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Taheri S, González MA, Ruiz-López MJ, Soriguer R, Figuerola J. Patterns of West Nile virus vector co-occurrence and spatial overlap with human cases across Europe. One Health 2025; 20:101041. [PMID: 40321629 PMCID: PMC12047587 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2025.101041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2025] [Revised: 04/07/2025] [Accepted: 04/15/2025] [Indexed: 05/08/2025] Open
Abstract
Its geographic range expansion and rising incidence make West Nile Virus (WNV) a major public health challenge in Europe. Although numerous studies have investigated geographic variation in WNV incidence in humans or equines, most have focused on climate and land-use factors; however, the implications of vector co-occurrence and niche overlap remain largely unexplored. Identifying areas where highly competent vectors overlap with favourable environmental conditions is crucial for determining areas at risk for future WNV outbreaks. We analysed the distribution and habitat suitability of four Culex mosquito vectors across Europe using an ensemble of six modelling techniques and relevant environmental variables. We generated probability maps, converted them into binary distribution maps through threshold-based methods, and weighted them by WNV vector competence to identify hotspots of vector co-occurrence and human cases. Our findings indicate that WNV vectors are unevenly distributed across Europe, with southern regions emerging as hotspots, particularly due to the presence of highly competent vectors such as Culex univittatus s.l., Culex modestus, and Culex pipiens. The overlap of Cx. modestus, Cx. torrentium, and Cx. pipiens in central, western, and eastern Europe indicates that competent WNV vectors are present in nearly all European regions. Among the environmental factors analysed, mean winter temperatures were the most influential, suggesting that mild winters could increase the distribution of WNV competent vectors. Our results also revealed a strong spatial overlap between hotspots of human WNV cases and vector co-occurrence, highlighting regions of elevated transmission risk. The high-risk hotspots identified in this large-scale study can guide local surveillance efforts and optimize resource allocation, ultimately enhancing the effectiveness of WNV surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shirin Taheri
- Departamento de Biología de la Conservación y Cambio Global, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD), CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
- CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mikel Alexander González
- Departamento de Biología de la Conservación y Cambio Global, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD), CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
- CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - María José Ruiz-López
- Departamento de Biología de la Conservación y Cambio Global, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD), CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
- CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ramón Soriguer
- Departamento de Biología de la Conservación y Cambio Global, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD), CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
- CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi Figuerola
- Departamento de Biología de la Conservación y Cambio Global, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD), CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
- CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
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Hesson JC, Haba Y, McBride CS, Sheerin E, Mathers TC, Paulini M, Pointon DLB, Torrance JW, Sadasivan Baby C, Wood JMD, McCarthy SA, Lawniczak MKN, Makunin A. A chromosomal reference genome sequence for the northern house mosquito, Culex pipiens form pipiens, Linnaeus, 1758. Wellcome Open Res 2025; 10:107. [PMID: 40115327 PMCID: PMC11923538 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.23767.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/11/2025] [Indexed: 03/23/2025] Open
Abstract
We present a genome assembly from an individual female Culex pipiens sensu stricto (the northern house mosquito; Arthropoda; Insecta; Diptera; Culicidae), from a wild population in Sweden. The genome sequence is 533 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into three chromosomal pseudomolecules. The complete mitochondrial genome was also assembled and is 15.6 kilobases in length.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny C Hesson
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Biologisk Myggkontroll, Nedre Dalälvens Utvecklings AB, Gysinge, Sweden
| | - Yuki Haba
- Princeton University Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
- Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Carolyn S McBride
- Princeton University Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Edel Sheerin
- Tree of Life, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, England, UK
| | | | - Michael Paulini
- Tree of Life, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, England, UK
| | | | | | | | | | - Shane A McCarthy
- Tree of Life, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, England, UK
- University of Cambridge Department of Genetics, Cambridge, England, UK
| | | | - Alex Makunin
- Tree of Life, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, England, UK
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3
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Romiti F, Casini R, Del Lesto I, Magliano A, Ermenegildi A, Droghei S, Tofani S, Scicluna MT, Pichler V, Augello A, Censi F, Scaringella PL, Mastrobuoni G, Bacciotti D, Nencetti A, De Liberato C. Characterization of overwintering sites (hibernacula) of the West Nile vector Culex pipiens in Central Italy. Parasit Vectors 2025; 18:74. [PMID: 39994677 PMCID: PMC11852880 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-025-06710-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2025] [Indexed: 02/26/2025] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In cool-temperate regions, mosquitoes face winter conditions that hinder their development. To cope with cold temperatures, species like Culex pipiens, a major vector of West Nile virus (WNV), diapause as adult females in overwintering shelters known as hibernacula. This study aimed to identify and characterize the overwintering sites of Cx. pipiens in central Italy, analyzing the environmental factors influencing the abundance of the two biological forms, Cx. pipiens pipiens and Cx. pipiens molestus. METHODS Field surveys were conducted in Lazio and Tuscany over two consecutive winters (2022/2023 and 2023/2024). Overwintering mosquitoes were collected from different hibernacula types, including natural caves, artificial cavities and buildings. Environmental variables such as temperature, humidity, light intensity and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) were recorded in the entrance and inner rooms of each hibernaculum. Mosquito species and Cx. pipiens forms were identified through morphological and molecular analyses. A beta regression model was applied to assess the relationship between environmental factors and Cx. pipiens abundance. Redundancy analysis (RDA) was used to explore the impact of small- and landscape-scale variables on biological forms distribution. RESULTS Culex pipiens presence was confirmed in 24 hibernacula and represented the most abundant species, with Anopheles maculipennis s.l., Culiseta annulata and Culex hortensis accounting for 0.4% of the collected individuals. Comparing the entrance and inner rooms, a higher abundance of Cx. pipiens s.s. was observed in the darker environments, characterized by a humidity of 50-75%, a temperature of 10-20 °C and a VPD of 0.3-0.8 kPa. Inside the inner rooms, Cx. pipiens females preferred lower temperatures, light intensity and humidity, combined with higher VPD. The RDA highlighted that Cx. pipiens pipiens was associated with low temperatures and VPD and high humidity levels, preferring semi-natural areas. Culex pipiens molestus was positively associated with artificial areas. Hybrids were observed in several types of hibernacula. CONCLUSIONS This study provides insights into the overwintering ecology of Cx. pipiens in southern Europe, highlighting the environmental factors driving its abundance. These results may inform future vector control strategies aimed at reducing mosquito populations and limiting WNV diffusion in temperate regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Romiti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio E Della Toscana "M. Aleandri", Rome, Italy
| | - Riccardo Casini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio E Della Toscana "M. Aleandri", Rome, Italy
| | - Irene Del Lesto
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio E Della Toscana "M. Aleandri", Rome, Italy
| | - Adele Magliano
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio E Della Toscana "M. Aleandri", Rome, Italy
| | - Arianna Ermenegildi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio E Della Toscana "M. Aleandri", Rome, Italy
| | - Sarah Droghei
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio E Della Toscana "M. Aleandri", Rome, Italy.
| | - Silvia Tofani
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio E Della Toscana "M. Aleandri", Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Scicluna
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio E Della Toscana "M. Aleandri", Rome, Italy
| | - Verena Pichler
- UniCamillus - Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences, Rome, Italy
- Dipartimento Di Sanità Pubblica E Malattie Infettive, Università Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Adriana Augello
- Dipartimento Di Sanità Pubblica E Malattie Infettive, Università Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Censi
- ASL Latina, Sanità Animale E Igiene Degli Allevamenti, Aprilia, Italy
| | - Paolo Luigi Scaringella
- Soprintendenza Archeologica, Belle Arti e Paesaggio Per Le Province Di Frosinone, Latina e Rieti, Ufficio Territoriale Di Cassino, Cassino, Italy
| | | | - Debora Bacciotti
- USL Toscana Centro - Dipartimento Della Prevenzione, Florence, Italy
| | - Alberto Nencetti
- USL Toscana Centro - Dipartimento Della Prevenzione, Florence, Italy
| | - Claudio De Liberato
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio E Della Toscana "M. Aleandri", Rome, Italy
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Haba Y, Aardema ML, Afonso MO, Agramonte NM, Albright J, Alho AM, Almeida AP, Alout H, Alten B, Altinli M, Amara Korba R, Andreadis SS, Anghel V, Arich S, Arsenault-Benoit A, Atyame C, Aubry F, Avila FW, Ayala D, Azrag RS, Babayan L, Bear A, Becker N, Bega AG, Bejarano S, Ben-Avi I, Benoit JB, Boubidi SC, Bradshaw WE, Bravo-Barriga D, Bueno-Marí R, Bušić N, Čabanová V, Cabeje B, Caputo B, Cardo MV, Carpenter S, Carreton E, Chouaïbou MS, Christian M, Coetzee M, Conner WR, Cornel A, Culverwell CL, Cupina AI, De Wolf K, Deblauwe I, Deegan B, Delacour-Estrella S, Torre AD, Diaz D, Dool SE, dos Anjos VL, Dugassa S, Ebrahimi B, Eisa SY, Elissa N, Fallatah SA, Faraji A, Fedorova MV, Ferrill E, Fonseca DM, Foss KA, Foxi C, França CM, Fricker SR, Fritz ML, Frontera E, Fuehrer HP, Futami K, Ghallab EH, Girod R, Gordeev MI, Greer D, Gschwind M, Guarido MM, Guat Ney T, Gunay F, Haklay E, Hamad AA, Hang J, Hardy CM, Hartle JW, Hesson JC, Higa Y, Holzapfel CM, Honnen AC, Ionica AM, Jones L, Kadriaj P, Kamal HA, Kamdem C, Karagodin DA, Kasai S, Kavran M, Khater EI, Kiene F, Kim HC, Kioulos I, Klein A, et alHaba Y, Aardema ML, Afonso MO, Agramonte NM, Albright J, Alho AM, Almeida AP, Alout H, Alten B, Altinli M, Amara Korba R, Andreadis SS, Anghel V, Arich S, Arsenault-Benoit A, Atyame C, Aubry F, Avila FW, Ayala D, Azrag RS, Babayan L, Bear A, Becker N, Bega AG, Bejarano S, Ben-Avi I, Benoit JB, Boubidi SC, Bradshaw WE, Bravo-Barriga D, Bueno-Marí R, Bušić N, Čabanová V, Cabeje B, Caputo B, Cardo MV, Carpenter S, Carreton E, Chouaïbou MS, Christian M, Coetzee M, Conner WR, Cornel A, Culverwell CL, Cupina AI, De Wolf K, Deblauwe I, Deegan B, Delacour-Estrella S, Torre AD, Diaz D, Dool SE, dos Anjos VL, Dugassa S, Ebrahimi B, Eisa SY, Elissa N, Fallatah SA, Faraji A, Fedorova MV, Ferrill E, Fonseca DM, Foss KA, Foxi C, França CM, Fricker SR, Fritz ML, Frontera E, Fuehrer HP, Futami K, Ghallab EH, Girod R, Gordeev MI, Greer D, Gschwind M, Guarido MM, Guat Ney T, Gunay F, Haklay E, Hamad AA, Hang J, Hardy CM, Hartle JW, Hesson JC, Higa Y, Holzapfel CM, Honnen AC, Ionica AM, Jones L, Kadriaj P, Kamal HA, Kamdem C, Karagodin DA, Kasai S, Kavran M, Khater EI, Kiene F, Kim HC, Kioulos I, Klein A, Klemenčić M, Klobučar A, Knutson E, Koenraadt CJ, Kothera L, Kreienbühl P, Labbé P, Lachmi I, Lambrechts L, Landeka N, Lee CH, Lessard BD, Leycegui I, Lundström JO, Lustigman Y, MacIntyre C, Mackay AJ, Magori K, Maia C, Malcolm CA, Marquez RJO, Martins D, Masri RA, McDivitt G, McMinn RJ, Medina J, Mellor KS, Mendoza J, Merdić E, Mesler S, Mestre C, Miranda H, Miterpáková M, Montarsi F, Moskaev AV, Mu T, Möhlmann TW, Namias A, Ng’iru I, Ngangué MF, Novo MT, Orshan L, Oteo JA, Otsuka Y, Panarese R, Paredes-Esquivel C, Paronyan L, Peper ST, Petrić DV, Pilapil K, Pou-Barreto C, Puechmaille SJ, Radespiel U, Rahola N, Raman VK, Redouane H, Reiskind MH, Reissen NM, Rice BL, Robert V, Ruiz-Arrondo I, Salamat R, Salamone A, Sarih M, Satta G, Sawabe K, Schaffner F, Schultz KE, Shaikevich EV, Sharakhov IV, Sharakhova MV, Shatara N, Sibataev AK, Sicard M, Smith E, Smith RC, Smitz N, Soriano N, Spanoudis CG, Stone CM, Studentsky L, Sulesco T, Tantely LM, Thao LK, Tietze N, Tokarz RE, Tsai KH, Tsuda Y, Turić N, Uhran MR, Unlu I, Van Bortel W, Vardanyan H, Vavassori L, Velo E, Venter M, Vignjević G, Vogels CB, Volkava T, Vontas J, Ward HM, Ahmad NW, Weill M, West JD, Wheeler SS, White GS, Wipf NC, Wu TP, Yu KD, Zimmermann E, Zittra C, Korlević P, McAlister E, Lawniczak MK, Schumer M, Rose NH, McBride CS. Ancient origin of an urban underground mosquito. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2025:2025.01.26.634793. [PMID: 39975080 PMCID: PMC11838412 DOI: 10.1101/2025.01.26.634793] [Show More Authors] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/21/2025]
Abstract
Understanding how life is adapting to urban environments represents an important challenge in evolutionary biology. Here we investigate a widely cited example of urban adaptation, Culex pipiens form molestus, also known as the London Underground Mosquito. Population genomic analysis of ~350 contemporary and historical samples counter the popular hypothesis that molestus originated belowground in London less than 200 years ago. Instead, we show that molestus first adapted to human environments aboveground in the Middle East over the course of >1000 years, likely in concert with the rise of agricultural civilizations. Our results highlight the role of early human society in priming taxa for contemporary urban evolution and have important implications for understanding arbovirus transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Haba
