Mosquito Survey Research Articles

Key breeding sites of Aedes mosquitoes in Huaylau village, Pakse city, Champasack province, Lao People Democratic Republic 2019

Objectives: The elimination of key breeding sites of dengue vector is applied worldwide to control the vector density under the critical epidemic threshold. This study aimed to identify key breeding sites of Aedes mosquitos and associated factors in Huaylau village, Pakse city, Champasack province in Laos in 2019. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, combining of immature stage survey of Aedes mosquitoes in all water and discarded containers and the community’s knowledge and practices on the prevention of dengue fever in all 240 households in Huaylau village. Multivariate logistic regression was applied to identify factors associated with the absence of Aedes larvae and pupae in the village. Statistical significance was set at a p-value less than 0.05. Results: Among the 720 water and discarded containers surveyed, the study found 654 Aedes larvae and pupae; of which 94.6% were immature Aedes aegypti. Key breeding sites of Aedes aegypti included water jars (34.2%), plastic drums (30.7%), tanks < 500 litter (14.7%), and discarded containers (12.6%), while that of all Aedes albopictus was discarded containers. The community’s better practices on the prevention of dengue fever contributed to the increased odds of the absence of Aedes larvae ad pupae by 1.612 (95%CI: 1.218-2.134, p<0.01), and the cleanliness of the house were associated with the increased odds of 4.072 of the absent Aedes larvae and pupae in the participated households (95%CI: 1.589-10.434, p<0.01). Conclusions: Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in the Huaylau village laid their eggs in various breeding sites, including water containers and discarded containers while discarded containers were the only key breeding site of Aedes albopictus. Better practices on dengue prevention and better hygiene conditions of the houses contributed to the absence of Aedes larvae and pupae. Special attention should be paid to the clearance of all discarded containers and education of the community people to cover water containers in the village. Keywords: key breeding sites, Aedes, mosquito, pupae, larvae, Champasack province, Lao PDR

Social and environmental risk factors for dengue in Delhi city: A retrospective study.

Global urbanization is leading to an inexorable spread of several major diseases that need to be stemmed. Dengue is one of these major diseases spreading in cities today, with its principal mosquito vector superbly adapted to the urban environment. Current mosquito control strategies are proving inadequate, especially in the face of such urbanisation and novel, evidence-based targeted approaches are needed. Through combined epidemiological and entomological approaches, we aimed to identify a novel sanitation strategy to alleviate the burden of dengue through how the dengue virus spreads through the community. We combined surveillance case mapping, prospective serological studies, year-round mosquito surveys, socio-economic and Knowledge Attitudes and Practices surveys across Delhi. We identified lack of access to tap water (≤98%) as an important risk factor for dengue virus IgG sero-positivity (adjusted Odds Ratio 4.69, 95% C.I. 2.06–10.67) and not poverty per se. Wealthier districts had a higher dengue burden despite lower mosquito densities than the Intermediary income communities (adjusted Odds Ratio 2.92, 95% C.I. 1.26–6.72). This probably reflects dengue being introduced by people travelling from poorer areas to work in wealthier houses. These poorer, high density areas, where temperatures are also warmer, also had dengue cases during the winter. Control strategies based on improved access to a reliable supply of tap water plus focal intervention in intra-urban heat islands prior to the dengue season could not only lead to a reduction in mosquito abundance but also eliminate the reservoir of dengue virus clearly circulating at low levels in winter in socio-economically disadvantaged areas.

Another dengue fever outbreak in Eastern Ethiopia-An emerging public health threat.

