Effect of temperature on life history traits during immature development of Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) from Córdoba city,Argentina

We investigated how ambient temperature under fluctuating conditions affects the larval–pupal immature traits of Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes from Córdoba city, Argentina, and established each species development threshold and physiological time. Based on life tables, three cohorts of each mosquito species were reared in the laboratory under small fluctuating temperatures conditions of 15.2 ± 1.7 °C, 17.9 ± 1.6 °C, 21.6 ± 0.7 °C and 25.3 ± 0.4 °C for Ae. aegypti, and 16.6 ± 1.7 °C, 18.7 ± 1.7 °C and 25.2 ± 0.3 °C for Cx. quinquefasciatus. Immature development time and survival values, and also thermal development threshold and physiological time were estimated. Development times of all larval and pupal stages of Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus were significantly affected by the rearing temperatures, decreasing when temperature increased. Mean Ae. aegypti total (larva + pupa) development time ranged from 21.9 to 8.6 days, at 15.2 and 25.3 °C, whereas, for Cx. quinquefasciatus varied between 23.5 to 9.2 days at 16.6 and 25.2 °C, respectively. Larval and pupal survival of both species was affected by different rearing temperatures, increasing in general as temperature increased. For Ae. aegypti the total immature survival ranged from 26% at 15.2 °C to 92% at 21.6 °C; however, temperature did not have significant effect on this variable. The total immature survival of Cx. quinquefasciatus was significantly and positively affected by temperatures, ranging from 32 to 88%, at 16.6 and 25.2 °C. The temperature development threshold and the physiological time estimated for Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus were 11.11 °C and 93.74 degree-days, and 10.96 °C and 136.87 degree-days, respectively. The results of the present study showed that temperature significantly affects the larval–pupal immature traits of these mosquito species of sanitary importance, from the central region of Argentina. All the parameters recorded are useful for the development of mosquito management models.     

Dengue cases and Aedes aegypti indices in Trinidad, West Indies

This study was conducted to determine whether any relationships exist between Aedes aegypti indices, dengue seroprevalence and dengue transmission in County Victoria, Trinidad, West Indies. The cardinal points surveillance method was used to evaluate 50 suspected dengue fever (DF) cases. Thirty-three (33) confirmed DF cases were fully investigated within 48 h of clinical diagnosis. Using retrospective data collected during the previous year (2003-2004) and study data, key premises and key containers were determined. Ninety-two percent of the houses were considered key premises, and 66% (22/33) of the houses with dengue positive cases harboured Ae. aegypti immature stages. These results showed that significantly (P < 0.001) more adults (1050 vs 493) and immatures were collected during dengue case investigations than during routine inspection and treatment cycles. In addition, when the DF diagnosis was made the pupae per person rates increased from 0.65 to 1.35 with significantly (P < 0.001) larger numbers of Ae. aegypti females emerging daily, increasing from 221 to 472.5. That is, the mosquito density required for DF transmission may be high for Trinidad given the high seroprevalence rates (94% among pregnant women). These results suggest that dengue transmission occurs, not at a fixed entomologic figure/quantity but rather at a variable level based on numerous factors including seroprevalence, mosquito density and climate. These findings have implications for effective programs: by combining cardinal points and the key premises approaches; vector control programs can now target the most productive containers in key premises thus reducing dengue transmission levels.     

Distribution of Mosquito Larvae on Kosrae Island,Kosrae State,the Federated States of Micronesia

Surveys of mosquito larvae were carried out in six areas of Kosrae Island, Kosrae State, the Federated States of Micronesia in December 2009 and June 2012. A total of 962 larvae of six species were collected from 106 natural and artificial habitats. They were identified as Aedes aegypti, Ae. albopictus, Ae. marshallensis, Culex quinquefasciatus, Cx. annulirostris, and Cx. kusaiensis. This is the first report from Kosrae Island for three of these species—Ae. marshallensis, Cx. quinquefasciatus, and Cx. annulirostris. The most abundant species was Ae. albopictus, followed by Ae. marshallensis, and these two species were found in all areas. Relatively large numbers of Cx. quinquefasciatus and Cx. kusaiensis were found in five areas. Fewer Cx. annulirostris were found, and only in three areas. Aedes aegypti larvae were collected from a single habitat at Tafunsak in 2009. To prevent the outbreak of dengue fever, environmental management should focus on the destruction, alteration, disposal and recycling of containers that produce larger numbers of adult Aedes mosquitoes.     