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | | | - Maria O. Afonso
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, LA-REAL, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | | | - John Albright
- Shasta Mosquito and Vector Control District, Anderson, CA 96007, USA
| | - Ana Margarida Alho
- Public Health Unit USP Francisco George, Primary Medical Healthcare Cluster Lisbon North, Largo Professor Arnaldo Sampaio, 1549-010 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Antonio P.G. Almeida
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, LA-REAL, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Haoues Alout
- ASTRE, UMR 117, INRAE-CIRAD, Montpellier, France
| | - Bulent Alten
- Hacettepe University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, VERG Laboratories, Beytepe, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Mine Altinli
- Institut des Sciences de l’Évolution de Montpellier (UMR 5554, CNRS-UM-IRD-EPHE), Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, 34095, France
- Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard Nocht Str. 74, 20359, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Raouf Amara Korba
- Laboratory of Health and Environment, Faculty of Life and Natural Sciences and of Earth and Universe Sciences, Mohamed El Bachir El Ibrahimi University, Bordj Bou Arreridj, 34030, Algeria
| | - Stefanos S. Andreadis
- Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, Hellenic Agricultural Organization - DIMITRA, 57001 Thermi, Greece
| | - Vincent Anghel
- Southern Nevada Health District, Las Vegas, NV 89107, USA
| | - Soukaina Arich
- Institut des Sciences de l’Évolution de Montpellier (UMR 5554, CNRS-UM-IRD-EPHE), Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, 34095, France
- Service de Parasitologie et des Maladies Vectorielles, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca 20360, Morocco
| | | | - Célestine Atyame
- University of Reunion Island, UMR PIMIT (Processus Infectieux en Milieu Insulaire Tropical) CNRS 9192, INSERM 1187, IRD 249, University of Reunion Island, Reunion Island, France
| | - Fabien Aubry
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR2000, Insect-Virus Interactions Unit, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Frank W. Avila
- Max Planck Tandem Group in Mosquito Reproductive Biology, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, 050010, Colombia
| | - Diego Ayala
- MIVEGEC, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, 34394 Montpellier, France
- CIRMF, Franceville, Gabon
| | - Rasha S. Azrag
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Lilit Babayan
- National Center of Disease Control and Prevention, Ministry of Health, Yerevan 0025, Republic of Armenia
| | - Allon Bear
- E7 Ministry of Environmental Protection, Ramla, Israel
| | - Norbert Becker
- Center for Organismal Studies, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Mosquito Control Association, Speyer, Germany
| | - Anna G. Bega
- Laboratory of Experimental Biology and Biotechnology, Scientific and Educational Center in Chernogolovka, Federal State University of Education, Moscow 105005, Russia
- Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Sophia Bejarano
- County of San Diego, Vector Control Program, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | | | - Joshua B. Benoit
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45211, USA
| | - Saïd C. Boubidi
- Entomology Unit, Laboratory of Parasitology, Pasteur Institute of Algeria, Algiers, Algeria
| | - William E. Bradshaw
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, 5289 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-5289, USA
| | - Daniel Bravo-Barriga
- Parasitología, Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
- Department of Animal Health Department (Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, Sanidad Animal Building, Rabanales Campus, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Rubén Bueno-Marí
- European Center of Excellence for Vector Control, Laboratorios Lokímica - Rentokil Initial, Valencia, Spain
| | - Nataša Bušić
- Department of Biology, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, 31000, Croatia
| | - Viktoria Čabanová
- Department of Virus Ecology, Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, 845 05, Slovakia
| | - Brittany Cabeje
- County of San Diego, Vector Control Program, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | - Beniamino Caputo
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Maria V. Cardo
- Ecología de Enfermedades Transmitidas por Vectores, Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental, UNSAM, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Simon Carpenter
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Woking, Surrey, GU24 0NF, UK
| | - Elena Carreton
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | | | | | - Maureen Coetzee
- Wits Research Institute for Malaria, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Centre for Emerging Zoonotic & Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - William R. Conner
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Anton Cornel
- Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Parlier, CA 93648, USA
| | - C. Lorna Culverwell
- University of Helsinki, Medicum, Department of Virology, Helsinki 00014, Finland
- Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London, SW7 5BD, UK
| | - Aleksandra I. Cupina
- Faculty of Agriculture, Centre of Excellence One Health Vectors and Climate, Laboratory for Medical and Veterinary Entomology, University of Novi Sad, 21101 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Katrien De Wolf
- Entomology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Isra Deblauwe
- Entomology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Brittany Deegan
- Consolidated Mosquito Abatement District, Parlier, CA 93648, USA
| | - Sarah Delacour-Estrella
- Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Alessandra della Torre
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Rome, 00185, Italy
| | | | - Serena E. Dool
- Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, 17489, Germany
| | - Vitor L dos Anjos
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Sisay Dugassa
- Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Babak Ebrahimi
- Santa Clara County Vector Control District, San Jose, CA 95112, USA
| | - Samar Y.M. Eisa
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Nohal Elissa
- Département Faune et Actions de Salubrité, Service Parisien de Santé Environnementale, Direction de la Santé Publique, Ville de Paris, Paris 75019, France
| | - Sahar A.B. Fallatah
- Biology Department, College of Science, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Dammam 31113, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Ary Faraji
- Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, USA
| | | | - Emily Ferrill
- County of San Diego, Vector Control Program, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | - Dina M. Fonseca
- Center for Vector Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Kimberly A. Foss
- Northeast Massachusetts Mosquito Control District, 118 Tenney Street, Georgetown, MA 01833, USA
| | - Cipriano Foxi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, 07100, Sassari, Italy
| | - Caio M. França
- Department of Biology, Southern Nazarene University, Bethany, OK, USA
| | - Stephen R. Fricker
- STEM, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
- Medical Entomology, Centre for Disease Control and Environmental Health, NT Health, NT, Australia
| | - Megan L. Fritz
- Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Eva Frontera
- Parasitología, Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
| | - Hans-Peter Fuehrer
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Kyoko Futami
- Department of Vector Ecology and Environment, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Enas H.S. Ghallab
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Abbassia, Cairo 11566, Egypt
| | - Romain Girod
- Medical Entomology Unit, Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | - Mikhail I. Gordeev
- Department of General Biology and Ecology, Federal State University of Education, 105005 Moscow, Russia
| | - David Greer
- Southern Nevada Health District, Las Vegas, NV 89107, USA
| | - Martin Gschwind
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Milehna M. Guarido
- Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Arbo and Respiratory Virus Research (CEARV), Department Medical Virology, University of Pretoria, South Africa
- Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa
| | - Teoh Guat Ney
- Medical Entomology Unit, Infectious Disease Research Centre, Institute For Medical Research, National Institutes of Health, Jalan Pahang 50588, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Filiz Gunay
- Hacettepe University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, VERG Laboratories, Beytepe, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Eran Haklay
- Ministry of Environmental Protection, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Alwia A.E. Hamad
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Jun Hang
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | | | - Jacob W. Hartle
- Placer Mosquito & Vector Control District, Roseville, CA 95678, USA
| | - Jenny C. Hesson
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology/Zoonosis Science Center, Uppsala University, Uppsala, SE-75123, Sweden
- Biologisk Myggkontroll, Nedre Dalälven Utvecklings AB, Uppsala, SE- 75646, Sweden
| | - Yukiko Higa
- Department of Medical Entomology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
| | - Christina M. Holzapfel
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, 5289 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-5289, USA
| | - Ann-Christin Honnen
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Angela M. Ionica
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, 400372, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Laura Jones
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Woking, Surrey, GU24 0NF, UK
| | - Përparim Kadriaj
- Vector Control Unit, Department of Epidemiology and Control of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Public Health, Tirana, Albania
| | - Hany A. Kamal
- Department of Pest Control Projects, Dallah Company, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Colince Kamdem
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W. University Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA
| | | | - Shinji Kasai
- Department of Medical Entomology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
| | - Mihaela Kavran
- Faculty of Agriculture, Centre of Excellence One Health Vectors and Climate, Laboratory for Medical and Veterinary Entomology, University of Novi Sad, 21101 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Emad I.M. Khater
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Abbassia, Cairo 11566, Egypt
| | - Frederik Kiene
- Institute of Zoology and Institute of Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hanover, Germany
| | - Heung-Chul Kim
- Force Health Protection and Preventive Medicine, Medical Department Activity-Korea/65th Medical Brigade, Unit 15281, APO AP 96271-5281, USA
| | - Ilias Kioulos
- Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855, Athens, Greece
| | - Annette Klein
- Institute of Zoology and Institute of Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hanover, Germany
| | - Marko Klemenčić
- Croatian Institute for Public Health of Međimurje County, 40000 Čakovec, Croatia
| | - Ana Klobučar
- Department of Epidemiology, Andrija Stampar Teaching Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia
| | - Erin Knutson
- Washington State Department of Health, Olympia, WA 98504, USA
| | | | - Linda Kothera
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Pauline Kreienbühl
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR2000, Insect-Virus Interactions Unit, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Pierrick Labbé
- Institut des Sciences de l’Évolution de Montpellier (UMR 5554, CNRS-UM-IRD-EPHE), Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, 34095, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Itay Lachmi
- Nature and Parks Authority, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Louis Lambrechts
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR2000, Insect-Virus Interactions Unit, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Nediljko Landeka
- Institute of Public Health of the Istrian County, 52100 Pula, Croatia
| | - Christopher H. Lee
- Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Bryan D. Lessard
- Australian National Insect Collection, National Research Collections Australia, CSIRO, Canberra, Australia
| | | | - Jan O. Lundström
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology/Zoonosis Science Center, Uppsala University, Uppsala, SE-75123, Sweden
- Biologisk Myggkontroll, Nedre Dalälven Utvecklings AB, Uppsala, SE- 75646, Sweden
| | | | - Caitlin MacIntyre
- Zoonotic Arbo- and Respiratory Virus Program, Centre for Viral Zoonoses, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Andrew J. Mackay
- Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
| | - Krisztian Magori
- Department of Biology, Eastern Washington University, Cheney, WA 99004, USA
| | - Carla Maia
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, LA-REAL, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Colin A. Malcolm
- School of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL10 9AB, United Kingdom
| | | | - Dino Martins
- Mpala Research Centre, 555-10400, Nanyuki, Kenya
| | - Reem A. Masri
- Department of Entomology and Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Gillian McDivitt
- County of San Diego, Vector Control Program, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | - Rebekah J. McMinn
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Johana Medina
- Miami-Dade County Mosquito Control, Miami, FL 33178, USA
| | - Karen S. Mellor
- Antelope Valley Mosquito & Vector Control District, Lancaster, CA 93535, USA
| | - Jason Mendoza
- County of San Diego, Vector Control Program, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | - Enrih Merdić
- Department of Biology, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, 31000, Croatia
| | - Stacey Mesler
- County of San Diego, Vector Control Program, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | - Camille Mestre
- Institut des Sciences de l’Évolution de Montpellier (UMR 5554, CNRS-UM-IRD-EPHE), Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, 34095, France
| | - Homer Miranda
- County of San Diego, Vector Control Program, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | | | - Fabrizio Montarsi
- Laboratorio di Entomologia Sanitaria e Patogeni Trasmessi da Vettori, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 35020, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Anton V. Moskaev
- Laboratory of Experimental Biology and Biotechnology, Scientific and Educational Center in Chernogolovka, Federal State University of Education, Moscow 105005, Russia