Dengue Fever (DF) is a viral disease primarily transmitted by Aedes (Ae.) aegypti mosquitoes. Outbreaks in Eastern Ethiopia were reported during 2014-2016. In May 2017, we investigated the first suspected DF outbreak from Kabridahar Town, Somali region (Eastern Ethiopia) to describe its magnitude, assess risk factors, and implement control measures. Suspected DF cases were defined as acute febrile illness plus ≥2 symptoms (headache, fever, retro-orbital pain, myalgia, arthralgia, rash, or hemorrhage) in Kabridahar District residents. All reported cases were identified through medical record review and active searches. Severe dengue was defined as DF with severe organ impairment, severe hemorrhage, or severe plasma leakage. We conducted a neighborhood-matched case-control study using a subset of suspected cases and conveniently-selected asymptomatic community controls and interviewed participants to collect demographic and risk factor data. We tested sera by RT-PCR to detect dengue virus (DENV) and identify serotypes. Entomologists conducted mosquito surveys at community households to identify species and estimate larval density using the house index (HI), container index (CI) and Breteau index (BI), with BI≥20 indicating high density. We identified 101 total cases from May 12-31, 2017, including five with severe dengue (one death). The attack rate (AR) was 17/10,000. Of 21 tested samples, 15 (72%) were DENV serotype 2 (DENV 2). In the case-control study with 50 cases and 100 controls, a lack of formal education (AOR [Adjusted Odds Ratio] = 4.2, 95% CI [Confidence Interval] 1.6-11.2) and open water containers near the home (AOR = 3.0, 95% CI 1.2-7.5) were risk factors, while long-lasting insecticide treated-net (LLITN) usage (AOR = 0.21, 95% CI 0.05-0.79) was protective. HI and BI were 66/136 (49%) and 147 per 100 homes (147%) respectively, with 151/167 (90%) adult mosquitoes identified as Ae. aegypti. The epidemiologic, entomologic, and laboratory investigation confirmed a DF outbreak. Mosquito indices were far above safe thresholds, indicating inadequate vector control. We recommended improved vector surveillance and control programs, including best practices in preserving water and disposal of open containers to reduce Aedes mosquito density.

Mosquito diversity (Diptera: Culicidae) of Baddi, Himachal Pradesh and surrounding areas

During mosquito larval surveys as many as 42 mosquito species belonging to 11 genera belonging to 2 subfamilies of family Culicidae were collected from Baddi and adjoining areas. A list of these species along with collection site and date of collection has been provided in this article. 18 species have been reported for the first time from Himachal Pradesh.

A Survey of Container Breeding Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) at Residential Areas in Kuching and Samarahan Divisions, Sarawak.

An investigation of mosquito larvae breeding in containers was conducted at residential areas in Kuching and Samarahan Divisions in Sarawak during the dry season from June to August 2018. Sampling was carried out by dipping with a pipette and dipper depending on the container types. Seven breeding containers, namely plastic container, plastic pail, bottle, coconut shell, tin can, aluminium bowl and plastic bowl were sampled within the residential areas. Ambient temperature and relative humidity of the breeding sites were recorded during each visit. A total of ten species comprising 7,356 mosquito larvae were collected. Aedes albopictus was the most common with 2,712 individuals collected in the Kuching Division. In Samarahan Division, a total of seven species comprising of 5,801 mosquito larvae were collected and Culex quinquefasciatus had the highest number with 2,689 individuals. Among all the containers, coconut shells were the preferred container for breeding and most commonly use by the mosquitoes. To control the number of mosquitoes, it is necessary to eliminate artificial and natural containers or breeding habitats in and around residential areas. Aedes aegypti larvae were not found in the present survey.

Effects of seasonality and land use on the diversity, relative abundance, and distribution of mosquitoes on St. Kitts, West Indies

