Distribution Of Mosquito Species Research Articles

Mosquito species distribution across urban, suburban, and semi-rural residences in San Antonio, Texas.

Mosquito species distribution across urban, suburban, and semi-rural residences in San Antonio, Texas.

Does deforestation promote or inhibit malaria transmission in the Amazon? A systematic literature review and critical appraisal of current evidence.

Considerable interest in the relationship between biodiversity and disease has recently captured the attention of the research community, with important public policy implications. In particular, malaria in the Amazon region is often cited as an example of how forest conservation can improve public health outcomes. However, despite a growing body of literature and an increased understanding of the relationship between malaria and land use / land cover change (LULC) in Amazonia, contradictions have emerged. While some studies report that deforestation increases malaria risk, others claim the opposite. Assessing malaria risk requires examination of dynamic processes among three main components: (i) the environment (i.e. LULC and landscape transformations), (ii) vector biology (e.g. mosquito species distributions, vector activity and life cycle, plasmodium infection rates), and (iii) human populations (e.g. forest-related activity, host susceptibility, movement patterns). In this paper, we conduct a systematic literature review on malaria risk and deforestation in the Amazon focusing on these three components. We explore key features that are likely to generate these contrasting results using the reviewed articles and our own data from Brazil and Peru, and conclude with suggestions for productive avenues in future research.This article is part of the themed issue ‘Conservation, biodiversity and infectious disease: scientific evidence and policy implications'.

Identification and Frequency Distribution of Mosquito Species in Port Sudan, Eastern Sudan

Identification and Frequency Distribution of Mosquito Species in Port Sudan, Eastern Sudan

Checklist of Mosquito Species (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil-Contribution of Entomological Surveillance.

The distribution of mosquito species in Rio Grande do Norte state, Brazil, was compiled from published data mid-2016 and a review of specimens deposited in the entomological collection of the Entomology Laboratory of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte. The existing records exist for 40 of the 167 municipalities in the state. The specimens in the Entomology Laboratory were collected using Shannon traps and by active search for immature individuals and from aquatic habitats using standard methods, in preserved Atlantic Forest and Caatinga remnants, located in urban and rural areas of the state. In total were recorded 76 species distributed into 25 subgenera, 15 genera, nine tribes, and two subfamilies, in addition to 15 new species records for the state.

Kerteszia Theobald (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquitoes and bromeliads: A landscape ecology approach regarding two species in the Atlantic rainforest

On the ecological scale of an organism, a homogeneous geographical landscape can represent a mosaic of heterogeneous landscapes. The bionomy of Kerteszia mosquitoes can contribute to foundation landscape ecology by virtue of in the role of the configuration and composition of the habitat played in the distribution of mosquito species. Thus, this study aimed: to compare the abundance of Kerteszia in dense tropical rainforest, restinga and rural area, to assess the bioecological characteristics of the main bromeliads hosting Kerteszia, and to associate the bioecological arrangement of the bromeliads with Kerteszia distribution. Field collections were conducted in a monthly schedule from December of 2010 to November 2011. The vegetation of landscapes was characterized on the basis of a digital cartographic database, the manual of the Brazilian vegetation, environmental atlas information, satellite images and visits to the sites. Multivariate generalized linear models were employed using the R-project statistical program. The results were: Anopheles cruzii was the most frequent species in dense tropical rainforest (67.42%), with a positive association (deviance=25.8; P=0.002). Anopheles bellator was more abundant in the Restinga area (78.97%), with a positive association (deviance=10.4, P=0.018). There was a positive aggregation of Restinga with An. bellator (RR=2.42) but a lower level with An. cruzii (RR=0.31). Thus we can conclude that landscape characteristics influence the distribution of Kerteszia mosquitoes. An. bellator has a higher prevalence in Restinga areas, whereas An. cruzii was the most prevalent in the dense tropical rainforest.

Vertical oviposition activity of mosquitoes in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil with emphasis on the sylvan vector, Haemagogus leucocelaenus (Diptera: Culicidae)

This study aimed to assess the vertical patterns of oviposition and temporal changes in the distribution of mosquito species in an area of the Atlantic Forest in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, and in particular, the behavior and oviposition of potential yellow fever virus vectors. Mosquito samples were collected from the Ecological Reserve Guapiaçu (REGUA, Brazil), which includes a somewhat disturbed forest, with a large diversity of plants and animals. In all, 5,458 specimens (ten species from seven genera) were collected. Haemagogus leucocelaenus was the most frequently captured species, representing 73% of the specimens collected. Species richness and diversity were the highest in the samples collected from the ground-level ovitraps and decreased with height. Species composition also differed significantly among heights. The largest species differences were detected between ovitraps set at the ground level and those set at 7 m and 9 m; Hg. leucocelaenus, Limatus durhamii, and Limatus paraensis contributed most to these differences. Sampling month and climatic variables had significant effects on species richness and diversity. Species diversity and richness decreased with height, suggesting that the conditions for mosquito breeding are more favorable closer to the ground. Species composition also showed vertical differences.