| | - Tong Mu
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Tim W.R. Möhlmann
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Alice Namias
- Institut des Sciences de l’Évolution de Montpellier (UMR 5554, CNRS-UM-IRD-EPHE), Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, 34095, France
| | - Ivy Ng’iru
- Mpala Research Centre, 555-10400, Nanyuki, Kenya
| | | | - Maria T. Novo
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, LA-REAL, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | | | - José A. Oteo
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Center of Rickettsiosis and Arthropod-Borne Diseases (CRETAV), San Pedro University Hospital-Center for Biomedical Research from La Rioja (CIBIR), Logroño, 26006, Spain
| | - Yasushi Otsuka
- Research Center for the Pacific Islands, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Rossella Panarese
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Bari, 70010, Valenzano, Italy
| | - Claudia Paredes-Esquivel
- Parasitology and Mediterranean Ecoepidemiology Research Group, University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma, Spain
| | - Lusine Paronyan
- National Center of Disease Control and Prevention, Ministry of Health, Yerevan 0025, Republic of Armenia
| | - Steven T. Peper
- Anastasia Mosquito Control District of St. Johns County, Augustine, FL 32092, USA
| | - Dušan V. Petrić
- Faculty of Agriculture, Centre of Excellence One Health Vectors and Climate, Laboratory for Medical and Veterinary Entomology, University of Novi Sad, 21101 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Kervin Pilapil
- County of San Diego, Vector Control Program, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | - Cristina Pou-Barreto
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias. Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, 38206, Spain
| | - Sebastien J. Puechmaille
- Institut des Sciences de l’Évolution de Montpellier (UMR 5554, CNRS-UM-IRD-EPHE), Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, 34095, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, 75005, Paris, France
- Applied Zoology and Nature Conservation, University of Greifswald, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Ute Radespiel
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hanover, Germany
| | - Nil Rahola
- MIVEGEC, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, 34394 Montpellier, France
| | - Vivek K Raman
- Southern Nevada Health District, Las Vegas, NV 89107, USA
| | | | - Michael H. Reiskind
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695 USA
| | - Nadja M. Reissen
- Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, USA
| | - Benjamin L. Rice
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
- Madagascar Health and Environmental Research (MAHERY), Maroantsetra, Madagascar
| | - Vincent Robert
- MIVEGEC, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, 34394 Montpellier, France
| | - Ignacio Ruiz-Arrondo
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Center of Rickettsiosis and Arthropod-Borne Diseases (CRETAV), San Pedro University Hospital-Center for Biomedical Research from La Rioja (CIBIR), Logroño, 26006, Spain
| | - Ryan Salamat
- County of San Diego, Vector Control Program, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | - Amy Salamone
- Washington State Department of Health, Olympia, WA 98504, USA
| | - M’hammed Sarih
- Service de Parasitologie et des Maladies Vectorielles, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca 20360, Morocco
| | - Giuseppe Satta
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, 07100, Sassari, Italy
| | - Kyoko Sawabe
- Department of Medical Entomology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
| | - Francis Schaffner
- Francis Schaffner Consultancy, Riehen, Switzerland
- National Centre for Vector Entomology, Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Karen E. Schultz
- Mosquito and Vector Management District of Santa Barbara County, Summerland, CA 93067, USA
| | - Elena V. Shaikevich
- Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Igor V. Sharakhov
- Department of Entomology and Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Tomsk State University, Tomsk 634050, Russia
| | - Maria V. Sharakhova
- Department of Entomology and Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
- Laboratory of Cell Differentiation Mechanisms, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, 10, Ac. Lavrentieva ave., Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Nader Shatara
- San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Anuarbek K. Sibataev
- Department of Biology, Plant Protection and Quarantine, S.Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical Research University, Astana, Kazakhstan
- Department of General Biology and Genomics, Eurasian National University, Astana, Kazakhstan
| | - Mathieu Sicard
- Institut des Sciences de l’Évolution de Montpellier (UMR 5554, CNRS-UM-IRD-EPHE), Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, 34095, France
| | - Evan Smith
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45211, USA
| | - Ryan C. Smith
- Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Nathalie Smitz
- Royal Museum for Central Africa, Leuvensesteenweg 13, 3080, Tervuren, Belgium
| | - Nicolas Soriano
- County of San Diego, Vector Control Program, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | - Christos G. Spanoudis
- Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Environment, School of Agriculture, Laboratory of Applied Zoology and Parasitology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Christopher M. Stone
- Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
| | | | - Tatiana Sulesco
- Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard Nocht Str. 74, 20359, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Luciano M. Tantely
- Unité d’Entomologie Médicale, Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar
| | - La K. Thao
- Kern Mosquito & Vector Control District, Bakersfield, CA 93314, USA
| | - Noor Tietze
- Santa Clara County Vector Control District, San Jose, CA 95112, USA
| | - Ryan E. Tokarz
- Department of International and Global Studies, Mercer University, Macon, GA 31207, USA
| | - Kun-Hsien Tsai
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, No. 17, Xu-Zhou Road, Taipei 100025, Taiwan
| | - Yoshio Tsuda
- Department of Medical Entomology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
| | - Nataša Turić
- Department of Biology, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, 31000, Croatia
| | - Melissa R. Uhran
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45211, USA
| | - Isik Unlu
- Miami-Dade County Mosquito Control, Miami, FL 33178, USA
| | - Wim Van Bortel
- Entomology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
- Outbreak Research Team, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Haykuhi Vardanyan
- National Center of Disease Control and Prevention, Ministry of Health, Yerevan 0025, Republic of Armenia
| | - Laura Vavassori
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Enkelejda Velo
- Vector Control Unit, Department of Epidemiology and Control of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Public Health, Tirana, Albania
| | - Marietjie Venter
- Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Arbo and Respiratory Virus Research (CEARV), Department Medical Virology, University of Pretoria, South Africa
- Emerging Viral Threats, One Health Vaccines and Surveillance (EVITOH) Division, Infectious Disease and Oncology Research Institute (IDORI), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Goran Vignjević
- Department of Biology, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, 31000, Croatia
| | - Chantal B.F. Vogels
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Tatsiana Volkava
- Laboratory of Parasitology, The State Scientific and Production Amalgamation, The Scientific and Practical Center of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus for Biological Resources, Belarus, Minsk
| | - John Vontas
- Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855, Athens, Greece
- Institute Molecular Biology Biotechnology Foundation for Research and Technology, 70013, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Heather M. Ward
- Anastasia Mosquito Control District of St. Johns County, Augustine, FL 32092, USA
| | - Nazni Wasi Ahmad
- Medical Entomology Unit, Infectious Disease Research Centre, Institute For Medical Research, National Institutes of Health, Jalan Pahang 50588, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Mylène Weill
- Institut des Sciences de l’Évolution de Montpellier (UMR 5554, CNRS-UM-IRD-EPHE), Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, 34095, France
| | - Jennifer D. West
- Placer Mosquito & Vector Control District, Roseville, CA 95678, USA
| | - Sarah S. Wheeler
- Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito & Vector Control District, Elk Grove, CA, 95624, USA
| | - Gregory S. White
- Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, USA
| | - Nadja C. Wipf
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Vector Biology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Tai-Ping Wu
- Wuhan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuhan, China
| | - Kai-Di Yu
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Elke Zimmermann
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hanover, Germany
| | - Carina Zittra
- Division Limnology, Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Petra Korlević
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton CB10 1SA, United Kingdom
| | - Erica McAlister
- Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London, SW7 5BD, UK
| | | | - Molly Schumer
- Department of Biology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Noah H. Rose
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Carolyn S. McBride
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
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Lilja T, Lindström A, Hernández-Triana LM, Di Luca M, Lwande OW. European Culex pipiens Populations Carry Different Strains of Wolbachia pipientis. INSECTS 2024; 15:639. [PMID: 39336607 PMCID: PMC11432034 DOI: 10.3390/insects15090639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2024] [Revised: 08/20/2024] [Accepted: 08/22/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024]
Abstract
The mosquito Culex pipiens occurs in two ecotypes differing in their mating and overwintering behavior: pipiens mate in open environments and diapause, and molestus also mate in small spaces and is active throughout the year. Cx. pipiens carry Wolbachia endosymbionts of the wPip strain, but the frequency of infection differs between studied populations. Wolbachia infection affects the host reproductive success through cytoplasmic incompatibility. wPip Wolbachia is divided into five types, wPip I-V. The type of wPip carried varies among Cx. pipiens populations. In northern European locations different wPip types are found in the two ecotypes, whereas in southern locations, they often carry the same type, indicating differences in hybridization between ecotypes. In this study, Cx. pipiens specimens of both ecotypes were collected from Sweden and compared to specimens from Norway, England, Italy, and the Netherlands, as well as Cx. quinquefasciatus from Mali and Thailand. The abundance varied, but all specimens were infected by Wolbachia, while the tested specimens of other mosquito species were often uninfected. The wPip strains were determined through the sequence analysis of Wolbachia genes ank2 and pk1, showing that Cx. pipiens ecotypes in Scandinavia carry different wPip strains. The observed differences in wPip strains indicate that hybridization is not frequent and may contribute to barriers against hybridization of the ecotypes in Sweden and Norway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Lilja
- Department of Microbiology, Swedish Veterinary Agency, 751 89 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anders Lindström
- Department of Microbiology, Swedish Veterinary Agency, 751 89 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Luis M Hernández-Triana
- Vector-Borne Diseases Research Group, Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Addlestone KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Marco Di Luca
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
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Jones L, Sanders C, England M, Cameron M, Carpenter S. Pupal Exuviae of Culex Pipiens L. (Diptera: Culicidae) Can be Utilised as a Non-Invasive Method of Biotype Differentiation. Biol Proced Online 2024; 26:17. [PMID: 38890570 PMCID: PMC11186230 DOI: 10.1186/s12575-024-00246-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Culex pipiens L. is a principal vector of zoonotic arboviruses in Europe, acting in both an amplification role in enzootic transmission between avian hosts and as a bridge vector between avian hosts and mammals. The species consists of two forms which are indistinguishable using morphological methods but possess varying ecological and physiological traits that influence their vector capacity. In this study we validate methods that can be used to extract trace DNA from single pupal exuviae of Cx. pipiens for use in molecular speciation of samples. These DNA extraction methods are compared using measurement of the total yield and successful identification using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. RESULTS Genomic DNA was initially extracted from colony-derived individuals using an ethanol precipitation method, two commercially available DNA extraction kits: DNeasy® Blood & Tissue Kit (Qiagen, UK) and Wizard® SV Genomic DNA Purification System (Promega, UK) and a direct real-time PCR method. Time elapsed between eclosion and processing of pupae significantly influenced Cx. pipiens form identification as nucleic acid concentration and PCR amplification success decreased with increased time elapsed. Real-time PCR amplification success, however, was not shown to vary significantly between the three extraction methods, with all methods successfully identifying all samples, but the direct real-time PCR method achieved a lesser amplification success rate of 70% (n = 20 for each treatment). More variable results were produced when field-derived exuviae were used, with no significant difference in real-time PCR amplification success found across the four methods and a lower overall rate of successful identification of 55-80%. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that both colony and field derived Cx. pipiens pupal exuviae can be a useful non-invasive source of trace DNA permitting accurate biotype differentiation for at least twenty-four hours post-eclosion. The significance and utility of this technique in ecological and behavioural studies of Cx. pipiens is discussed and recommendations made for use according to experimental scenario.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Jones
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Woking, Surrey, GU24 0NF, England.
