Abstract
The invasive Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) was first reported in central Africa in 2000, in Cameroon, with the indigenous mosquito species Ae. aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae). Today, this invasive species is present in almost all countries of the region, including the Central African Republic (CAR), where it was first recorded in 2009. As invasive species of mosquitoes can affect the distribution of native species, resulting in new patterns of vectors and concomitant risk for disease, we undertook a comparative study early and late in the wet season in the capital and the main cities of CAR to document infestation and the ecological preferences of the two species. In addition, we determined the probable geographical origin of invasive populations of Ae. albopictus with two mitochondrial DNA genes, COI and ND5. Analysis revealed that Ae. aegypti was more abundant earlier in the wet season and Ae. albopictus in the late wet season. Used tyres were the most heavily colonized productive larval habitats for both species in both seasons. The invasive species Ae. albopictus predominated over the resident species at all sites in which the two species were sympatric. Mitochondrial DNA analysis revealed broad low genetic diversity, confirming recent introduction of Ae. albopictus in CAR. Phylogeographical analysis based on COI polymorphism indicated that the Ae. albopictus haplotype in the CAR population segregated into two lineages, suggesting multiple sources of Ae. albopictus. These data may have important implications for vector control strategies in central Africa.
Highlights
Aedes aegypti Linneaus 1762 and Ae. albopictus Skuse 1894, two mosquitoes belonging to the Stegomyia subgenus, are the main epidemic vectors of dengue and chikungunya viruses worldwide [1,2,3,4]
Since 2000, Ae. albopictus has invaded several central African countries, including Cameroon [9], Gabon [10], Equatorial Guinea [11] and the Central African Republic (CAR) [12], where it occurs in human-dominated environments previously colonized by Ae. aegypti
Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus are the main vectors of human arboviral diseases such as dengue and chikungunya
Summary
Aedes aegypti Linneaus 1762 and Ae. albopictus Skuse 1894, two mosquitoes belonging to the Stegomyia subgenus, are the main epidemic vectors of dengue and chikungunya viruses worldwide [1,2,3,4]. Both species are established in sub-Saharan Africa, where Ae. aegypti is native [5]. Ae. albopictus is suspected to have played a major role in the transmission of chikungunya virus in Cameroon in 2006 [13] and was shown to be the main vector of both chikungunya and dengue virus in Gabon in 2007 and 2010 [1,14,15]. It is likely that this invasive mosquito played a significant role in the chikungunya outbreak in the Republic of Congo in 2011 [16]
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