2 research outputs found
Mapping of Aedes albopictus abundance at a local scale in Italy
Given the growing risk of arbovirus outbreaks in Europe, there is a clear need to better
describe the distribution of invasive mosquito species such as Aedes albopictus. Current challenges
consist in simulating Ae. albopictus abundance, rather than its presence, and mapping its simulated
abundance at a local scale to better assess the transmission risk of mosquito-borne pathogens
and optimize mosquito control strategy. During 2014–2015, we sampled adult mosquitoes using
72 BG-Sentinel traps per year in the provinces of Belluno and Trento, Italy. We found that the sum of
Ae. albopictus females collected during eight trap nights from June to September was positively related
to the mean temperature of the warmest quarter and the percentage of artificial areas in a 250 m
buffer around the sampling locations. Maps of Ae. albopictus abundance simulated from the most
parsimonious model in the study area showed the largest populations in highly artificial areas with
the highest summer temperatures, but with a high uncertainty due to the variability of the trapping
collections. Vector abundance maps at a local scale should be promoted to support stakeholders and
policy-makers in optimizing vector surveillance and control
Worldwide impacts of landscape anthropization on mosquito abundance and diversity: A meta-analysis.
In recent decades, the emergence and resurgence of vector-borne diseases have been well documented worldwide, especially in tropical regions where protection and defense tools for human populations are still very limited. In this context, the dynamics of pathogens are influenced by landscape anthropization (i.e., urbanization, deforestation, and agricultural development), and one of the mechanisms through which this occurs is a change in the abundance and/or diversity of the vectors. An increasing number of empirical studies have described heterogeneous effects of landscape anthropization on vector communities; therefore, it is difficult to have an overall picture of these effects on a global scale. Here, we performed a meta-analysis to quantify the impacts of landscape anthropization on a global scale on the presence/abundance and diversity of mosquitoes, the most important arthropods affecting human health. We obtained 338 effect sizes on 132 mosquito species, compiled from 107 studies in 52 countries that covered almost every part of the world. The results of the meta-analysis showed an overall decline of mosquito presence/abundance and diversity in response to urbanization, deforestation, and agricultural development, except for a few mosquito species that have been able to exploit landscape anthropization well. Our results highlighted that these few favored mosquito species are those of global concern. They, thus, provide a better understanding of the overall effect of landscape anthropization on vector communities and, more importantly, suggest a greater risk of emergence and transmission of vector-borne diseases in human-modified landscapes