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, England.
| | | | - Marion England
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Woking, Surrey, GU24 0NF, England
| | - Mary Cameron
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, England
| | - Simon Carpenter
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Woking, Surrey, GU24 0NF, England
- School of the Biological Sciences, University of Cambridge, 17 Mill Lane, Cambridge, CB2 1RX, England
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de Freitas Costa E, Streng K, Avelino de Souza Santos M, Counotte MJ. The effect of temperature on the boundary conditions of West Nile virus circulation in Europe. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0012162. [PMID: 38709836 PMCID: PMC11098507 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is a vector-borne flavivirus that causes an increasing number of human and equine West Nile fever cases in Europe. While the virus has been present in the Mediterranean basin and the Balkans since the 1960s, recent years have witnessed its northward expansion, with the first human cases reported in Germany in 2018 and the Netherlands in 2020. WNV transmission and amplification within mosquitoes are temperature-dependent. This study applies a mathematical modelling approach to assess the conditions under which WNV circulation occurs based on the proportion of mosquito bites on WNV-competent birds (dilution), vector-host ratios, mosquito season length and the observed daily temperature data. We modelled five distinct European regions where previous WNV circulation has been observed within the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Greece. We observed that the number of days in which the basic reproduction number (R0) is above one, increased over the last 40 years in all five regions. In the Netherlands, the number of days in which the R0 is above one, is 70% lower than in Spain. The temperature in Greece, Spain and Italy allowed for circulation under low vector-host ratios, and at a high dilution. On the other hand in the Netherlands and Germany, given the observed daily temperature, the thresholds for circulation requires a lower dilution and higher vector-host ratios. For the Netherlands, a short window of introductions between late May and mid-June would result in detectable outbreaks. Our findings revealed that the temperate maritime climate of the Netherlands allows WNV circulation primarily during warmer summers, and only under high vector-host ratios. This research contributes valuable insights into the dynamic relationship between temperature, vector properties, and WNV transmission, offering guidance for proactive strategies in addressing this emerging health threat in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo de Freitas Costa
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University and Research, Lelystad, the Netherlands
| | - Kiki Streng
- Quantitative Veterinary Epidemiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Michel Jacques Counotte
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University and Research, Lelystad, the Netherlands
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Cardo MV, Rubio A, Carbajo AE, Vezzani D. Exploring the range of Culex mosquitoes in Western Argentinean Patagonia, unveiling the presence of Culex pipiens bioform pipiens in South America. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:151. [PMID: 38441704 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08166-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Culicids in Argentinean Patagonia are characterized by low species diversity and adaptation to extreme environmental conditions, yet few studies have been conducted in the region. To further assess the occurrence of Culicidae in Western Patagonia, and in particular the presence of Culex pipiens bioforms at the southernmost extent of their distribution, immature and adult specimens were collected aboveground across various land uses located in shrubland, steppe, and deciduous forest between 38.96 and 46.55°S. Mosquitoes were reported at 35 of the 105 inspected sites. Five species from the genus Culex were identified, all of which were present in the steppe and the forest, while only Cx. apicinus and members of the Cx. pipiens complex were collected in the shrubland. Within the latter, a total of 150 specimens were molecularly identified by PCR amplification of Ace-2 and CQ11 loci. The first-to-date occurrence of bioform pipiens in South America is reported, along with the first records of Cx. quinquefasciatus signatures in Patagonia. In addition, the distribution of Cx. acharistus and Cx. dolosus as south as Santa Cruz province is expanded, and the first record of Cx. eduardoi in Río Negro province is provided. Immature specimens of Cx. pipiens were conspicuous in human-made aquatic habitats (both containers and in the ground), while Cx. acharistus was more prominent in artificial containers and Cx. eduardoi was mainly in ground habitats, either natural or human-made. These findings provide valuable insights into the distribution and ecological roles of these mosquito species in a region of extreme environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Victoria Cardo
- Ecología de Enfermedades Transmitidas Por Vectores (2eTV), Instituto de Investigación E Ingeniería Ambiental (UNSAM-CONICET), Escuela de Hábitat y Sostenibilidad, San Martín, Prov. de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Alejandra Rubio
- Ecología de Enfermedades Transmitidas Por Vectores (2eTV), Instituto de Investigación E Ingeniería Ambiental (UNSAM-CONICET), Escuela de Hábitat y Sostenibilidad, San Martín, Prov. de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Aníbal Eduardo Carbajo
- Ecología de Enfermedades Transmitidas Por Vectores (2eTV), Instituto de Investigación E Ingeniería Ambiental (UNSAM-CONICET), Escuela de Hábitat y Sostenibilidad, San Martín, Prov. de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Darío Vezzani
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Instituto Multidisciplinario Sobre Ecosistemas y Desarrollo Sustentable, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNCPBA) - Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (CICPBA), Tandil, Prov. de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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9
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Blom R, Krol L, Langezaal M, Schrama M, Trimbos KB, Wassenaar D, Koenraadt CJM. Blood-feeding patterns of Culex pipiens biotype pipiens and pipiens/molestus hybrids in relation to avian community composition in urban habitats. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:95. [PMID: 38424573 PMCID: PMC10902945 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06186-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Culex pipiens sensu stricto (s.s.) is considered the primary vector of Usutu virus and West Nile virus, and consists of two morphologically identical but behaviourally distinct biotypes (Cx. pipiens biotype pipiens and Cx. pipiens biotype molestus) and their hybrids. Both biotypes are expected to differ in their feeding behaviour, and pipiens/molestus hybrids are presumed to display intermediate feeding behaviour. However, the evidence for distinct feeding patterns is scarce, and to date no studies have related differences in feeding patterns to differences in host abundance. METHODS Mosquitoes were collected using CO2-baited traps. We collected blood-engorged Cx. pipiens/torrentium specimens from 12 contrasting urban sites, namely six city parks and six residential areas. Blood engorged Cx. pipiens/torrentium mosquitoes were identified to the species and biotype/hybrid level via real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We performed blood meal analysis via PCR and Sanger sequencing. Additionally, avian host communities were surveyed via vocal sounds and/or visual observation. RESULTS We selected 64 blood-engorged Cx. pipiens/torrentium mosquitoes of which we successfully determined the host origin of 55 specimens. Of these, 38 belonged to biotype pipiens, 14 were pipiens/molestus hybrids and the identity of three specimens could not be determined. No blood-engorged biotype molestus or Cx. torrentium specimens were collected. We observed no differences in feeding patterns between biotype pipiens and pipiens/molestus hybrids across different habitats. Avian community composition differed between city parks and residential areas, whereas overall avian abundance did not differ between the two habitat types. CONCLUSIONS Our results show the following: (1) Cx. pipiens s.s. feeding patterns did not differ between city parks and residential areas, regardless of whether individuals were identified as biotype pipiens or pipiens/molestus hybrids. (2) We detected differences in host availability between city parks and residential areas. (3) We show that in both urban habitat types, biotype pipiens and pipiens/molestus hybrids fed on both mammalian and avian hosts. This underscores the potential role in arbovirus transmission of biotype pipiens and pipiens/molestus hybrids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rody Blom
- Laboratory of Entomology, Plant Sciences Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Louie Krol
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Deltares, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Melissa Langezaal
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Maarten Schrama
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Krijn B Trimbos
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Daan Wassenaar
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Constantianus J M Koenraadt
- Laboratory of Entomology, Plant Sciences Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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10
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Madeira S, Bernardino R, Osório HC, Boinas F. Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) Fauna of a Zoological Park in an Urban Setting: Analysis of Culex pipiens s.l. and Their Biotypes. INSECTS 2024; 15:45. [PMID: 38249051 PMCID: PMC10816151 DOI: 10.3390/insects15010045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Mosquito-borne diseases (MBDs) are important emerging diseases that affect humans and animals. Zoological parks can work as early warning systems for the occurrence of MBDs. In this study, we characterized the mosquito fauna captured inside Lisbon Zoo from May 2018 to November 2019. An average of 2.4 mosquitos per trap/night were captured. Five mosquito species potentially causing MBDs, including Culex pipiens biotypes, were found in the zoo. The sympatric occurrence of Culex pipiens biotypes represents a risk factor for the epizootic transmission of West Nile virus and Usutu virus. The mosquito occurrence followed the expected seasonality, with the maximum densities during summer months. However, mosquito activity was detected in winter months in low numbers. The minimum temperature and the relative humidity (RH) on the day of capture showed a positive effect on Culex pipiens abundance. Contrary, the RH the week before capture and the average precipitation the week of capture had a negative effect. No invasive species were identified, nor have flaviviruses been detected in the mosquitoes. The implementation of biosecurity measures regarding the hygiene of the premises and the strict control of all the animals entering the zoo can justify the low prevalence of mosquitoes and the absence of flavivirus-infected mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Madeira
- CIISA—Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal;
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal
| | | | - Hugo Costa Osório
- CEVDI—INSA—Centre for Vectors and Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, 2965-575 Águas de Moura, Portugal;
- ISAMB—Instituto de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Fernando Boinas
- CIISA—Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal;
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal
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11
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Arnoldi I, Villa M, Mancini G, Varotto-Boccazzi I, Yacoub MR, Asperti C, Mascheri A, Casiraghi S, Epis S, Bandi C, Dagna L, Forneris F, Gabrieli P. IgE response to Aed al 13 and Aed al 14 recombinant allergens from Aedes albopictus saliva in humans. World Allergy Organ J 2023; 16:100836. [PMID: 37965096 PMCID: PMC10641722 DOI: 10.1016/j.waojou.2023.100836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Mosquito bite is normally associated with mild allergic responses, but severe localized or systemic reactions are also possible. Reliable tools for the diagnosis of mosquito allergy are still unavailable. Here, we investigated the IgE response to 3 potential salivary allergens identified in the saliva of the tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus. Methods Serum from 55 adult individuals (28 controls and 27 allergic people), were analysed using an in-house Enzyme Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) against the Salivary Gland Extract (SGE) and the recombinant proteins albD7l2 (Aed al 2), albAntigen5-3 (Aed al 13) and albLIPS-2 (Aed al 14). Results Fifteen of the 27 (56%) individuals having hypersensitive reactions to mosquito bites had IgE serum levels recognizing SGE. Negative sera did not show detectable levels of IgE targeting the SGE from the most common sympatric mosquito Culex pipiens. Among the positive individuals, 2 subjects displayed IgE targeting Aed al 2 (13%), while IgE recognizing Aed al 13 and Aed al 14 were detected in ten (67%) and seven (47%) individuals, respectively. Two sera from non-hypersensitive subjects had detectable levels of IgE targeting Aed al 13, suggesting possible cross-reaction with the homologue salivary proteins of multiple mosquito species or, more generally, of hematophagous insects. Conclusions Our results indicate that Aed al 13 and Aed al 14 hold the potential to be developed as tools for the diagnosis of allergy to Ae. albopictus bites. Such tools would facilitate epidemiological studies on tiger mosquito allergy in humans and might foster the development of further protein-based assays to investigate cross-species allergies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Arnoldi
- Entopar Lab, Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Via Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy
- The Armenise-Harvard Laboratory of Structural Biology, Department Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9/A, 27100, Pavia, Italy
- Italian Malaria Network, Inter University Center for Malaria Research, University of Milan, Milan, 20133, Italy
- University School of Advanced Studies Pavia, IUSS, Pavia, 27100, Italy
| | - Marta Villa
- Entopar Lab, Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Via Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Mancini
- The Armenise-Harvard Laboratory of Structural Biology, Department Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9/A, 27100, Pavia, Italy
- University School of Advanced Studies Pavia, IUSS, Pavia, 27100, Italy
| | - Ilaria Varotto-Boccazzi
- Entopar Lab, Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Via Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy
- Italian Malaria Network, Inter University Center for Malaria Research, University of Milan, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Mona-Rita Yacoub
- Unit of Immunology, Rheumatology, Allergy and Rare Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Asperti
- Unit of Immunology, Rheumatology, Allergy and Rare Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Ambra Mascheri
- Unit of Immunology, Rheumatology, Allergy and Rare Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Simone Casiraghi
- Unit of Immunology, Rheumatology, Allergy and Rare Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Epis
- Entopar Lab, Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Via Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy
- Italian Malaria Network, Inter University Center for Malaria Research, University of Milan, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Claudio Bandi
- Entopar Lab, Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Via Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy
- Italian Malaria Network, Inter University Center for Malaria Research, University of Milan, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Dagna
- Unit of Immunology, Rheumatology, Allergy and Rare Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Federico Forneris
- The Armenise-Harvard Laboratory of Structural Biology, Department Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9/A, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Paolo Gabrieli
- Entopar Lab, Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Via Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy
- Italian Malaria Network, Inter University Center for Malaria Research, University of Milan, Milan, 20133, Italy
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12