BackgroundMosquito surveys that collect local data on mosquito species’ abundances provide baseline data to help understand potential host-pathogen-mosquito relationships, predict disease transmission, and target mosquito control efforts.MethodsWe conducted an adult mosquito survey from November 2017 to March 2019 on St. Kitts, using Biogents Sentinel 2 traps, set monthly and run for 48-h intervals. We collected mosquitoes from a total of 30 sites distributed across agricultural, mangrove, rainforest, scrub and urban land covers. We investigated spatial variation in mosquito species richness across the island using a hierarchical Bayesian multi-species occupancy model. We developed a mixed effects negative binomial regression model to predict the effects of spatial variation in land cover, and seasonal variation in precipitation on observed counts of the most abundant mosquito species observed.ResultsThere was high variation among sites in mosquito community structure, and variation in site level richness that correlated with scrub forest, agricultural, and urban land covers. The four most abundant species were Aedes taeniorhynchus, Culex quinquefasciatus, Aedes aegpyti and Deinocerites magnus, and their relative abundance varied with season and land cover. Aedes aegypti was the most commonly occurring mosquito on the island, with a 90% probability of occurring at between 24 and 30 (median = 26) sites. Mangroves yielded the most mosquitoes, with Ae. taeniorhynchus, Cx. quinquefasciatus and De. magnus predominating. Psorophora pygmaea and Toxorhynchites guadeloupensis were only captured in scrub habitat. Capture rates in rainforests were low. Our count models also suggested the extent to which monthly average precipitation influenced counts varied according to species.ConclusionsThere is high seasonality in mosquito abundances, and land cover influences the diversity, distribution, and relative abundance of species on St. Kitts. Further, human-adapted mosquito species (e.g. Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus) that are known vectors for many human relevant pathogens (e.g. chikungunya, dengue and Zika viruses in the case of Ae. aegypti; West Nile, Spondweni, Oropouche virus, and equine encephalitic viruses in the case of Cx. quinqefasciatus) are the most wide-spread (across land covers) and the least responsive to seasonal variation in precipitation.

A survey of tire-breeding mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Dominican Republic: Considerations about a pressing issue.

Introduction: Discarded vehicle tires represent a serious threat both to the environment and to public health as they have the potential to harbor important mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) vectors.Objective: To assess the importance of used vehicle tires as larval habitats for mosquito fauna that colonize these artificial reservoirs in Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic.Materials and methods: Used tires were sampled with pipettes at specialized tire fitting shops and scattered stockpiles of tires between June and August, 2018.Results: We sampled 396 tires; 57 (Container Index=14.4%) were positive for immature stages and contained 2,400 specimens, 11 species, and four genera (Anopheles, Aedes, Culex, and Toxorhynchites). The most abundant species was Aedes albopictus (42.3%) followed by Aedes aegypti (34.3%), and Culex quinquefasciatus (14.0%) while other species (9.4%) were less abundant. The container index varied significantly among the different tire sizes (x2=13.4; p≤0.05). The highest infestation levels were found in the largest tires. A low positive correlation (r=0.38, n=396; p≤0.001) between the tire size and the prevalence of immature stages was recorded. The presence of organic matter had an overall positive effect on the infestation levels (U=11,430.0; p≤0.001).Conclusions: These rubber residues, usually located nearby human populations, represent suitable breeding sites for arboviruses vectors such as dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and West Nile.

Ecological Survey of Man-Biting Mosquitoes in Nnewi Metropolis South-East Nigeria

The survey on the ecology of man-biting mosquitoes in Nnewi was undertaken between April and June 2019. Larval stages of mosquitoes were sampled from gutters, used discarded tyres, plastic containers, water pots, clean ground water pools, plantain and banana plants axils and dirty ground water pools using ladle, sieves and bowels. Indoor biting and resting mosquitoes were collected using pyrethrum knockdown collection method (PKC) while outdoor biting mosquitoes were collected using human being volunteer as baits and collectors. Two hundred and two (202) mosquitoes comprising of four mosquito speciesnamely; Aedesaegypt36(17.8%), Culexquinquefasciatus 43 (21.3%), Culextrigripes 16 (7.9%) andAedesalbopictus 107 (53.0%) was the highest larva to be collected. A total of sixty-eight (68) mosquitoes collected as adult made up of two speciesCulexquinquefasciatus 64 (94.1%) and Anopheles gambiae 4 (5.9%) were collected indoors. Culexquinquefasciatus 64 (94.1%) constituted the highest percentage of indoor biting and resting mosquito species. One hundred and fifty-two (152) mosquitoes comprising of four species; Aedesaegypti 51(33.6%), Aedesalbopictus 96 (63.2%), Aedesleuteocephalus 2 (1.3%) and Culexquinquefasciatus 3 (2.0%) were collected as outdoor biting mosquitoes. Aedesaegyptiwas the commonest outdoor biting mosquitoes in the community. One hundred and forty-three (143) mosquitoes were collected with ovitrap, Aedesalbopictus (41.9%), Eretmapoditeschyrysogaster 2(1.4%) and Aedeaegypti81(56,6%) been the highest collected.