Zika Virus: Implications for Public Health.

The World Health Organization has declared the current Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic a public health emergency of international concern. Lack of vaccines and reliable diagnostic tests, broad geographical distribution of mosquito species that can transmit the virus, and absence of population immunity in newly affected countries are causes for concern. Although most infected persons are asymptomatic, ZIKV has been associated with a rise in cases of neurological complications and fetal central nervous system malformations. This defines such an arbovirus as something whose transmission should be prevented. This review summarizes the current understanding of ZIKV biology and epidemiology, as well as possible interventions to prevent contagion and transmission.

Distribution of Mosquito Species in Kaduna Metropolis, Kaduna State, Northern Nigeria

Larval samples collected from several mosquitoes breeding sites and distributed throughout Kaduna metropolis were used to identify 15 species of mosquito from 15 randomly selected settlement areas in Kaduna metropolis within the Northern Guinea Savannah Zone of Nigeria. Culex pipiens complex comprised 80.42% of the total catch (6,991 specimens) while Anopheles species (0.06%) rarely occurred within Kaduna metropolis during the period under study. The metropolis was sectioned into old and new settlement areas; wherein G.R.A, which is an area in the old section, was where the highest number (8) of mosquito species were collected while the highest number of 7 -species of mosquito were collected in three areas in the new settlement. Four species exclusively occurred in the old settlement areas whereas two species exclusively occurred in the new settlement areas. There was no significant difference (P> 0.05) in the total number of mosquito species sampled between the 15 settlement areas. This study identified Culex pipiens molestus and Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus as the most abundant mosquito species within Kaduna Metropolis.

Mosquito Records from Mexico: The Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) of Tamaulipas State.

To document the diversity and distribution of mosquito species inhabiting the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, collection trips were conducted to all physiographic regions (Grand Northamerican Plains, Coastal Plain of North Gulf, and Sierra Madre Oriental) and subregions across the state. Additionally, we re-examined mosquito specimens in two Mexican entomological collections: the Collection of Insects and Mites of Medical Importance and the Collection of Arthropods of Medical Importance. In total, 3,931 specimens were collected. These represent the two Culicidae subfamilies Anophelinae and Culicinae, 10 tribes, 17 genera, 27 subgenera, 80 named species, and 2 undescribed species. Of these, 3 tribes, 6 genera, 7 subgenera, and 20 species are new records for the mosquito fauna of Tamaulipas. Fourteen species recorded in the historical records were not found in collections made for this study. Taxonomic notes, new distribution limits, and comments about the medical importance of some of the species collected are reported.

Modelling the potential spatial distribution of mosquito species using three different techniques.

BackgroundModels for the spatial distribution of vector species are important tools in the assessment of the risk of establishment and subsequent spread of vector-borne diseases. The aims of this study are to define the environmental conditions suitable for several mosquito species through species distribution modelling techniques, and to compare the results produced with the different techniques.MethodsThree different modelling techniques, i.e., non-linear discriminant analysis, random forest and generalised linear model, were used to investigate the environmental suitability in the Netherlands for three indigenous mosquito species (Culiseta annulata, Anopheles claviger and Ochlerotatus punctor). Results obtained with the three statistical models were compared with regard to: (i) environmental suitability maps, (ii) environmental variables associated with occurrence, (iii) model evaluation.ResultsThe models indicated that precipitation, temperature and population density were associated with the occurrence of Cs. annulata and An. claviger, whereas land surface temperature and vegetation indices were associated with the presence of Oc. punctor. The maps produced with the three different modelling techniques showed consistent spatial patterns for each species, but differences in the ranges of the predictions. Non-linear discriminant analysis had lower predictions than other methods. The model with the best classification skills for all the species was the random forest model, with specificity values ranging from 0.89 to 0.91, and sensitivity values ranging from 0.64 to 0.95.ConclusionsWe mapped the environmental suitability for three mosquito species with three different modelling techniques. For each species, the maps showed consistent spatial patterns, but the level of predicted environmental suitability differed; NLDA gave lower predicted probabilities of presence than the other two methods. The variables selected as important in the models were in agreement with the existing knowledge about these species. All model predictions had a satisfactory to excellent accuracy; best accuracy was obtained with random forest. The insights obtained can be used to gain more knowledge on vector and non-vector mosquito species. The output of this type of distribution modelling methods can, for example, be used as input for epidemiological models of vector-borne diseases.