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Ledda S, Foxi C, Puggioni G, Bechere R, Rocchigiani AM, Scivoli R, Coradduzza E, Cau S, Vento L, Satta G. Experimental infection of Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus and Culex pipiens mosquitoes with Bluetongue virus. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 37:105-110. [PMID: 36193883 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Bluetongue disease (BT), caused by Bluetongue virus (BTV), infects wild and domestic ruminants, causing severe economic damage in the cattle and sheep industry. Proven vectors of BTV are biting midges belonging to the Culicoides genus, but other arthropods are considered potential vectors, such as ticks, mosquitoes, wingless flies, and sand flies. The present study represents the first attempt to evaluate the vectorial capacity of Culex pipiens and Aedes albopictus for BTV. Mosquitoes were artificially fed with blood containing BTV serotype 1. Infection, dissemination and transmission rates were evaluated at 0, 3, 7, 14 and 21 days after an infected blood meal. Viral RNA was only detected up to 3 days post infection in the bodies of both species. This study indicates that the two Italian populations of Cx. pipiens and Ae. albopictus are not susceptible to BTV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Ledda
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, Sassari, Italy
| | - Cipriano Foxi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, Sassari, Italy
- Mediterranean Center for Disease Control, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | | | - Roberto Bechere
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, Sassari, Italy
| | | | - Rosario Scivoli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, Sassari, Italy
| | | | - Simona Cau
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, Sassari, Italy
| | - Luigi Vento
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, Sassari, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Satta
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, Sassari, Italy
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13
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Rossi B, Barreca F, Benvenuto D, Braccialarghe N, Campogiani L, Lodi A, Aguglia C, Cavasio RA, Giacalone ML, Kontogiannis D, Moccione M, Malagnino V, Andreoni M, Sarmati L, Iannetta M. Human Arboviral Infections in Italy: Past, Current, and Future Challenges. Viruses 2023; 15:v15020368. [PMID: 36851582 PMCID: PMC9963149 DOI: 10.3390/v15020368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Arboviruses represent a public health concern in many European countries, including Italy, mostly because they can infect humans, causing potentially severe emergent or re-emergent diseases, with epidemic outbreaks and the introduction of endemic circulation of new species previously confined to tropical and sub-tropical regions. In this review, we summarize the Italian epidemiology of arboviral infection over the past 10 years, describing both endemic and imported arboviral infections, vector distribution, and the influence of climate change on vector ecology. Strengthening surveillance systems at a national and international level is highly recommended to be prepared to face potential threats due to arbovirus diffusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedetta Rossi
- Infectious Disease Clinic, Policlinico Tor Vergata University Hospital, Viale Oxford 81, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo Barreca
- Department of System Medicine Tor Vergata, University of Rome, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico Benvenuto
- Department of System Medicine Tor Vergata, University of Rome, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Neva Braccialarghe
- Department of System Medicine Tor Vergata, University of Rome, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Campogiani
- Infectious Disease Clinic, Policlinico Tor Vergata University Hospital, Viale Oxford 81, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Lodi
- Department of System Medicine Tor Vergata, University of Rome, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Camilla Aguglia
- Department of System Medicine Tor Vergata, University of Rome, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Maria Laura Giacalone
- Department of System Medicine Tor Vergata, University of Rome, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Dimitra Kontogiannis
- Department of System Medicine Tor Vergata, University of Rome, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Martina Moccione
- Department of System Medicine Tor Vergata, University of Rome, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Malagnino
- Infectious Disease Clinic, Policlinico Tor Vergata University Hospital, Viale Oxford 81, 00133 Rome, Italy
- Department of System Medicine Tor Vergata, University of Rome, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Andreoni
- Infectious Disease Clinic, Policlinico Tor Vergata University Hospital, Viale Oxford 81, 00133 Rome, Italy
- Department of System Medicine Tor Vergata, University of Rome, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Loredana Sarmati
- Infectious Disease Clinic, Policlinico Tor Vergata University Hospital, Viale Oxford 81, 00133 Rome, Italy
- Department of System Medicine Tor Vergata, University of Rome, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Iannetta
- Infectious Disease Clinic, Policlinico Tor Vergata University Hospital, Viale Oxford 81, 00133 Rome, Italy
- Department of System Medicine Tor Vergata, University of Rome, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence:
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14
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Arich S, Haba Y, Assaid N, Fritz ML, McBride CS, Weill M, Taki H, Sarih M, Labbé P. No association between habitat, autogeny and genetics in Moroccan Culex pipiens populations. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:405. [PMID: 36329500 PMCID: PMC9635193 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05469-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mosquitoes of the Culex pipiens complex are found across the globe and are the focus of many research studies. Among the temperate species C. pipiens sensu stricto (s.s.), two forms are usually described: molestus and pipiens. These two forms are indistinguishable in terms of morphology but show behavioral and physiological differences that may have consequences for their associated epidemiology. The two forms are well defined in the northern part of the species distribution, where autogeny is strictly associated with the molestus form. However, whether the two remain distinct and show the characteristic differences in behavior is less clear in North Africa, at the southern edge of their range. Methods The association between autogeny, as determined by ovarian dissection, and molecular forms, based on the CQ11 microsatellite marker, was studied in six Moroccan populations of C. pipiens. Results An overall low prevalence of autogeny was found at three of the Moroccan regions studied, although it reached 17.5% in the Agadir population. The prevalence of form-specific CQ11 alleles was quite similar across all populations, with the molestus allele being rarer (approx. 15%), except in the Agadir population where it reached 43.3%. We found significant deficits in heterozygotes at the diagnostic CQ11 locus in three populations, but the three other populations showed no significant departure from panmixia, which is in line with the results of a retrospective analysis of the published data. More importantly, we found no association between the autogeny status and CQ11 genotypes, despite the many females analyzed. Conclusions There was limited evidence for two discrete forms in Morocco, where individuals carrying pipiens and molestus alleles breed and mate in the same sites and are equally likely to be capable of autogeny. These observations are discussed in the epidemiological context of Morocco, where C. pipiens is the main vector of several arboviruses. Graphical Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-022-05469-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soukaina Arich
- Institut Des Sciences de L'Évolution de Montpellier, UMR 5554, CNRS-UM-IRD-EPHE, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, Cedex 5, France.,Laboratory of Biology and Health, Faculty of Sciences Ben M'Sik, URAC34, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Casablanca, Morocco.,Laboratoire Des Maladies Vectorielles (LMV), Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Yuki Haba
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Najlaa Assaid
- Laboratoire Des Maladies Vectorielles (LMV), Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Megan L Fritz
- Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Carolyn S McBride
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.,Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Mylène Weill
- Institut Des Sciences de L'Évolution de Montpellier, UMR 5554, CNRS-UM-IRD-EPHE, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, Cedex 5, France
| | - Hassan Taki
- Laboratory of Biology and Health, Faculty of Sciences Ben M'Sik, URAC34, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - M'hammed Sarih
- Laboratoire Des Maladies Vectorielles (LMV), Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Pierrick Labbé
- Institut Des Sciences de L'Évolution de Montpellier, UMR 5554, CNRS-UM-IRD-EPHE, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, Cedex 5, France. .,Institut Universitaire de France, 1 rue Descartes, 75231 Cedex 05, Paris, France.
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15
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Giatropoulos A, Bellini R, Pavlopoulos DT, Balatsos G, Karras V, Mourafetis F, Papachristos DP, Karamaouna F, Carrieri M, Veronesi R, Haroutounian SA, Michaelakis A. Efficacy Evaluation of Oregano Essential Oil Mixed with Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis and Diflubenzuron against Culex pipiens and Aedes albopictus in Road Drains of Italy. INSECTS 2022; 13:insects13110977. [PMID: 36354801 PMCID: PMC9698153 DOI: 10.3390/insects13110977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/22/2022] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Mosquito management programs in the urban environment of Italian cities mainly rely on larval control with conventional insecticides, primarily targeting the road drains that constitute the principal mosquito breeding sites encountered in public. The repeated utilization of synthetic insecticides may have adverse effects on non-targets and lead to resistance development issues, while the performance of biopesticides encounters limitations in field use. Botanical insecticides as single larval control agents or in binary mixtures with conventional insecticides have been extensively studied in the laboratory as an effective and eco-friendly alternative mosquito control method with promising results. The study herein concerns the investigation, for the first time under realistic conditions in the field, of the joint action of a carvacrol-rich oregano Essential Oil (EO) with two conventional insecticides, namely, the insect growth regulator diflubenzuron and the bio-insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (B.t.i.), in road drains in Crevalcore city, Italy, against Culex pipiens and Aedes albopictus. According to the obtained results, the application of both plain EO and its mixtures with diflubenzuron and B.t.i. exerted very high efficacy in terms of immature mosquito population reduction over a two-week period. Three weeks after treatment, the performance of the oil and its mixtures diminished but remained high, while the addition of diflubenzuron potentiated the persistent action of the oil against Cx. pipiens. These findings are indicative of the potential of mixing carvacrol-rich EO with diflubenzuron and B.t.i. as an efficient eco-friendly alternative to mono-insecticide applications in road drains against Cx. pipiens and Ae. albopictus larvae.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Romeo Bellini
- Centro Agricoltura Ambiente “G. Nicoli”, Via Sant’Agata 835, 40014 Crevalcore, Italy
| | - Dionysios T. Pavlopoulos
- Faculty of Animal Sciences, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece
| | - George Balatsos
- Benaki Phytopathological Institute, 8 Stefanou Delta Street, Kifissia, 14561 Athens, Greece
| | - Vasileios Karras
- Benaki Phytopathological Institute, 8 Stefanou Delta Street, Kifissia, 14561 Athens, Greece
| | - Fotis Mourafetis
- Benaki Phytopathological Institute, 8 Stefanou Delta Street, Kifissia, 14561 Athens, Greece
| | | | - Filitsa Karamaouna
- Benaki Phytopathological Institute, 8 Stefanou Delta Street, Kifissia, 14561 Athens, Greece
| | - Marco Carrieri
- Centro Agricoltura Ambiente “G. Nicoli”, Via Sant’Agata 835, 40014 Crevalcore, Italy
| | - Rodolfo Veronesi
- Centro Agricoltura Ambiente “G. Nicoli”, Via Sant’Agata 835, 40014 Crevalcore, Italy
| | - Serkos A. Haroutounian
- Faculty of Animal Sciences, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece
- Correspondence: (S.A.H.); (A.M.); Tel.: +30-21-0529-4247 (S.A.H.); +30-21-0818-0248 (A.M.)
| | - Antonios Michaelakis
- Benaki Phytopathological Institute, 8 Stefanou Delta Street, Kifissia, 14561 Athens, Greece
- Correspondence: (S.A.H.); (A.M.); Tel.: +30-21-0529-4247 (S.A.H.); +30-21-0818-0248 (A.M.)
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16
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Scolari F, Girella A, Croce AC. Imaging and spectral analysis of autofluorescence patterns in larval head structures of mosquito vectors. Eur J Histochem 2022; 66. [PMID: 36128772 PMCID: PMC9528535 DOI: 10.4081/ejh.2022.3462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Autofluorescence (AF) in mosquitoes is currently poorly explored, despite its great potential as a marker of body structures and biological functions. Here, for the first time AF in larval heads of two mosquitoes of key public health importance, Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens, is studied using fluorescence imaging and spectrofluorometry, similarly to a label-free histochemical approach. In generally conserved distribution patterns, AF shows differences between mouth brushes and antennae of the two species. The blue AF ascribable to resilin at the antennal bases, more extended in Cx. pipiens, suggests a potential need to support different antennal movements. The AF spectra larger in Cx. pipiens indicate a variability in material composition and properties likely relatable to mosquito biology, including diverse feeding and locomotion behaviours with implications for vector control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Scolari
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, Italian National Research Council (CNR), Pavia.
| | - Alessandro Girella
- Department of Chemistry - C.S.G.I., University of Pavia; Centro Interdipartimentale di Studi e Ricerche per la Conservazione del Patrimonio Culturale (CISRiC), University of Pavia.
| | - Anna Cleta Croce
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, Italian National Research Council (CNR), Pavia.
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17
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Mencattelli G, Iapaolo F, Polci A, Marcacci M, Di Gennaro A, Teodori L, Curini V, Di Lollo V, Secondini B, Scialabba S, Gobbi M, Manuali E, Cammà C, Rosà R, Rizzoli A, Monaco F, Savini G. West Nile Virus Lineage 2 Overwintering in Italy. Trop Med Infect Dis 2022; 7:160. [PMID: 36006252 PMCID: PMC9414329 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed7080160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In January 2022, West Nile virus (WNV) lineage 2 (L2) was detected in an adult female goshawk rescued near Perugia in the region of Umbria (Italy). The animal showed neurological symptoms and died 15 days after its recovery in a wildlife rescue center. This was the second case of WNV infection recorded in birds in the Umbria region during the cold season, when mosquitoes, the main WNV vectors, are usually not active. According to the National Surveillance Plan, the Umbria region is included amongst the WNV low-risk areas. The necropsy evidenced generalized pallor of the mucous membranes, mild splenomegaly, and cerebral edema. WNV L2 was detected in the brain, heart, kidney, and spleen homogenate using specific RT-PCR. Subsequently, the extracted viral RNA was sequenced. A Bayesian phylogenetic analysis performed through a maximum-likelihood tree showed that the genome sequence clustered with the Italian strains within the European WNV strains among the central-southern European WNV L2 clade. These results, on the one hand, confirmed that the WNV L2 strains circulating in Italy are genetically stable and, on the other hand, evidenced a continuous WNV circulation in Italy throughout the year. In this report case, a bird-to-bird WNV transmission was suggested to support the virus overwintering. The potential transmission through the oral route in a predatory bird may explain the relatively rapid spread of WNV, as well as other flaviviruses characterized by similar transmission patterns. However, rodent-to-bird transmission or mosquito-to-bird transmission cannot be excluded, and further research is needed to better understand WNV transmission routes during the winter season in Italy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Mencattelli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (F.I.); (A.P.); (M.M.); (A.D.G.); (L.T.); (V.C.); (V.D.L.); (B.S.); (S.S.); (C.C.); (F.M.); (G.S.)