Efficacy of Thai herbal essential oils as green repellent against mosquito vectors

Repellency activity of Thai essential oils derived from ylang ylang (Cananga odorata (Lamk.) Hook.f. & Thomson: Annonaceae) and lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf: Poaceae) were tested against two mosquito vectors, Aedes aegypti (L.) and Culex quinquefasciatus (Say). There were compared with two chemical repellents (DEET 20% w/w; Sketolene Shield^® and IR3535, ethyl butylacetylaminopropionate 12.5% w/w; Johnson's Baby Clear Lotion Anti-Mosquito^®). Each herbal repellent was applied in three diluents; coconut oil, soybean oil and olive oil at 0.33 μl/cm² on the forearm of volunteers. All herbal repellent exhibited higher repellent activity than IR3535 12.5% w/w, but lower repellent activity than DEET 20% w/w. The C. odorata oil in coconut oil exhibited excellent activity with 98.9% protection from bites of A. aegypti for 88.7 ± 10.4 min. In addition, C. citratus in olive oil showed excellent activity with 98.8% protection from bites of C. quinquefasciatus for 170.0 ± 9.0 min. While, DEET 20% w/w gave protection for 155.0 ± 7.1–182.0 ± 12.2 min and 98.5% protection from bites of two mosquito species. However, all herbal repellent provided lower repellency activity (97.4–98.9% protection for 10.5–88.7 min) against A. aegypti than C. quinquefasciatus (98.3–99.2% protection for 60–170 min). Our data exhibited that C. odorata oil and C. citratus oil are suitable to be used as green repellents for mosquito control, which are safe for humans, domestic animals and environmental friendly.     

Effect of niloticin,a protolimonoid isolated from Limonia acidissima L. (Rutaceae) on the immature stages of dengue vector Aedes aegypti L. (Diptera: Culicidae)

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the mosquitocidal activity of fractions and a compound niloticin from the hexane extract of Limonia acidissima L. leaves on eggs, larvae and pupae of Aedes aegypti L. (Diptera: Culicidae). In these bioassays, the eggs, larvae and pupae were exposed to concentrations of 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 ppm for fractions and 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 ppm for compound. After 24 h, the mortality was assessed and the LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values were calculated for larvae and pupae. Per cent ovicidal activity was calculated for eggs after 120 h post treatment. Among the sixteen fractions screened, fraction 8 from the hexane extract of L. acidissima generated good mosquitocidal activity against Ae. aegypti. The LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values of fraction 8 were 4.11, 8.04 ppm against Ae. aegypti larvae and 4.19, 8.10 ppm against Ae. aegypti pupae, respectively. Further, the isolated compound, niloticin recorded strong larvicidal and pupicidal activities. The 2 ppm concentration of niloticin showed 100% larvicidal and pupicidal activities in 24 h. The LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values of niloticin on Ae. aegypti larvae were 0.44, 1.17 ppm and on pupae were 0.62, 1.45 ppm, respectively. Niloticin presented 83.2% ovicidal activity at 2 ppm concentration after 120 h post treatment and niloticin exhibited significant growth disruption and morphological deformities at sub lethal concentrations against Ae. aegypti. The structure of the isolated compound was identified on the basis of single XRD and spectral data (¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR) and compared with literature spectral data. The results indicate that niloticin could be used as a potential natural mosquitocide.     

Oviposition strategies adopted by gravid Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) as detected by ovitraps in Trinidad, West Indies (2002-2006)

