Successful introgression of < i > w < /i > Mel < i > Wolbachia < /i > into < i > Aedes aegypti < /i > populations in Fiji, Vanuatu and Kiribati

by Cameron P. Simmons, Wesley Donald, Lekon Tagavi, Len Tarivonda, Timothy Quai, Raynelyn Tavoa, Tebikau Noran, Erirau Manikaoti, Lavinia Kareaua, Tabomoa Tinte Abwai, Dip Chand, Vineshwaran Rama, Vimal Deo, Kharishma Karti Deo, Aminiasi Tavuii, Wame Valentine, Ravi Prasad, Eremasi Seru, Leikitah Naituku, Anaseini Ratu, Mark Hesketh, Nichola Kenny, Sarah C. Beebe, Anjali A. Goundar, Andrew McCaw, Molly Buntine, Ben Green, Tibor Frossard, Jeremie R. L. Gilles, D. Albert Joubert, Geoff Wilson, Le Quyen Duong, Jean B Bouvier, Darren Stanford, Carolyn Forder, Johanna M. Duyvestyn, Etiene C. Pacid ônio, Heather A. Flores, Natalie Wittmeier, Kate Retzki, Peter A. Ryan, Jai A. Denton, Ruth Smithyman, Stephanie K. Tanamas, Peter Kyrylos, Yi Dong, Anam Khalid, Lauren Hodgson, Katherine L. Anders, Scott L. O’Neill Pacific Island countries have experienced periodic dengue, chikungunya and Zika outbreaks for decades. The prevention and control of these mosquito-borne diseases rely heavily on control ofAedes aegypti mosquitoes, which in most settings are the primary vector. Introgression of the intracellular bacteriumWolbachia pipientis (wMel strain) intoAe.aegypti populations reduces their vector competence and consequently lowers dengue incidence in the human population. Here we describe successful area-wide deployments ofwMel-infectedAe.aegypti in Suva, Lautoka, Nadi (Fiji), Port Vila (Vanuatu) and South Tarawa (Kiribati). With community support, weekly releases ofwMel-infectedAe.a...
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Source Type: research