Survey of Mosquitoes in Students Hostels of Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Ombugadu A1*, Maikenti JI1, Maro SA1, Vincent SO1, Polycarp IA1, Pam VA1, Samuel MD1, Njila HL2, Pam DD3, Deme GC4, Adejoh VA1, Echor BO2, Attah AS1, Igboanugo SI5, Yina GI3, Ahmed HO1, Aimankhu OP1, Luka J5, Ayuba SO1, Aliyu AA1, Anyim JO1, Micah EM1, Lapang MP3, Luka I3, Mamot LP3, Mafuyai MJ6, Nkup CD7, Angbalaga GA8, Uzoigwe NR1 and Mwansat GS3 Author Affiliations 1Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Nasarawa State, Nigeria 2Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Plateau State, Nigeria 3Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Plateau State, Nigeria 4State Key Laboratory of Ecology and Conservation, Beijing, China 5Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Keffi, Nigeria 6Department of Pest Management Technology, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria 7Department of Biology, College of Arts, Science and Technology, Plateau State, Nigeria 8Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Nasarawa State, Nigeria Received: June 27, 2020 | Published: July 07, 2020 Corresponding author: Ombugadu A, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2020.28.004691

Deconstructing the Impact of Malaria Vector Diversity on Disease Risk.

AbstractRecent years have seen significant progress in understanding the impact of host community assemblage on disease risk, yet diversity in disease vectors has rarely been investigated. Using published malaria and mosquito surveys from Kenya, we analyzed the relationship between malaria prevalence and multiple axes of mosquito diversity: abundance, species richness, and composition. We found a net amplification of malaria prevalence by vector species richness, a result of a strong direct positive association between richness and prevalence alongside a weak indirect negative association between the two, mediated through mosquito community composition. One plausible explanation of these patterns is species niche complementarity, whereby less competent vector species contribute to disease transmission by filling spatial or temporal gaps in transmission left by dominant vectors. A greater understanding of vector community assemblage and function, as well as any interactions between host and vector biodiversity, could offer insights to both fundamental and applied ecology.

Malaria Vectors and Vector Surveillance in Limpopo Province (South Africa): 1927 to 2018.

Despite the annual implementation of a robust and extensive indoor residual spraying programme against malaria vectors in Limpopo Province (South Africa), significant transmission continues and is a serious impediment to South Africa’s malaria elimination objectives. In order to gain a better understanding regarding possible causes of this residual malaria, we conducted a literature review of the historical species composition and abundance of malaria vector mosquitoes in the Limpopo River Valley region of the Vhembe District, northern Limpopo Province, the region with the highest remaining annual malaria cases in South Africa. In addition, mosquito surveys were carried out in the same region between October 2017 and October 2018. A total of 2225 adult mosquitoes were collected using CO2-baited tent and light traps, human landing catches and cow-baited traps. Of the 1443 Anopheles collected, 516 were members of the An. gambiae complex and 511 An. funestus group. In the malaria endemic rural areas outside the Kruger National Park, one specimen each of An. gambiae s.s. and An. funestus and only three of An. arabiensis were collected. The latter species was abundant at a remote hot spring in the neighboring Kruger National Park. Eighteen other species of Anopheles were collected. Our survey results support the historical findings that An. arabiensis, the species widely held to be the prime malaria vector in South Africa, is a rare species in the malaria endemic Limpopo River Valley. The implications of the mosquito surveys for malaria transmission, elimination and vector control in northern Limpopo Province and neighboring regions are discussed.

