatial dependence between the incidence of autochthonous dengue and vector density of Ae. aegypti was significant and exhibited positive correlation in Taiwan (bivariate Moran’s index = 0.51). However, Ae. albopictus exhibited positively significant but low correlation (bivariate Moran’s index = 0.06). Similar results were observed in the two spatial methods between all dengue incidences and Aedes mosquitoes (Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus).The regression coefficients of spatially regressed relationships between imported dengue cases and Aedes mosquitoes (Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus) were significant in 348 townships in Taiwan. The results indicated that local Aedes mosquitoes do not contribute to the dengue incidence of imported cases.The density of Ae. aegypti positively correlated with the density of human population. By contrast, the density of Ae. albopictus negatively correlated with the density of human population in the areas of southern Taiwan. The results indicated that Ae. aegypti has more opportunities for human–mosquito contact in dengue endemic areas in southern Taiwan.Conclusions Ae. aegypti, but not Ae. albopictus, and human population density in southern Taiwan are closely associated with an increased risk of autochthonous dengue incidence.
Highlights
Aedes mosquitoes in Taiwan mainly comprise Aedes albopictus and Ae. aegypti
The results indicated that local Ae. albopictus did not contribute to imported dengue cases in the main island of Taiwan
The results indicated that local Ae. aegypti did not contribute to imported dengue cases in the main island of Taiwan
Summary
Aedes mosquitoes in Taiwan mainly comprise Aedes albopictus and Ae. aegypti. the species contributing to autochthonous dengue spread and the extent at which it occurs remain unclear. In this study, we spatially analyzed real data to determine spatial features related to local dengue incidence and mosquito density, that of Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti. Dengue fever (DF) is a serious mosquito-borne viral infectious disease, mostly distributed in tropical regions [1]. Dengue virus (DENV), with a nearly ubiquitous distribution in tropical regions, was more recently introduced in Europe [5]. 2.5 % of dengue cases become more severe and progress into dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and/or dengue shock syndrome (DSS). These severe forms of the disease are responsible for high morbidity and fatal outcomes. DENV can infect various tissues in mosquito vectors, the midgut and salivary glands [13]
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