Aedes aegypti oviposition strategies were studied weekly over a period of 5 years (2002-2006) in Curepe, Trinidad using modified ovitraps. From a total of 23,293 ovitraps collected, 10,156 were collected in the months of the dry season, with 3041 positive (30%) containing 99,577 Ae. aegypti eggs. In contrast, during the wet season from 13,137 ovitraps collected, 10,652 were positive (81.9%), containing 192,209 Ae. aegypti eggs. When, the number of eggs collected and the number of positive ovitraps were divided into different egg number categories, <30, 31-60, 61-90 and >91, significantly more eggs (G = 89.6; d.f. = 4; P < 0.001) and more positive ovitraps (P < 0.001) were collected within the <30 eggs range, followed by the egg categories 31-60, 61-90 and >91 eggs. The patterns of oviposition displayed by Ae. aegypti during the early, mid and late wet and dry seasons showed a significant (F = 102.8; d.f. = 5; P < 0.002) decline in the number of eggs and oviposition occurrences from the early dry season to the late dry season among egg categories, <30 and 31-60 but no significant (F = 3.98; d.f. = 4; NS) decline in the other egg categories. In contrast, during the early, mid and late wet season, significant (F = 209.8; d.f. = 5; P < 0.02) increases were observed in the number of eggs and positive ovitraps collected among egg categories <30, 31-60, and 61-90 but with similar numbers of eggs and oviposition occurrences recorded within the >91 egg category. These results suggest that the oviposition strategies adopted depend on numerous factors including the physical state of the oviposition site, the presence of eggs from conspecific females, whether the same or different individuals and the number or clutch size already present on the oviposition site. Therefore vector control workers should employ source reduction strategies to remove the small containers which may harbour 1-30 eggs and treat the larger permanent containers like water drums which may contain >60 eggs and may be the sites of superoviposition in nature. These combined strategies can effectively control the vector populations and reduce dengue transmission in Ae. aegypti infested countries.     

Imperviousness as a predictor for infestation levels of container-breeding mosquitoes in a focus of dengue and Saint Louis encephalitis in Argentina

Dengue and Saint Louis encephalitis virus are among the most important emerging viruses transmitted by mosquitoes at the global scale, and from 2009 onward both diseases have reached temperate Argentina. To test whether the urbanization level can be used as a predictor for the infestation levels of container-breeding mosquito vectors, we searched for Aedes aegypti and Culex pipiens in 8400 water-filled containers from 14 cemeteries of Buenos Aires Province and we used generalized linear models to relate positive containers with the impervious area quantified inside (internal PIA) and outside (external PIA) cemeteries. The best model for Ae. aegypti explained 91% of the variability and included the season, the internal PIA and the external PIA at 1 km as a quadratic function, showing a parabolic response peaking in ∼75%. Regarding the infestation levels of Cx. pipiens, the final model explained 75% of the variability and included only the season. In view of these results, the percentage of impervious area efficiently predicted the infestation levels of Ae. aegypti but not of Cx. pipiens. Considering the worldwide relevance of the former in dengue transmission, the simple quantification of imperviousness proposed herein provides a helpful basis for vector surveillance and control in urbanized areas.     

Larvicidal and repellent activity of tetradecanoic acid against Aedes aegypti (Linn.) and Culex quinquefasciatus (Say.) (Diptera:Culicidae)

ObjectiveTo investigate the larvicidal and repellent efficacy of tetradecanoic acid against Aedes aegypti (Ae. aegypti) L. and Culex quinquefasciatus (Cx. quinquefasciatus) Say (Diptera: Culicidae).MethodsLarvicidal efficacy of tetradecanoic acid was tested at various concentrations against the early third instar larvae of Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus. The repellent activity was determined against two mosquito species at three concentrations viz., 1.0,2.5 and 5.0 ppm under the laboratory conditions.ResultsThe tetradecanoic acid was found to be more effective against Cx. quinquefasciatus than Ae. aegypti larvae. The LC₅₀ values were 14.08 ppm and 25.10 ppm, respectively. Tetradecanoic acid showed lesser repellency against Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus. The highest repellency was observed in higher concentration of 5.0 mg/cm² provided 100% protection up to 60 and 90 min against Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus respectively.ConclusionsFrom the results it can be concluded the tetradecanoic acid is a potential for controlling Cx. quinquefasciatus and Ae. aegypti mosquitoes.     