Taxonomy, ecology and distribution of the mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) of the Dutch Leeward Islands, with a key to the adults and fourth instar larvae

Assessing mosquito biodiversity is important for disease surveillance and ecosystem health assessments. Such studies are particularly needed in regions like the Caribbean, which have experienced a series of recent mosquito borne disease outbreaks but received little attention regarding its invertebrate biodiversity. Here, we report on results from a mosquito survey on the Dutch Leeward Islands (Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten and Saba), carried out in April and October 2018, which is the first integrative survey since those conducted by Van der Kuyp (1947) and Wagenaar Hummelinck (1949). Moreover, we present a novel key for adults and fourth instar larvae of the mosquitoes of the Dutch Leeward Islands. Overall, eleven species were recorded, eight on Sint Maarten, five on Saba and two on Sint Eustatius. Two new potential disease vectors, Culex nigripalpus and Aedes taeniorhynchus, were recorded on Sint Maarten. One previously recorded species, Cx. habilitator, was not retrieved from any of the islands, which is further discussed in the paper. Species indicative of natural forest which previously occurred on all three islands were absent from Sint Eustatius and Sint Maarten but still present on Saba. In contrast, species indicative of human inhabitation, Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus, were highly abundant on Sint Maarten and Sint Eustatius and present in low numbers on Saba. Overall, the results of this study emphasize the importance of biodiversity surveys and indicate that frequent mosquito inventories may contribute to a better understanding of mosquito community composition and distribution of potential vector species.

Abundance and Updated Distribution of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) in Cabo Verde Archipelago: A Neglected Threat to Public Health.

Background: Mosquito-borne viruses, such as Zika, dengue, yellow fever, and chikungunya, are important causes of human diseases nearly worldwide. The greatest health risk for arboviral disease outbreaks is the presence of the most competent and highly invasive domestic mosquito, Aedes aegypti. In Cabo Verde, two recent arbovirus outbreaks were reported, a dengue outbreak in 2009, followed by a Zika outbreak in 2015. This study is the first entomological survey for Ae. aegypti that includes all islands of Cabo Verde archipelago, in which we aim to evaluate the actual risk of vector-borne arboviruses as a continuous update of the geographical distribution of this species. Methods: In order to assess its current distribution and abundance, we undertook a mosquito larval survey in the nine inhabited islands of Cabo Verde from November 2018 to May 2019. Entomological larval survey indices were calculated, and the abundance analyzed. We collected and identified 4045 Ae. aegypti mosquitoes from 264 positive breeding sites in 22 municipalities and confirmed the presence of Ae. aegypti in every inhabited island. Results: Water drums were found to be the most prevalent containers (n = 3843; 62.9%), but puddles (n = 27; 0.4%) were the most productive habitats found. The overall average of the House, Container, and Breteau larval indices were 8.4%, 4.4%, and 10.9, respectively. However, 15 out of the 22 municipalities showed that the Breteau Index was above the epidemic risk threshold. Conclusion: These results suggest that if no vector control measures are considered to be in place, the risk of new arboviral outbreaks in Cabo Verde is high. The vector control strategy adopted must include measures of public health directed to domestic water storage and management.

Spatial\u2013temporal distribution of Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti and locations of recycling units in southeastern Brazil