- Center Agriculture Food Environment, University of Trento, 38098 Trento, Italy;
- Fondazione Edmund Mach, Research and Innovation Centre, San Michele all’Adige, 38098 Trento, Italy;
| | - Federica Iapaolo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (F.I.); (A.P.); (M.M.); (A.D.G.); (L.T.); (V.C.); (V.D.L.); (B.S.); (S.S.); (C.C.); (F.M.); (G.S.)
| | - Andrea Polci
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (F.I.); (A.P.); (M.M.); (A.D.G.); (L.T.); (V.C.); (V.D.L.); (B.S.); (S.S.); (C.C.); (F.M.); (G.S.)
| | - Maurilia Marcacci
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (F.I.); (A.P.); (M.M.); (A.D.G.); (L.T.); (V.C.); (V.D.L.); (B.S.); (S.S.); (C.C.); (F.M.); (G.S.)
| | - Annapia Di Gennaro
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (F.I.); (A.P.); (M.M.); (A.D.G.); (L.T.); (V.C.); (V.D.L.); (B.S.); (S.S.); (C.C.); (F.M.); (G.S.)
| | - Liana Teodori
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (F.I.); (A.P.); (M.M.); (A.D.G.); (L.T.); (V.C.); (V.D.L.); (B.S.); (S.S.); (C.C.); (F.M.); (G.S.)
| | - Valentina Curini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (F.I.); (A.P.); (M.M.); (A.D.G.); (L.T.); (V.C.); (V.D.L.); (B.S.); (S.S.); (C.C.); (F.M.); (G.S.)
| | - Valeria Di Lollo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (F.I.); (A.P.); (M.M.); (A.D.G.); (L.T.); (V.C.); (V.D.L.); (B.S.); (S.S.); (C.C.); (F.M.); (G.S.)
| | - Barbara Secondini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (F.I.); (A.P.); (M.M.); (A.D.G.); (L.T.); (V.C.); (V.D.L.); (B.S.); (S.S.); (C.C.); (F.M.); (G.S.)
| | - Silvia Scialabba
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (F.I.); (A.P.); (M.M.); (A.D.G.); (L.T.); (V.C.); (V.D.L.); (B.S.); (S.S.); (C.C.); (F.M.); (G.S.)
| | - Marco Gobbi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Umbria e delle Marche “Togo Rosati”, 06126 Perugia, Italy; (M.G.); (E.M.)
| | - Elisabetta Manuali
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Umbria e delle Marche “Togo Rosati”, 06126 Perugia, Italy; (M.G.); (E.M.)
| | - Cesare Cammà
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (F.I.); (A.P.); (M.M.); (A.D.G.); (L.T.); (V.C.); (V.D.L.); (B.S.); (S.S.); (C.C.); (F.M.); (G.S.)
| | - Roberto Rosà
- Center Agriculture Food Environment, University of Trento, 38098 Trento, Italy;
| | - Annapaola Rizzoli
- Fondazione Edmund Mach, Research and Innovation Centre, San Michele all’Adige, 38098 Trento, Italy;
| | - Federica Monaco
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (F.I.); (A.P.); (M.M.); (A.D.G.); (L.T.); (V.C.); (V.D.L.); (B.S.); (S.S.); (C.C.); (F.M.); (G.S.)
| | - Giovanni Savini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (F.I.); (A.P.); (M.M.); (A.D.G.); (L.T.); (V.C.); (V.D.L.); (B.S.); (S.S.); (C.C.); (F.M.); (G.S.)
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18
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Abstract
The northern house mosquito Culex pipiens sensu stricto is one of the most important disease vector mosquitoes in temperate zones across the northern hemisphere, responsible for the emergence of West Nile Virus over the last two decades. It comprises two ecologically distinct forms - an aboveground form, pipiens, diapauses in winter and primarily bites birds, while a belowground form, molestus, thrives year-round in subways, basements and other human-made, belowground habitats, bites mammals, and can even lay eggs without a blood meal. The two forms hybridize in some but not all places, leading to a complex ecological mosaic that complicates predictions of vectorial capacity. Moreover, the origin of the belowground molestus is contentious, with iconic populations from the London Underground subway system being held up by evolutionary biologists as a preeminent example of rapid, in situ, urban adaptation and speciation. We review the recent and historical literature on the origin and ecology of this important mosquito and its enigmatic forms. A synthesis of genetic and ecological studies spanning 100+ years clarifies a striking latitudinal gradient - behaviorally divergent and reproductively isolated forms in northern Europe gradually break down into what appear to be well-mixed, intermediate populations in North Africa. Moreover, a continuous narrative thread dating back to the original description of form molestus in Egypt in 1775 refutes the popular idea that belowground mosquitoes in London evolved in situ from their aboveground counterparts. These enigmatic mosquitoes are more likely derived from populations in the Middle East, where human-biting and other adaptations to human environments may have evolved on the timescale of millennia rather than centuries. We outline several areas for future work and discuss the implications of these patterns for public health and for our understanding of urban adaptation in the Anthropocene.
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Tiron GV, Stancu IG, Dinu S, Prioteasa FL, Fălcuță E, Ceianu CS, Cotar AI. Characterization and Host-Feeding Patterns of Culex pipiens s.l. Taxa in a West Nile Virus-Endemic Area in Southeastern Romania. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2021; 21:713-719. [PMID: 34160283 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2020.2739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Culex pipiens sensu lato has been documented as West Nile virus (WNV) vector in southeastern Romania. Bucharest, the densely populated capital city of Romania, and the surrounding Ilfov county are WNV hotspots. In this area, the morphologically indistinguishable biotypes of Cx. pipiens, namely pipiens and molestus, are usually differentiated by their behavioral and physiological traits. Their involvement in WNV transmission, as suggested by entomological investigations, was not previously documented for each biotype. We used a Real-Time PCR assay based on CQ11 microsatellite to identify the Cx. pipiens biotypes and their hybrids collected in various habitats in the Bucharest metropolitan area. A sympatric distribution of both biotypes was observed, with a preference of green areas for pipiens, and human settings and animal farmlands for molestus. In the latter habitats, pipiens and molestus were found in mixed aboveground populations. A low number of hybrids was found suggesting existence of reproductive isolation. In subway tunnels molestus was dominant with a higher number of hybrids recorded than aboveground. Blood-engorged mosquitoes were identified to biotype and the blood meal source identified by DNA barcoding. Overall, Cx. pipiens s.l. fed mainly on birds, commonly on house sparrows, collared doves, and blackbirds, which are potential WNV-amplifying hosts. The preference for avian hosts was expressed strongest by pipiens biotype, while molestus was substantially less specific, feeding on avian and mammal hosts with similar frequency, with humans representing 20% of the hosts. Hybrids had a host choice closer to that of molestus. These findings highlight the role of pipiens biotype as enzootic/epizootic vector, and specifically show molestus as the bridge vector for WNV. The pipiens and molestus biotypes show important differences in habitat preferences, including oviposition; these findings demonstrate that targeted mosquito control to limit WNV transmission may be possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgiana Victorița Tiron
- Cantacuzino National Medico-Military Institute for Research and Development, Bucharest, Romania
- Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ioana Georgeta Stancu
- Cantacuzino National Medico-Military Institute for Research and Development, Bucharest, Romania
- Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Sorin Dinu
- Cantacuzino National Medico-Military Institute for Research and Development, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Florian Liviu Prioteasa
- Cantacuzino National Medico-Military Institute for Research and Development, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Elena Fălcuță
- Cantacuzino National Medico-Military Institute for Research and Development, Bucharest, Romania
| | | | - Ani Ioana Cotar
- Cantacuzino National Medico-Military Institute for Research and Development, Bucharest, Romania
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20
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Cardo MV, Rubio A, Junges MT, Vezzani D, Carbajo AE. A rural-urban latitudinal study of the distributions of Culex quinquefasciatus and Culex pipiens bioforms in their southernmost sympatric fringe. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2020; 34:34-43. [PMID: 31411773 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/28/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Mosquitoes grouped in the complex Culex pipiens L. (Diptera: Culicidae) are important vectors of medical and veterinary diseases. In the South American sympatric region, Cx. pipiens and Culex quinquefasciatus Say coexist and potentially hybridize. To identify key drivers of their geographical distribution, mosquito immatures were collected from flower vases of eight urban/rural cemetery pairs within a 5° latitudinal transect along Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. The specimens were identified by molecular methods and their relative proportion modelled as a function of environmental variables. At the beginning of the warm season, northern and southern cemeteries presented exclusively Cx. quinquefasciatus and Cx. pipiens, respectively, with different proportions of both at mid latitudes. By the end of the summer, Cx. quinquefasciatus was present throughout the study area, exclusively in 11 of the 16 cemeteries both rural and urban, whereas Cx. pipiens was predominant only in the southernmost pair. Mean annual temperature, photoperiod variability and time of the season were key drivers of their distributions. All specimens of Cx. pipiens were identified as form molestus and no hybrids were recognized. The reported distribution patterns and the potential absence of Cx. pipiens f. pipiens and hybrids are discussed, along with their implications in disease transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- M V Cardo
- Ecología de Enfermedades Transmitidas por Vectores (2eTV), Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental, UNSAM, CONICET, San Martín, Prov. de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto Multidisciplinario sobre Ecosistemas y Desarrollo Sustentable, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNCPBA-CIC), Tandil, Prov. de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - A Rubio
- Ecología de Enfermedades Transmitidas por Vectores (2eTV), Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental, UNSAM, CONICET, San Martín, Prov. de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto Multidisciplinario sobre Ecosistemas y Desarrollo Sustentable, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNCPBA-CIC), Tandil, Prov. de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M T Junges
- Ecología de Enfermedades Transmitidas por Vectores (2eTV), Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental, UNSAM, CONICET, San Martín, Prov. de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto Multidisciplinario sobre Ecosistemas y Desarrollo Sustentable, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNCPBA-CIC), Tandil, Prov. de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - D Vezzani
- Instituto Multidisciplinario sobre Ecosistemas y Desarrollo Sustentable, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNCPBA-CIC), Tandil, Prov. de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - A E Carbajo
- Ecología de Enfermedades Transmitidas por Vectores (2eTV), Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental, UNSAM, CONICET, San Martín, Prov. de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto Multidisciplinario sobre Ecosistemas y Desarrollo Sustentable, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNCPBA-CIC), Tandil, Prov. de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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21
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The Effect of Weather Variables on Mosquito Activity: A Snapshot of the Main Point of Entry of Cyprus. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17041403. [PMID: 32098137 PMCID: PMC7068582 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17041403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Mosquitoes are vectors of pathogens, causing human and animal diseases. Their ability to adapt and expand worldwide increases spread of mosquito-borne diseases. Climate changes contribute in enhancing these “epidemic conditions”. Understanding the effect of weather variables on mosquito seasonality and host searching activity contributes towards risk control of the mosquito-borne disease outbreaks. To enable early detection of Aedes invasive species we developed a surveillance network for both invasive and native mosquitoes at the main point of entry for the first time in Cyprus. Mosquito sampling was carried out for one year (May 2017–June 2018), at bimonthly intervals around Limassol port. Morphological and molecular identification confirmed the presence of 5 species in the study region: Culex. pipiens, Aedes detritus, Ae. caspius, Culiseta longiareolata and Cs. annulata. No invasive Aedes mosquito species were detected. The Pearson’s correlation and multiple linear regression were used to compare number of sampled mosquitoes and weather variables for three most numerous species (Cx. pipiens, Ae. detritus and Ae. caspius). The population densities of the most numerous species were highest from February to April. Number of Cx. pipiens (−0.48), Ae. detritus (−0.40) and Ae. caspius (−0.38) specimens sampled was negatively correlated with average daily temperature. Monthly relative humidity showed positive correlation with the numbers of the species sampled, Cx. pipiens (0.66) Ae. detritus (0.68), and Ae. caspius (0.71). Mosquito abundance of Cx. pipiens (0.97) and Ae. detritus (0.98) was strongly correlated to seasonal precipitation as well. Our work is a stepping stone to further stimulate implementation of International Health Regulations and implementation of early warning surveillance system for detection of invasive Aedes mosquitoes, native mosquitoes and arboviruses they may transmit. A network for the surveillance of both invasive and native mosquito species at the main point of entry for the first time in Cyprus was developed. Number of mosquitoes sampled was correlated with weather factors to identify parameters that might predict mosquito activity and species distribution to the prevention of international spread of vector mosquitoes and vector-borne diseases.