Feeding Behavior and Spatial Distribution ofCulexMosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Wetland Areas of the Czech Republic

Mosquito feeding behavior determines the degree of vector-host contact and may have a serious impact on the risk of pathogen transmission, including that of the West Nile virus (WNV). To measure the role of Culex mosquitoes as WNV vectors, host-seeking females were collected using animal-baited traps containing live birds (quail) or mammals (rabbits) and CO2-baited Center for Disease Control and Prevention traps placed in several wetland areas in the Czech Republic. Culex pipiens (L.) and Culex modestus (F.) were the most frequently collected species. Although Cx. modestus did not distinguish between baits, Cx. pipiens was collected significantly more frequently in bird-baited traps. Based on mitochondrial DNA analysis of bloodmeals from engorged females collected by CO2-baited traps situated within reed beds, a diverse group of birds were the predominant hosts (93.7%), followed by mammals (4.2%) including humans, and amphibians (2.1%). Among birds, Anseriformes were fed upon most frequently by Cx. modestus, whereas Cx. pipiens fed most frequently on Passeriformes. To measure the infection risk and confirm the distribution of mosquito species in various biotopes, transects of CO2-baited CDC traps were operated from wetland reed beds into upland vegetated areas. Even though both Culex species occurred in all biotopes sampled and frequently dispersed hundreds of meters away from fishpond shore vegetation, the spatial distribution of Cx. modestus was significantly associated with reed beds at wetlands. The first detection of WNV (subtype RabV) in Cx. modestus in Bohemia and confirmation of WNV presence in Cx. pipiens in Moravia together with observed feeding behavior supports the presumed role of both Culex species in the avian-to-avian enzootic WNV cycle and in avian-to-mammal transmission in the Czech Republic.

Mosquito distribution and West Nile virus infection in zoos and in important sites of migratory and resident birds, Thailand

ObjectiveTo investigate the distribution of mosquito species in the zoos and in important sites of migratory and resident birds and evaluate West Nile virus (WNV) infection in mosquito species. MethodsMosquitoes distribution investigation was carried out bimonthly from January 2009 to December 2010 in five areas of birds, Thailand by using Centers for Disease Control, light traps, and gravid traps. Mosquitoes were identified, pooled into groups of up to 50 mosquitoes by species, places and time of collection and tested for WNV infection by viral isolation and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. ResultsA total of 66 597 mosquitoes comprising 26 species in 8 genera were collected. The five most abundant mosquito species collected were Culex tritaeniorhynchus (79.3%), Culex vishnui (8.2%), Culex sitiens (6%), Culex quinquefasciatus (3.3%) and Anopheles peditaeniatus (1.1%). All 1 736 mosquito pools were negative for viral isolation and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. ConclusionThis study provides new information on number of mosquito species present and their relative abundance. Although our study found no evidence of WNV in the avifaunal sources of Thailand, mosquito active surveillance should be continuously conducted. The cooperation between related organizations is needed for early detection of WNV disease and development of effective veterinary and public health policies in this region.

An Update of Mosquitoes of Argentine Patagonia With New Distribution Records

The objective of this study was to update mosquito species distribution in Argentine Patagonia based on new field collections and to examine the material deposited in the La Plata Museum. Culex coronator, Cx. brethesi, and Cx. castroi represented new records for the region, increasing mosquito fauna of Patagonia to 15 species. The expansion of the geographic distribution of Cx. apicinus, Cx. articularis, and Cx. eduardoi at the province level was also provided. Current knowledge about mosquito fauna of Patagonia is restricted mainly to geographic distribution records. Further studies on the bionomic of mosquito species in Patagonian conditions are needed.