BackgroundDengue is an arbovirus disease that threatens approximately 200 million people annually worldwide. Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) is anthropophilic mosquito, extremely well adapted to the urban environment and utilizes varied habitats for egg-laying and development. This study analysed the distribution of mosquito larvae and eggs in urban area of Santa Bárbara dʼOeste, São Paulo, Brazil. The spatial correlation between locations in which people store recyclable materials and the distribution of larvae and eggs were verified.MethodsLarvae and ovitrap egg collections were conducted from 2014 to 2016. All persons who stored recyclable materials for living were registered and georeferenced. The Mann-Kendall test was used to verify spatial and temporal trends in the number of eggs and larvae/pupae. Euclidian distance map was constructed to correlate recyclable collectors and Ae. aegypti, and Moranʼs index was employed to verify their spatial autocorrelation and identification of groupings.ResultsA total of 137,825 eggs and 16,393 larvae were collected in different habitats from 2014 to 2016. The analyses showed that there was a spatial correlation between larvae and eggs collected, and these two kinds of surveys also presented a spatial correlation with the handling of recyclable materials. The results of the analyses showed significant spatial correlations between eggs and recyclable material collectors and between larvae and collectors.ConclusionThe entomological surveillance conducted using ovitraps as a proxy for the presence of Ae. aegypti is an efficient and sensitive method for monitoring the presence of mosquitoes and the impact of interventions employed for decreasing vector populations. Mosquito surveys employing ovitraps should be used more often in routine activities aiming to control dengue through vector control interventions. The locations used to store recyclable materials have a significant relationship with the maintenance of the dengue virus infection in the area. Further studies will be needed to analyse the contribution of recyclable locations, for which there is no ideal infrastructure to minimize the potential use of these materials as mosquito habitats. The entomological surveillance focused on locations of recyclable materials involving interventions that are different from those commonly used in Ae. aegypti control.

Urbanization creates diverse aquatic habitats for immature mosquitoes in urban areas

Global increases in temperatures and urbanization are impacting the epidemiology of mosquito-borne diseases. Urbanization processes create suitable habitats for vector mosquitoes in which there are a reduced number of predators, and human hosts are widely available. We hypothesize that mosquito vector species, especially Aedes aegypti, are locally concentrated primarily in those specific habitats at the neighborhood levels that provide suitable conditions and environmental resources needed for mosquito survival. Determining how mosquito vector species composition and abundance depend on environmental resources across habitats addresses where different types of vector control need to be applied. Therefore, our goal was to analyze and identify the most productive aquatic habitats for mosquitoes in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Immature mosquito surveys were conducted throughout Miami-Dade County from April 2018 to June 2019, totaling 2,488 inspections. Mosquitoes were collected in 76 different types of aquatic habitats scattered throughout 141 neighborhoods located in the urbanized areas of Miami-Dade County. A total of 44,599 immature mosquitoes were collected and Ae. aegypti was the most common and abundant species, comprising 43% of all specimens collected. Aedes aegypti was primarily found in buckets, bromeliads, and flower pots, concentrated in specific neighborhoods. Our results showed that aquatic habitats created by anthropogenic land-use modifications (e.g., ornamental bromeliads, buckets, etc.) were positively correlated with the abundance of Ae. aegypti. This study serves to identify how vector mosquitoes utilize the resources available in urban environments and to determine the exact role of these specific urban features in supporting populations of vector mosquito species. Ultimately, the identification of modifiable urban features will allow the development of targeted mosquito control strategies optimized to preventatively control vector mosquitoes in urban areas.

Tiger in the sun: A report of Aedes albopictus in Jamaica

This report describes the presence of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) in Jamaica. The adults were found while conducting an ongoing survey of mosquitoes on the island. Specimens were collected using a combination of modified Center for Disease Control (CDC) miniature light traps and BG sentinel traps. A total of six adult female Ae. albopictus mosquitoes were collected at two different locations in October of 2018. This finding increases the number of Aedes mosquito species on the island bringing with it public health implications.