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Francuski L, Gojković N, Krtinić B, Milankov V. The diagnostic utility of sequence-based assays for the molecular delimitation of the epidemiologically relevant Culex pipiens pipiens taxa (Diptera: Culicidae). BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2019; 109:752-761. [PMID: 30968784 DOI: 10.1017/s0007485319000105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The northern house mosquito (Culex pipiens pipiens L.) is a vector of several important pathogens and comprises two epidemiologically distinct ecotypes (molestus Forskål and pipiens). The delimitation of its ecotypes is a crucial, yet controversial step in vector surveillance due to varying diagnostic values of different characters. Therefore, we reviewed the success of a diagnostic assay based on the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I locus (COI) by analyzing previously published sequences of molestus and pipiens sampled in different geographical areas. Next, by genotyping individuals from Northern Serbia at this locus, we additionally assessed whether genetic structure of urban and rural Cx. p. pipiens ecotypes corresponded to the admixture pattern. Finally, to account for the different susceptibility of genetic markers to introgression, we also analyzed genetic structuring based on the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2). No latitude-dependent differentiation of Cx. p. pipiens ecotypes was found at a global level, with the COI assay further failing to accurately identify molestus and pipiens ecotypes. Likewise, both individual- (BAPS) and population-based (analysis of molecular variance and FST estimates) methods showed no significant urban/rural genetic differentiation in Serbia, indicating unhindered gene flow between different Cx. p. pipiens habitat types. The findings challenge the previous instances of Cx. p. pipiens ecotype identification, while also spotlighting the vectorial capacity of their hybrid offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Francuski
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - N Gojković
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - B Krtinić
- Ciklonizacija, Primorska 76, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - V Milankov
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
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23
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Artificial Light at Night Influences Clock-Gene Expression, Activity, and Fecundity in the Mosquito Culex pipiens f. molestus. SUSTAINABILITY 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/su11226220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Light is an important environmental cue, and exposure to artificial light at night (ALAN) may disrupt organismal physiology and behavior. We investigated whether ALAN led to changes in clock-gene expression, diel activity patterns, and fecundity in laboratory populations of the mosquito Culex pipiens f. molestus (Diptera, Culicidae), a species that occurs in urban areas and is thus regularly exposed to ALAN. Populations were kept under 16hours (h):8h light:dark cycles or were subjected to an additional 3.5 h of light (100–300 lx) in the evenings. ALAN induced significant changes in expression in all genes studied, either alone (period) or as an interaction with time (timeless, cryptochrome2, Clock, cycle). Changes were sex-specific: period was down-regulated in both sexes, cycle was up-regulated in females, and Clock was down-regulated in males. ALAN-exposed mosquitoes were less active during the extra-light phase, but exposed females were more active later in the night. ALAN-exposed females also produced smaller and fewer eggs. Our findings indicate a sex-specific impact of ALAN on the physiology and behavior of Culex pipiens f. molestus and that changes in clock-gene expression, activity, and fecundity may be linked.
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Spanoudis CG, Andreadis SS, Tsaknis NK, Petrou AP, Gkeka CD, Savopoulou-Soultani M. Effect of Temperature on Biological Parameters of the West Nile Virus Vector Culex pipiens form 'molestus' (Diptera: Culicidae) in Greece: Constant vs Fluctuating Temperatures. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2019; 56:641-650. [PMID: 30597045 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjy224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Studying the biology of Culex species is crucial to understanding their role in arbovirus transmission and for the development of efficient control strategies. Assessments of survival, development, adult longevity, fecundity and egg hatching of Culex pipiens form 'molestus' (Forsskål), were conducted, under nine constant and fluctuating temperatures ranging from 15 to 35 ± 0.5°C. Higher survival rates were observed at constant temperature of 25°C as well as fluctuating with the same mean. Complete mortality occurred at 35°C in both constant and fluctuating temperature regimes. Development rate from egg to adult increased between 15 and 32.5°C, in a linear fashion. Adult longevity ranged from 1.4 d at 32.5°C to 73.5 d at 15°C. Females lived significantly longer compared to males at all temperature regimes with the exception of constant 32.5°C where adult longevity was similar between males and females. Fecundity was higher at moderate constant and fluctuating temperatures compared to high temperatures, where females laid a significantly smaller number of eggs. Likewise, egg hatching was significantly lower at the highest tested temperature regimes compared to low and moderate ones. The lowest developmental thresholds of the species in different developmental stages ranged between 11.17 and 11.95°C at constant temperatures and between 11.09 and 12.74°C at fluctuating ones. Differences between constant and fluctuating temperatures were observed concerning developmental time, fecundity, and male adult longevity at the two lowest tested temperatures, highlighting the importance of testing also fluctuating temperatures that simulate field conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christos G Spanoudis
- Faculty of Agriculture, Laboratory of Applied Zoology and Parasitology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Stefanos S Andreadis
- Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, Hellenic Agricultural Organization-Demeter, Thermi, Greece
| | - Nikolaos K Tsaknis
- Faculty of Agriculture, Laboratory of Applied Zoology and Parasitology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Andreas P Petrou
- Faculty of Agriculture, Laboratory of Applied Zoology and Parasitology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Charikleia D Gkeka
- Faculty of Agriculture, Laboratory of Applied Zoology and Parasitology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Matilda Savopoulou-Soultani
- Faculty of Agriculture, Laboratory of Applied Zoology and Parasitology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
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25
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Koenraadt CJM, Möhlmann TWR, Verhulst NO, Spitzen J, Vogels CBF. Effect of overwintering on survival and vector competence of the West Nile virus vector Culex pipiens. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:147. [PMID: 30917854 PMCID: PMC6437999 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3400-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne virus that is mainly transmitted among birds by Culex pipiens mosquitoes. The species Cx. pipiens consists of two biotypes named pipiens and molestus, which together can form hybrids. One of the major distinctions between the biotypes is their overwintering behaviour. Adults of biotype pipiens diapause during winter, whereas biotype molestus remains actively blood-feeding. Diapausing may affect survival and vector competence of biotype pipiens. The aims of this study were therefore to identify the biotype composition of diapausing Cx. pipiens mosquitoes, to quantify survival throughout the autumn and winter months, and to determine effects of overwintering on vector competence of emerging Cx. pipiens mosquitoes for WNV. METHODS Diapausing mosquitoes were collected at two typical overwintering locations in the Netherlands. A selection of Cx. pipiens mosquitoes was identified to biotype using real-time PCR. Survival of diapausing Cx. pipiens mosquitoes during autumn and winter was monitored by placing cages with either field-collected or laboratory-reared females in houses and sheds. Vector competence of field-collected (diapausing) and laboratory-reared (non-diapausing) Cx. pipiens mosquitoes was determined to gain insight in the effect of overwintering on WNV transmission. RESULTS The majority (92%) of diapausing Cx. pipiens females were identified as biotype pipiens. More than 70% of diapausing Cx. pipiens mosquitoes was able to survive for more than four months in sheds, whereas diapausing in houses resulted in 100% mortality in that same period. In contrast, non-diapausing Cx. pipiens biotype pipiens mosquitoes reared in the laboratory died within a week in both houses and sheds. Vector competence of Cx. pipiens mosquitoes that had diapaused during the autumn and winter months was comparable to non-diapausing laboratory-reared mosquitoes. CONCLUSIONS This study confirms that the majority of Cx. pipiens mosquitoes in their typical overwintering site belongs to the pipiens biotype. It shows that more than two-third of diapausing Cx. pipiens mosquitoes is able to survive winter under sheltered winter conditions. Finally, vector competence for WNV of mosquitoes that emerge from overwintering sites is not affected by their relatively old age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constantianus J M Koenraadt
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, PO Box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Tim W R Möhlmann
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, PO Box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Niels O Verhulst
- National Centre for Vector Entomology, Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 266A, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jeroen Spitzen
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, PO Box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Chantal B F Vogels
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, PO Box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands.,Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, 60 College Street, P.O. Box 208034, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
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Gutiérrez-López R, Martínez-de la Puente J, Gangoso L, Soriguer R, Figuerola J. Effects of host sex, body mass and infection by avian Plasmodium on the biting rate of two mosquito species with different feeding preferences. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:87. [PMID: 30867014 PMCID: PMC6416876 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3342-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The transmission of mosquito-borne pathogens is strongly influenced by the contact rates between mosquitoes and susceptible hosts. The biting rates of mosquitoes depend on different factors including the mosquito species and host-related traits (i.e. odour, heat and behaviour). However, host characteristics potentially affecting intraspecific differences in the biting rate of mosquitoes are poorly known. Here, we assessed the impact of three host-related traits on the biting rate of two mosquito species with different feeding preferences: the ornithophilic Culex pipiens and the mammophilic Ochlerotatus (Aedes) caspius. Seventy-two jackdaws Corvus monedula and 101 house sparrows Passer domesticus were individually exposed to mosquito bites to test the effect of host sex, body mass and infection status by the avian malaria parasite Plasmodium on biting rates. RESULTS Ochlerotatus caspius showed significantly higher biting rates than Cx. pipiens on jackdaws, but non-significant differences were found on house sparrows. In addition, more Oc. caspius fed on female than on male jackdaws, while no differences were found for Cx. pipiens. The biting rate of mosquitoes on house sparrows increased through the year. The bird infection status and body mass of both avian hosts were not related to the biting rate of both mosquito species. CONCLUSIONS Host sex was the only host-related trait potentially affecting the biting rate of mosquitoes, although its effect may differ between mosquito and host species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Gutiérrez-López
- Department of Wetland Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), C/Américo Vespucio 26, 41092 Seville, Spain
| | - Josué Martínez-de la Puente
- Department of Wetland Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), C/Américo Vespucio 26, 41092 Seville, Spain
- CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Publica, Seville, Spain
| | - Laura Gangoso
- Department of Wetland Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), C/Américo Vespucio 26, 41092 Seville, Spain
- Present Address: Theoretical and Computational Ecology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ramón Soriguer
- Department of Ethology & Biodiversity Conservation, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), C/Américo Vespucio 26, 41092 Seville, Spain
- CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Publica, Seville, Spain
| | - Jordi Figuerola
- Department of Wetland Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), C/Américo Vespucio 26, 41092 Seville, Spain
- CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Publica, Seville, Spain
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27
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The Role of Culex pipiens L. (Diptera: Culicidae) in Virus Transmission in Europe. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:ijerph15020389. [PMID: 29473903 PMCID: PMC5858458 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15020389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2018] [Revised: 02/15/2018] [Accepted: 02/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Over the past three decades, a range of mosquito-borne viruses that threaten public and veterinary health have emerged or re-emerged in Europe. Mosquito surveillance activities have highlighted the Culex pipiens species complex as being critical for the maintenance of a number of these viruses. This species complex contains morphologically similar forms that exhibit variation in phenotypes that can influence the probability of virus transmission. Critical amongst these is the choice of host on which to feed, with different forms showing different feeding preferences. This influences the ability of the mosquito to vector viruses and facilitate transmission of viruses to humans and domestic animals. Biases towards blood-feeding on avian or mammalian hosts have been demonstrated for different Cx. pipiens ecoforms and emerging evidence of hybrid populations across Europe adds another level of complexity to virus transmission. A range of molecular methods based on DNA have been developed to enable discrimination between morphologically indistinguishable forms, although this remains an active area of research. This review provides a comprehensive overview of developments in the understanding of the ecology, behaviour and genetics of Cx. pipiens in Europe, and how this influences arbovirus transmission.