MosquitoMap and the Mal-area calculator: new web tools to relate mosquito species distribution with vector borne disease

BackgroundMosquitoes are important vectors of diseases but, in spite of various mosquito faunistic surveys globally, there is a need for a spatial online database of mosquito collection data and distribution summaries. Such a resource could provide entomologists with the results of previous mosquito surveys, and vector disease control workers, preventative medicine practitioners, and health planners with information relating mosquito distribution to vector-borne disease risk.ResultsA web application called MosquitoMap was constructed comprising mosquito collection point data stored in an ArcGIS 9.3 Server/SQL geodatabase that includes administrative area and vector species x country lookup tables. In addition to the layer containing mosquito collection points, other map layers were made available including environmental, and vector and pathogen/disease distribution layers. An application within MosquitoMap called the Mal-area calculator (MAC) was constructed to quantify the area of overlap, for any area of interest, of vector, human, and disease distribution models. Data standards for mosquito records were developed for MosquitoMap.ConclusionMosquitoMap is a public domain web resource that maps and compares georeferenced mosquito collection points to other spatial information, in a geographical information system setting. The MAC quantifies the Mal-area, i.e. the area where it is theoretically possible for vector-borne disease transmission to occur, thus providing a useful decision tool where other disease information is limited. The Mal-area approach emphasizes the independent but cumulative contribution to disease risk of the vector species predicted present. MosquitoMap adds value to, and makes accessible, the results of past collecting efforts, as well as providing a template for other arthropod spatial databases.

Spatial distribution and abundance of culicine mosquitoes in realtion to the risk of filariasis transmission in El Sharqiya Governorate, Egypt

Culicine mosquito surveys were conducted in El Sharqiya Governorate (Nov. 2007 - May 2008) in some villages (cities) representing the different districts. Totally 6 species were reported: Culex (Culex) pipiens Linnaeus, Cx. (Cx.) perexiguus Theobald, Cx. (Cx.) antennatus (Becker), Cx. (Barraudius) pusillus Macquart, Cx. (Cx.) sinaiticus Kirkpatrick and Ae. (Ochlerotatus) detritus (Haliday). The last two were identified as newly distributed species. Culex pipiens, the main filariasis vectorwas the predominant or the most common species (ca.88% larvae and 47% adults, p<0.01). For the common species, the following were examined: (1) the type and characteristics (temperature and pH) of the breeding habitats and their relation to the larval density and (2) the relation of adult indoor density and indoor and outdoor temperature and RH. The AMRAD-ICT Filariasis card Test was used to detect the Wuchereria bancrofti antigen in the Finger prick blood samples. Filariasis cases (0.4%, 11/ 2504) were detected in six out of the fifteen districts. The highest infection rate (2.4%) was reported in the 10th of Ramadan, a new settlement area. The cases were associated with the abundance of Cx. pipiens adults (ca. 40- 60% of the collected adults). Digital maps showing the spatial distribution of mosquito species and filariasis cases were generated. Such maps will provide the authorities with more information about the disease risk areas that would assist in the control activities.

Ross River Virus and Barmah Forest Virus Infections: A Review of History, Ecology, and Predictive Models, with Implications for Tropical Northern Australia

The purpose of the present article is to present a review of the Ross River virus (RRV) and Barmah Forest virus (BFV) literature in relation to potential implications for future disease in tropical northern Australia. Ross River virus infection is the most common and most widespread arboviral disease in Australia, with an average of 4,800 national notifications annually. Of recent concern is the sudden rise in BFV infections; the 2005-2006 summer marked the largest BFV epidemic on record in Australia, with 1,895 notifications. Although not life-threatening, infection with either virus can cause arthritis, myalgia, and fatigue for 6 months or longer, resulting in substantial morbidity and economic impact. The geographic distribution of mosquito species and their seasonal activity is determined in large part by temperature and rainfall. Predictive models can be useful tools in providing early warning systems for epidemics of RRV and BFV infection. Various models have been developed to predict RRV outbreaks, but these appear to be mostly only regionally valid, being dependent on local ecological factors. Difficulties have arisen in developing useful models for the tropical northern parts of Australia, and to date no models have been developed for the Northern Territory. Only one model has been developed for predicting BFV infections using climate and tide variables. It is predicted that the exacerbation of current greenhouse conditions will result in longer periods of high mosquito activity in the tropical regions where RRV and BFV are already common. In addition, the endemic locations may expand further within temperate regions, and epidemics may become more frequent in those areas. Further development of predictive models should benefit public health planning by providing early warning systems of RRV and BFV infection outbreaks in different geographical locations.