Study of Culex tritaeniorhynchus and species composition of mosquitoes in a rice field in Greece

Mosquito species composition and seasonal abundance were studied in a rice field in western Greece over a three-year period (2009–2011). A total of 11,716 larvae and pupae of mosquitoes were recorded, representing seven species, namely Aedes caspius (Pallas), Anopheles hyrcanus (Pallas), Anopheles sacharovi Favre, Culex theileri Theobald, Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles, Culex pipiens Linnaeus, Uranotaenia unguiculata Edwards and belonging to four genera. Cx. tritaeniorhynchus constituted the most abundant species. It is the second recorded occurrence of this species in Greece, but the first time that a high population of this mosquito species is recorded in the country. In all three years, the total population density of mosquitoes was found to be higher in early August. The number of immatures of all species was found higher in 2009 and 2010 than in 2011, as well was that of the Cx. tritaeniorhynchus adults derived from the rearing of the collected immatures. This regularity is probably due to the lack of water in the rice field in early August 2011. Cx. tritaeniorhynchus was found to be the most abundant species after the rearing of immatures representing 85.1%, 93.5% and 96.1% of the total number of the mosquito adults in 2009, 2010 and 2011, respectively. The rice culturing practices may have affected the seasonal occurrence of mosquito immatures in all of the study years.     

Risk assessment of flavivirus transmission in Namibia

The role of arboviruses causing acute febrile illness in sub-Saharan Africa is receiving more attention. Reports of dengue in tourists were published nearly 10 years ago in Namibia, but the current epidemiology of arboviruses is unknown and surveys of mosquito vectors have not been carried out since the 1950s. To begin addressing this knowledge gap, a prospective cross-sectional study was conducted using samples from volunteer blood donors linked to questionnaire. Serum samples were tested using a Dengue IgG Indirect ELISA which measured exposure to dengue virus/flaviviruses. Entomological samples were collected from tires during the rainy season (February–March 2012) in six locations across Namibia's capital city, Windhoek. Among 312 blood donors tested, 25 (8.0%) were positive for dengue virus/flavivirus exposure. The only significant risk factor was age group with high exposure rates among those older than 50 (29%) compared with those below 40 years old (between 2.9% and 8.3%) (P < 0.002). Larvae and pupae of Aedes aegypti and Culex pipiens complex accounted for 100% of the 2751 samples collected, of which only 12.2% (n = 336) were Ae. aegypti. Each site demonstrated high variability of species composition between sampling times. While the significant dengue virus/flavivirus exposure rate among those above 50 years old is likely indicative of the West Nile epidemic in the 70s and 80s, the low exposure among those under 50 suggests that flaviviruses are still circulating in Namibia. While Ae. aegypti and C. pipiens sp. may play a role in future epidemics, the significance of presence may be reduced due to short rain periods, dry, arid, cold winters and policies and social understandings that limit non-structured storage and use of tires in low income areas. Future studies should further characterize the circulating arboviruses and investigate mosquito ecology nationally to map areas at higher risk for future arbovirus outbreaks.     

Ovicidal activity of three insect growth regulators against Aedes and Culex mosquitoes

Interspecific variations in the susceptibility of freshly and embryonated eggs of Aedes albopictus, Ae. aegypti, Ae. atropalpus and Culex pipiens were tested against three classes of insect growth regulators (IGRs) including ecdysone agonist (azadirachtin), chitin synthesis inhibitor (diflubenzuron) and juvenile hormone analog (pyriproxyfen) at 0.001, 0.01, 0.1 and 1.0 ppm concentrations. Egg hatching inhibition was dose dependent, the highest being at 1.0 ppm concentration for freshly laid eggs of Ae. albopictus (pyriproxyfen: 80.6%, azadirachtin: 42.9% and diflubenzuron: 35.8%). Aedes aegypti showed lower egg hatching inhibition when exposed to pyriproxyfen (47.3%), azadirachtin (15.7%) and diflubenzuron (25.5%). Freshly laid eggs of Cx. pipiens were most susceptible to diflubenzuron. Aedes atropalpus eggs were tolerant to all three classes of IGRs. Embryonated eggs of Ae. albopictus, Ae. aegypti, Ae. atropalpus and Cx. pipiens were resistant to pyriproxyfen, azadirachtin and diflubenzuron than freshly laid eggs. The median desiccation time (DT₅₀) of Ae. atropalpus eggs was maximum (5.1 h) as compared to Ae. aegypti (4.9 h), Ae. albopictus (3.9 h) or Cx. pipiens (1.7 h) eggs. Insignificant relationship between the rates of desiccation and egg hatching inhibition suggests other factors than physical providing eggs the ability to tolerate exposures to various IGRs. Egg hatching inhibition was due to the alteration in embryonic development caused by IGRs. Changes in the egg shell morphology and abnormal egg hatching from the side of the egg wall instead of operculum, was observed at higher concentrations of diflubenzuron. Morphological and physiological variations in eggs may be the key factor to influence the ovicidal efficacy of IGRs. The present data provide a base line for the improvement of the ovicidal efficacy of the insecticide and its formulation.     