Characteristics of water containers influencing the presence ofAedesimmatures in an ecotourism area of Bang Kachao Riverbend, Thailand

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of breeding containers on the production ofAedesmosquitoes after a vector-control program in households that might support dengue transmission in tourist attraction areas of Bang Kachao Riverbend, Thailand.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional study was conducted in an ecotourism area of Bang Kachao Riverbend, Thailand, during the period October 2016 to September 2017. A total of 832 households from five villages participated in the study. Data collection employed an interview questionnaire, larval mosquito survey and measurements of the chemical properties of the water in each container. A binary logistic regression model was used to investigate the characteristics of water containers influencing the presence or absence ofAedesimmatures.FindingsThe study found that water containers located inside households had a highly presence ofAedesimmatures (2.22 times) compared with outdoor containers. Water containers without lids and water containers with ineffective had a high presence ofAedesimmatures (3.69 and 2.54 times, respectively). In addition, the chemical properties of the water inside the containers, such as pH, influenced the presence ofAedesimmatures (1.76 times) (OR=1.76, 95% CI=1.59–1.96).Originality/valueThe study results emphasized the characteristics of water containers in households located in a tourist attraction area. The findings may inform public health vector-control messages for households located in the tourist attraction area.

Community structure of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in the coast of Southern Brazil

AbstractConsidering the importance of Culicidae species to public health, this study aimed to update and provide better understanding of the mosquito fauna in an Atlantic Forest preservation area in Paranaguá, Paraná State, Southern Brazil. This was achieved via a mosquito survey with a subsequent analysis of the impact of abiotic factors on the composition of the mosquito community. A total of 1641 culicid specimens of 42 species and 10 genera were identified. The most abundant taxa were Aedes serratus/nubilus, Psorophora ferox and Anopheles cruzii, the latter being the main vector of malaria in the Atlantic Forest. Culex abonnenci, a species that had not yet been recorded in Paraná State, was also identified. Rainfall and temperature were found to have a high influence on some species, such as Aedes hortator, Ps. ferox and An. cruzii. This study demonstrates that performing new studies in already researched regions is relevant, as new species may be recorded. In addition, analysing the effects of abiotic factors on mosquito species is important to understand how climate change influences the composition of species in certain areas and therefore impacts the dynamics of diseases propagated by insect vectors.

Dominance of the tiger: The displacement of Aedes aegypti by Aedes albopictus in parts of the Torres Strait, Australia

Most of the inhabited islands in the Torres Strait region of Australia have experienced dengue outbreaks transmitted by Aedes aegypti at various times since at least the 1890s. However, another potential dengue vector, Aedes albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito, was detected for the first time in 2005 and it expanded across most of the Torres Strait within a few years. In 2016, a survey of container-inhabiting mosquitoes was conducted in all island communities and Ae. aegypti was undetectable on most of the islands which the species had previously occupied, and had been replaced by Ae. albopictus. It is suspected that competitive displacement was responsible for the changes in species distribution. Aedes aegypti was only detected on Boigu Island and Thursday Island. Recent dengue outbreaks in the Torres Strait have apparently been driven by both Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti. The findings have major implications on management of dengue outbreaks in the region.

Mosquito biodiversity and mosquito-borne viruses in the United Arab Emirates

BackgroundIn the last 50 years, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has experienced rapid population growth and urbanization. Urbanization is known to influence biodiversity, and there appears to be a link between the emergence of arboviruses and urban growth. Very little is known about the UAE mosquito species richness and dominant vectors. We performed a mosquito survey comparing peri-urban sites in Dubai and Al Ain to a protected, natural site in Fujairah emirate. We measured mosquito biodiversity and species composition, and screened mosquito pools for common arboviruses to measure arbovirus activity in the region.ResultsWe report ten species of mosquitoes from the UAE, with highest species diversity in the natural site, a protected wadi near the eastern coast. The predominant mosquito was Culex perexiguus, and was associated with peri-urban habitats. The site with lowest mosquito species diversity but relatively high species richness was the peri-urban site of Al Ain Zoo, where we identified Bagaza virus and Barkedji virus, two flaviviruses, in pools of Cx. perexiguus.ConclusionsDecreased mosquito biodiversity was associated with increased levels of urbanization. The predominance of two species at peri-urban sites was related to the availability of their larval habitats. Arboviruses were associated with the presence of a single predominant mosquito species, Cx. perexiguus.