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28
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Honnen AC, Monaghan MT. City-Dwellers and Country Folks: Lack of Population Differentiation Along an Urban-Rural Gradient in the Mosquito Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae). JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2017; 17:4560636. [PMID: 29117382 PMCID: PMC5717708 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/iex086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Mosquitoes (Diptera, Culicidae) occur in natural, urban, and peri-urban areas throughout the globe. Although the characteristics of urban and peri-urban habitats differ from those of natural habitats in many ways (e.g., fragmentation, pollution, noise, and light), few studies have examined the population connectivity of mosquitoes in urban areas. To obtain an overview of the species composition, we sampled mosquitoes from 23 sites in and around the city of Berlin, Germany. Of 23 species, five occurred in urban, 10 in peri-urban, and 20 in rural areas. Culex pipiens Linnaeus (Diptera: Culicidae) was the most common species collected (75% of all individuals) and occurred in all habitats. Hence this species was selected to be analysed at 10 microsatellite markers. There was no significant differentiation (FST = 0.016, P = 0.9) or isolation by distance (P = 0.06) among Cx. pipiens populations along an urban-rural gradient. The only significant differences detected were between Cx. pipiens and a laboratory population of Cx. pipiens f. molestus (pairwise FST = 0.114-0.148, P ≤ 0.001 in all comparisons), suggesting that the markers chosen were suitable for the identification of population differentiation. Our results indicate that Cx. pipiens gene flow is widespread within and among urban, peri-urban, and rural areas and that urban habitat does not necessarily impede or enhance gene flow among these populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann-Christin Honnen
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Switzerland
- University of Basel, Switzerland
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Germany
| | - Michael T Monaghan
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Germany
- Berlin Center for Genomics in Biodiversity Research, Germany
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29
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Beji M, Rhim A, Roiz D, Bouattour A. Ecophysiological characterization and molecular differentiation of Culex pipiens forms (Diptera: Culicidae) in Tunisia. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:327. [PMID: 28693560 PMCID: PMC5504560 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2265-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2017] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Culex pipiens complex (Diptera: Culicidae) includes the most widespread mosquito species in the world. Members of this complex are the primary enzootic and epidemic vectors of the West Nile virus (genus Flavivirus) in several countries. The two recognized forms of Cx. pipiens (Linnaeus, 1758) - pipiens and molestus- exhibit behavioral and physiological differences. Natural populations of Cx. pipiens were investigated in several sites in Tunisia to evaluate the ecophysiological and molecular characteristics of their forms. Results The analysis showed the sympatric presence of Cx. pipiens forms and hybrids in all studied sites. Of all the tested larvae of Cx. pipiens, 33.5% were identified as pipiens, 30.8% were identified as molestus, and 35.6% were identified as hybrids. The molestus and hybrid forms were positively correlated with urban habitats and belowground sites while the pipiens form was positively correlated with rural habitats and aboveground sites. Autogeny was expressed in all types of habitats and breeding sites. By contrast with the microsatellite CQ11, the two molecular markers, ace-2 and cytb, did not allow differentiation between the Cx. pipiens forms. Conclusions Our study shows the ubiquitous distribution and the plasticity of the different forms of Cx. pipiens in a wide range of ecological conditions. It suggests that the behavioral traits assigned to the forms of Cx. pipiens seem to be more flexible than previously assumed. Our analysis also proves that the microsatellite CQ11 remains an efficient tool for distinguishing between Cx. pipiens forms. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-017-2265-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marwa Beji
- Université Tunis El Manar, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Laboratoire d'Epidémiologie et de Microbiologie Vétérinaire LR11IPT03, Service d'Entomologie Médicale, 1002, Tunis-Belvédère, Tunisia
| | - Adel Rhim
- Université Tunis El Manar, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Laboratoire d'Epidémiologie et de Microbiologie Vétérinaire LR11IPT03, Service d'Entomologie Médicale, 1002, Tunis-Belvédère, Tunisia
| | - David Roiz
- Infectious Diseases and Vectors: Ecology, Genetics, Evolution and Control, IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement), Montpellier, France
| | - Ali Bouattour
- Université Tunis El Manar, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Laboratoire d'Epidémiologie et de Microbiologie Vétérinaire LR11IPT03, Service d'Entomologie Médicale, 1002, Tunis-Belvédère, Tunisia.
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30
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Modelling West Nile virus transmission risk in Europe: effect of temperature and mosquito biotypes on the basic reproduction number. Sci Rep 2017; 7:5022. [PMID: 28694450 PMCID: PMC5504010 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-05185-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2017] [Accepted: 05/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus which has caused repeated outbreaks in humans in southern and central Europe, but thus far not in northern Europe. The main mosquito vector for WNV, Culex pipiens, consists of two behaviourally distinct biotypes, pipiens and molestus, which can form hybrids. Differences between biotypes, such as vector competence and host preference, could be important in determining the risk of WNV outbreaks. Risks for WNV establishment can be modelled with basic reproduction number (R0) models. However, existing R0 models have not differentiated between biotypes. The aim of this study was, therefore, to explore the role of temperature-dependent and biotype-specific effects on the risk of WNV establishment in Europe. We developed an R0 model with temperature-dependent and biotype-specific parameters, and calculated R0 values using the next-generation matrix for several scenarios relevant for Europe. In addition, elasticity analysis was done to investigate the contribution of each biotype to R0. Global warming and increased mosquito-to-host ratios can possibly result in more intense WNV circulation in birds and spill-over to humans in northern Europe. Different contributions of the Cx. pipiens biotypes to R0 shows the importance of including biotype-specific parameters in models for reliable WNV risk assessments.
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31
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Bravo-Barriga D, Gomes B, Almeida APG, Serrano-Aguilera FJ, Pérez-Martín JE, Calero-Bernal R, Reina D, Frontera E, Pinto J. The mosquito fauna of the western region of Spain with emphasis on ecological factors and the characterization of Culex pipiens forms. JOURNAL OF VECTOR ECOLOGY : JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR VECTOR ECOLOGY 2017; 42:136-147. [PMID: 28504431 DOI: 10.1111/jvec.12248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2016] [Accepted: 01/17/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED This study updates the diversity, distribution, and seasonal trends of mosquitoes in a western region of Spain, assesses ecological determinants of Culex pipiens s.l., and determines form composition of Cx. pipiens s.s. POPULATIONS A total of 1,495 mosquitoes of 16 species was collected during 2012-2013, of which Cx. pipiens s.l. and Cx. theileri were the most abundant. Five new records for An. maculipennis s.s., Orthopodomyia pulcripalpis, Aedes (Ochlerotatus) punctor, Cx. europaeus, and Cx. modestus were found for this region. Cx. pipiens density varied across weather and habitat patterns, correlating positively with high temperatures and with a preference for urbanized areas and rural areas within a proximity of ovine farms. Moreover, molecular identification by CQ11FL was performed in 467 Cx. pipiens s.s., detecting both pipiens (66%) and molestus (8.4%) forms coexisting in different habitats (urban, peri-urban and rural) aboveground with a high degree of hybridization (25.7%). The abundance of Cx. pipiens in urban areas and farms, with the presence of hybrids, may increase their capacity to act as bridge vectors for the transmission of arboviral infections. These data will be helpful for further implementation of entomological programs focused on risk assessment for arboviruses or other mosquito-borne pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Bravo-Barriga
- Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, University of Extremadura, Caceres, Spain
| | - Bruno Gomes
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Unidade de Parasitologia Médica, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Antonio P G Almeida
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Unidade de Parasitologia Médica, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
- Center for Viral Zoonoses, Department of Medical Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Francisco J Serrano-Aguilera
- Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, University of Extremadura, Caceres, Spain
| | - Juan E Pérez-Martín
- Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, University of Extremadura, Caceres, Spain
| | - Rafael Calero-Bernal
- Parasitology Service National Centre for Microbiology, Carlos III Institute of Health, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - David Reina
- Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, University of Extremadura, Caceres, Spain
| | - Eva Frontera
- Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, University of Extremadura, Caceres, Spain
| | - João Pinto
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Unidade de Parasitologia Médica, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
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32
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Boccolini D, Toma L, Di Luca M, Severini F, Romi R, Remoli ME, Sabbatucci M, Venturi G, Rezza G, Fortuna C. Experimental investigation of the susceptibility of Italian Culex pipiens mosquitoes to Zika virus infection. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 21:30328. [PMID: 27605056 PMCID: PMC5015456 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2016.21.35.30328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2016] [Accepted: 09/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the susceptibility of an Italian population of Culex pipiens mosquitoes to Zika virus (ZIKV) infection, tested in parallel with Aedes aegypti, as a positive control. We analysed mosquitoes at 0, 3, 7, 10, 14, 20 and 24 days after an infectious blood meal. Viral RNA was detected in the body of Cx. pipiens up to three days post-infection, but not at later time points. Our results indicate that Cx. pipiens is not susceptible to ZIKV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Boccolini
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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Martínez-de la Puente J, Ferraguti M, Ruiz S, Roiz D, Soriguer RC, Figuerola J. Culex pipiens forms and urbanization: effects on blood feeding sources and transmission of avian Plasmodium. Malar J 2016; 15:589. [PMID: 27931226 PMCID: PMC5146868 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-016-1643-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2016] [Accepted: 12/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The wide spread mosquito Culex pipiens pipiens have two forms molestus and pipiens which frequently hybridize. The two forms have behavioural and physiological differences affecting habitat requirements and host selection, which may affect the transmission dynamic of Cx. p. pipiens-borne diseases. Methods During 2013, blood engorged Cx. p. pipiens mosquitoes were captured in urban, rural and natural areas from Southern Spain. In 120 mosquitoes, we identified the blood meal origin at vertebrate species/genus level and the mosquito form. The presence and molecular lineage identity of avian malaria parasites in the head-thorax of each mosquito was also analysed. Results Mosquitoes of the form pipiens were more frequently found in natural than in urban areas. The proportion of Cx. pipiens form molestus and hybrids of the two forms did not differ between habitat categories. Any significant difference in the proportion of blood meals on birds between forms was found. Birds were the most common feeding source for the two forms and their hybrids. Among mammals, dogs and humans were the most common hosts. Two Plasmodium and one Haemoproteus lineages were found in mosquitoes, with non-significant differences between forms. Conclusion This study supports a differential distribution of Cx. p. pipiens form pipiens between urban and natural areas. Probably due to the similar feeding sources of both mosquito forms and their hybrids here, all of them may frequently interact with avian malaria parasites playing a role in the transmission of Plasmodium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josué Martínez-de la Puente
- Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Avda Américo Vespucio s/n, 41092, Seville, Spain. .,CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Martina Ferraguti
- Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Avda Américo Vespucio s/n, 41092, Seville, Spain
| | - Santiago Ruiz
- Servicio de Control de Mosquitos, Diputación de Huelva, Huelva, Spain.,CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - David Roiz
- Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Avda Américo Vespucio s/n, 41092, Seville, Spain.,Infectious Diseases and Vectors: Ecology, Genetics, Evolution and Control, IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement), Montpellier, France
| | - Ramón C Soriguer
- Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Avda Américo Vespucio s/n, 41092, Seville, Spain.,CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi Figuerola
- Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Avda Américo Vespucio s/n, 41092, Seville, Spain.,CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
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34
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Vogels CBF, Möhlmann TWR, Melsen D, Favia G, Wennergren U, Koenraadt CJM. Latitudinal Diversity of Culex pipiens Biotypes and Hybrids in Farm, Peri-Urban, and Wetland Habitats in Europe. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0166959. [PMID: 27870890 PMCID: PMC5117740 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0166959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2016] [Accepted: 11/07/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the presence of Culex (Cx.) pipiens mosquitoes and circulation of West Nile virus (WNV), WNV outbreaks have so far not occurred in northern Europe. The species Cx. pipiens consists of two morphologically identical biotypes, pipiens and molestus, which can form hybrids. Until now, population dynamic studies of Cx. pipiens have not differentiated between biotypes and hybrids at the European scale, nor have they used comparative surveillance approaches. We therefore aimed to elucidate the relative abundance of Cx. pipiens biotypes and hybrids in three habitat types at different latitudes across Europe, using two different surveillance traps. BG-Sentinel and Mosquito-Magnet Liberty Plus traps were placed in three habitat types (farms, peri-urban, wetlands), in three European countries (Sweden, The Netherlands, Italy). Collected Cx. pipiens mosquitoes were identified to biotype with real-time PCR. Both trap types collected equal ratios of the biotypes and their hybrids. From northern to southern latitudes there was a significant decrease of pipiens and an increase of molestus. Habitat types influenced the relative ratios of biotypes and hybrids, but results were not consistent across latitudes. Our results emphasize the need to differentiate Cx. pipiens to the biotype level, especially for proper future WNV risk assessments for Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chantal B. F. Vogels
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
| | - Tim W. R. Möhlmann
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- IFM Theory and Modelling, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Diede Melsen
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Guido Favia
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Uno Wennergren
- IFM Theory and Modelling, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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