Efficacy of bioactive compounds from Curcuma aromatica against mosquito larvae

With the development of resistance to conventionally used synthetic insecticides, vector management has become acutely problematic. Hence more attention has been focused on botanicals. Therefore our present study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy of extracts from rhizomes of Curcuma aromatica against the larvae of filariasis vector mosquitoes, Culex quinquefasciatus employing standard WHO procedure at Mysore. The soxhlet extraction was carried out using non-polar organic solvent, petroleum ether. The efficacy of petroleum ether extract seemed to be effective with LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values of 11.42 and 18.00 ppm respectively. Bioassay-guided fractionation through flash chromatography lead to the isolation of two larvicidal compounds namely 9-oxoneoprocurcumenol and neoprocurcumenol. Between the two, 9-oxoneoprocurcumenol exerted significant toxicity (P < 0.01) on mosquito larvae with LC₅₀ value of 5.81 ppm and LC₉₀ being 9.99 ppm compared to neoprocurcumenol with 13.69 and 23.92 ppm of LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values respectively. From the results, C. aromatica could be considered as one of the powerful candidate to bring about useful botanicals so as to prevent the resurgence of mosquito vectors.     

Measurement of landing mosquito density on humans

In traditional vector surveillance systems, adult mosquito density and the rate of mosquito-human host contact are estimated from the mosquito numbers captured in mechanical traps. But the design of the traps, their placement in the habitat and operating time, microclimate, and other environmental factors bias mosquito responses such that trapped mosquito numbers may be at variance with the numbers actually making human contact. As an alternative to mechanical traps, direct measurement of landing mosquito density enables real-time estimation of the mosquito–human-host-contact parameter. Based on this paradigm, we studied methods to measure mosquito landing responses to a human host. Our results showed: (a) an 18% difference (P < 0.0001) in the mean number of female Aedes albopictus (Skuse) making initial contact with the skin (9.11 ± 0.74 min^–1) compared with the number remaining on the skin for 5 s (7.42 ± 0.69 min^–1); (b) an increase (P < 0.05) in the mean per minute (min⁻¹) landing responses of Culex nigripalpus Theobald and Cx. quinquefasciatus Say with increased sampling time; (c) no difference (P > 0.55) in the average number of Ae. albopictus landing on the arm (8.6 ± 1.6 min^–1) compared with the leg (9.2 ± 2.5 min^–1) of the same human subject; (d) differences among day-to-day landing patterns for the mosquito species we studied but measurable periodicity (P < 0.05) in each case when daily patterns were averaged for four or more diel periods; and (e) an effect on landing mosquito density from air temperature (P < 0.0001) for Ae. albopictus and Cx. nigripalpus and dew point temperature (P < 0.0001) for Cx. quinquefasciatus. Results from this study were used to develop a procedure for safely and accurately measuring mosquito landing density on a human subject.     

Evaluation of Andrographis paniculata Burm.f. (Family:Acanthaceae) extracts against Culex quinquefasciatus (Say.) and Aedes aegypti (Linn.) (Diptera:Culicidae)

ObjectiveTo investigate the larvicidal and ovicidal efficacy of different extracts of Andrographis paniculata (A. paniculata) against Culex quinquefasciatus (Cx. quinquefasciatus) Say and Aedes aegypti (Ae. aegypti) L. (Diptera: Culicidae).MethodsLarvicidal efficacy of the crude leaf extracts of A. paniculata with five different solvents like benzene, hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol and chloroform was tested against the early third instar larvae of Cx. quinquefasciatus and Ae. aegypti. The ovicidal activity was determined against two mosquito species to various concentrations ranging from 50-300 ppm under the laboratory conditions.ResultsThe benzene, hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol and chloroform leaf extract of A. paniculata was found to be more effective against Cx. quinquefasciatus than Ae. aegypti. The LC₅₀ values were 112.19, 137.48, 118.67, 102.05, 91.20 ppm and 119.58, 146.34, 124.24, 110.12, 99.54 ppm respectively. Among five tested solvent, methanol and ethyl acetate crude extract was found to be most effective for ovicidal activity against two mosquito species. The extract of methanol and ethyl acetate exerted 100% mortality at 200 ppm against Cx. quinquefasciatus and at 250 ppm against Ae. aegypti.ConclusionsFrom the results it can be concluded the crude extract of A. paniculata was a potential for controlling Cx. quinquefasciatus and Ae. aegypti mosquitoes.     

