Surveillance of invasive < i > Aedes < /i >  mosquitoes along Swiss traffic axes reveals different dispersal modes for < i > Aedes albopictus < /i > and < i > Ae < /i > . < i > japonicus < /i >

by Pie M üller, Lukas Engeler, Laura Vavassori, Tobias Suter, Valeria Guidi, Martin Gschwind, Mauro Tonolla, Eleonora Flacio Over the past three decades, Europe has witnessed an increased spread of invasive aedine mosquito species, most notablyAedes albopictus, a key vector of chikungunya, dengue and Zika virus. While its distribution in southern Europe is well documented, its dispersal modes across the Alps remain poorly investigated, preventing a projection of future scenarios beyond its current range in order to target mosquito control. To monitor the presence and frequency of invasiveAedes mosquitoes across and beyond the Alps we set oviposition and BG-Sentinel traps at potential points of entry with a focus on motorway service areas across Switzerland. We placed the traps from June to September and controlled them for the presence of mosquitoes every other week between 2013 and 2018. Over the six years of surveillance we identified three invasiveAedes species, includingAe.albopictus,Ae.japonicus andAe.koreicus. Based on the frequency and distribution patterns we conclude thatAe.albopictus andAe.koreicus are being passively spread primarily along the European route E35 from Italy to Germany, crossing the Alps, whileAe.japonicus has been expanding its range from northern Switzerland across the country most likely through active dispersal.
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Source Type: research