Mosquito species distribution and larval breeding habitats with taxonomic identification of Anopheline mosquitoes in Korea

AbstractIn 2005, adult and larval mosquito surveillance was conducted at selected sites in Korea to associate larval habitats with species distribution of mosquitoes of the Anopheles Hyrcanus Group (An. sinensis, An. lesteri, An. pullus, An. belenrae and An. kleini) and other mosquito species. Anopheles specimens belonging to the Anopheles Hyrcanus Group were identified to species level by molecular confirmation using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS)‐2 within nuclear ribosomal (r)DNA. A total of 6644 mosquitoes from resting and light trap collections (4451; 67.0%) and larval collections (2193; 33.0%) comprising 32 species and nine genera (Culex [11], Anopheles [8], Ochlerotatus [5], Aedes [3], Armigeres [1], Coquillettidia [1], Mansonia [1], Tripteroides [1] and Lutzia [1]) were collected. Larval habitats were characterized into 14 categories. Of a total of 4534 Anopheles spp. collected (3766 resting and light trap collections and 768 larval collections), Anopheles sinensis (3194; 70.4%) was the most frequently captured, followed by An. kleini (813; 17.9%), An. pullus (299; 6.6%) and An. belenrae (129; 2.8%). Four species of Anopheles (An. lesteri, An. sineroides, An. koreicus and An. lindesayi) were infrequently collected (&lt;3.0%) at all sites surveyed by all methods of collection. Anopheles kleini, An. pullus and An. belenrae were collected in greater proportions in malaria high‐risk areas north of Seoul, and were infrequently collected in other parts of Korea, where An. sinensis was the predominant Anopheles spp. captured. A total of 2110 culicine mosquitoes (685 adult collections and 1425 larval collections) comprising 24 species and eight genera were collected.

Notes on the Distribution of Mosquito Species That Could Potentially Transmit West Nile Virus on Vancouver Island, British Columbia

We record the spatial and temporal distribution of 8 potential vectors of West Nile virus (WNV) on Vancouver Island in 2003 and 2004. Five species were widely distributed, but the other 3 were restricted to specific larval habitats. Adults were trapped from early April to September. The findings indicate a potential for WNV transmission if the virus arrives on the island. The results extend the published range of 5 mosquito species.

Distribution of mosquito species in areas with high and low incidence of classic Kaposi’s sarcoma and seroprevalence for HHV‐8

The 'promoter-arthropod' hypothesis, which postulates that exposure to the bites of certain species of haematophagous arthropods is an environmental risk cofactor linked to human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8) and Kaposi's sarcoma, was investigated in the Po River valley, northern Italy. The presence and density of adult female mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) was determined by CDC light trap catches in two adjacent districts, at variance with respect to Kaposi's sarcoma incidence and HHV-8 seroprevalence. A total of 3910 specimens belonging to 11 species was collected in 34 rural sites (six municipalities) representative of the two districts. Five of these species are considered to be possible 'promoters' because of the irritation their bites cause humans: Aedes vexans (Meigen) and Ae. caspius (Pallas) (87% of sampled promoters), Culex modestus Ficalbi, Culiseta annulata (Schrank) and Coquillettidia richiardii (Ficalbi). Six are probable 'non-promoters': Cx. pipiens s.l., Cx. martinii Medschid, Anopheles claviger (Meigen), An. maculipennis s.l., An. plumbeus Stephens and Uranotaenia unguiculata Edwards. The density of promoters by site was correlated with the incidence rates of Kaposi's sarcoma at the district level (Pearson's r = 0.33, P = 0.06) and at the municipal level (r = 0.50, P< 0.01). Similar correlations emerged for non-promoters (r = 0.48, P< 0.01 and r = 0.42, P = 0.01, respectively). The density of promoters was higher than that of non-promoters in sites with livestock (odds ratio, OR = 2.8, 95% CI 2.2-3.6) and in municipalities with Kaposi's sarcoma cases (OR = 2.5, 95% CI 1.7-3.5). The study provides additional evidence of the association between the density of some mosquito species and Kaposi's sarcoma.

Short communication: Negative spatial association between lymphatic filariasis and malaria in West Africa

To determine the relationship between human lymphatic filariasis, caused by Wuchereria bancrofti, and falciparum malaria, which are co-endemic throughout West Africa. We used geographical information systems and spatial statistics to examine the prevalence of lymphatic filariasis in relation to malaria prevalence, mosquito species distributions, vegetation and climate. A negative spatial association between W. bancrofti and falciparum malaria prevalence exists. Interspecies competition between parasites, seasonality, differences in the distribution and vector competence of Anopheles vectors, agricultural practices and insecticide resistance may be factors driving current (and potentially future) spatial distributions. Further investigating these factors will become crucial as large-scale lymphatic filariasis and malaria control programmes are implemented in West Africa that may influence the epidemiology of both diseases.