St. Louis Encephalitis virus mosquito vectors dynamics in three different environments in relation to remotely sensed environmental conditions

In Argentina the St. Louis Encephalitis virus (SLEV) is an endemic and widely distributed pathogen transmitted by the cosmopolitan mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus. During two outbreaks in Córdoba city, in 2005 and 2010, Culex interfor was also found infected, but its role as vector of SLEV is poorly known. This mosquito species is distributed from central Argentina to southern Brazil. The primary aim of this study was to analyze the population dynamic of Cx. interfor and Cx. quinquefasciatus in three different environments (urban, suburban and non-urban) in relation to remotely sensed environmental data for vegetation (NDVI and NDWI) and temperature (brightness temperature). Cx. quinquefasciatus and Cx. interfor were found at the three sampled sites, being both the most abundant Culex species, with peaks in early and midsummer. Temporal distribution patterns of both mosquito species were highly correlated in a non-urban area of high SLEV risk transmission. Cx. quinquefasciatus and Cx. interfor were associated with the most urbanized site and the non-urban environment, respectively; high significant correlations were detected between vegetation indices and abundance of both mosquito species confirming these associations. These data provide a foundation for building density maps of these two SLEV mosquito vectors using remotely sensed data to help inform vector control programs.     

Mosquito larvicidal and antimicrobial activity of synthesized nano-crystalline silver particles using leaves and green berry extract of Solanum nigrum L. (Solanaceae: Solanales)

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) that are synthesized by using aqueous extracts of Solanum nigrum L., is a simple, non-toxic and ecofriendly green material. The present study is based on assessments of the larvicidal and antimicrobial activities of the synthesized AgNPs from fresh leaves, dry leaves and green berries of S. nigrum against larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus and Anopheles stephensi and four human pathogenic and five fish pathogenic bacteria respectively. The synthesized nanoparticles are characterized with UV–vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis. The nanoparticles are spherical to polyhedral in shape with size of 50–100 nm (average size of 56.6 nm). In larvicidal bioassay with synthesized AgNPs, highest mortality are observed at 10 ppm against An. stephensi with LC₅₀ values of 1.33, 1.59, 1.56 ppm and LC₉₀ values of 3.97, 7.31, 4.76 ppm for dry leaves, fresh leaves and berries respectively. Antibacterial activity test reveals better results against fish pathogenic bacteria than human pathogenic bacteria. Non target organism like Toxorhynchites larvae (mosquito predator), Diplonychus annulatum (predatory water-bug) and Chironomus circumdatus larvae (chironomid) are also exposed to respective lethal concentrations (to mosquito larvae) of dry nanoparticles and no abnormality in the non target organisms are recorded. These results suggest that the synthesized AgNPs of S. nigrum have the potential to be used as an ideal eco-friendly compound for the control of the mosquito larvae and harmful bacteria.     

Molecular phylogeography of Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes in central Bangladesh

Mosquitoes in the Culex pipiens complex are a major vector of numerous parasitic and arboviral diseases. Here we report the phylogeography of a prevalent Culex mosquito, Cx. quinquefasciatus, from three locations in Bangladesh: Dhaka, Savar and Mymensingh. Sequence analysis of the genes encoding mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit II, nuclear elongation factor-1 alpha, and acetylcholinesterase-2 revealed the lack of a population genetic structure among the three locations. Moreover, the highly divergent ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2 suggests that this locus has not evolved in concert. The results further show evidence of historical introgression of internal transcribed spacer 2 from Cx. pipiens to Cx. quinquefasciatus of Bangladesh, and that the introgression occurred before Cx. quinquefasciatus had dispersed within this region. The study also reveals historical population expansion in this region, followed by a post-expansion Wolbachia sweep.