Global genetic diversity of Aedes aegypti

Mosquitoes, especially Aedes aegypti, are becoming important models for studying invasion biology. We characterized genetic variation at 12 microsatellite loci in 79 populations of Ae. aegypti from 30 countries in six continents, and used them to infer historical and modern patterns of invasion. Our results support the two subspecies Ae. aegypti formosus and Ae. aegypti aegypti as genetically distinct units. Ae. aegypti aegypti populations outside Africa are derived from ancestral African populations and are monophyletic. The two subspecies co-occur in both East Africa (Kenya) and West Africa (Senegal). In rural/forest settings (Rabai District of Kenya), the two subspecies remain genetically distinct, whereas in urban settings, they introgress freely. Populations outside Africa are highly genetically structured likely due to a combination of recent founder effects, discrete discontinuous habitats and low migration rates. Ancestral populations in sub-Saharan Africa are less genetically structured, as are the populations in Asia. Introduction of Ae. aegypti to the New World coinciding with trans-Atlantic shipping in the 16th to 18th centuries was followed by its introduction to Asia in the late 19th century from the New World or from now extinct populations in the Mediterranean Basin. Aedes mascarensis is a genetically distinct sister species to Ae. aegypti s.l. This study provides a reference database of genetic diversity that can be used to determine the likely origin of new introductions that occur regularly for this invasive species. The genetic uniqueness of many populations and regions has important implications for attempts to control Ae. aegypti, especially for the methods using genetic modification of populations.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectore

Global genetic diversity of Aedes aegypti

Mosquitoes, especially Aedes aegypti, are becoming important models for studying invasion biology. We characterized genetic variation at 12 microsatellite loci in 79 populations of Ae. aegypti from 30 countries in six continents, and used them to infer historical and modern patterns of invasion. Our results support the two subspecies Ae. aegypti formosus and Ae. aegypti aegypti as genetically distinct units. Ae. aegypti aegypti populations outside Africa are derived from ancestral African populations and are monophyletic. The two subspecies co-occur in both East Africa (Kenya) and West Africa (Senegal). In rural/forest settings (Rabai District of Kenya), the two subspecies remain genetically distinct, whereas in urban settings, they introgress freely. Populations outside Africa are highly genetically structured likely due to a combination of recent founder effects, discrete discontinuous habitats and low migration rates. Ancestral populations in sub-Saharan Africa are less genetically structured, as are the populations in Asia. Introduction of Ae. aegypti to the New World coinciding with trans-Atlantic shipping in the 16th to 18th centuries was followed by its introduction to Asia in the late 19th century from the New World or from now extinct populations in the Mediterranean Basin. Aedes mascarensis is a genetically distinct sister species to Ae. aegypti s.l. This study provides a reference database of genetic diversity that can be used to determine the likely origin of new introductions that occur regularly for this invasive species. The genetic uniqueness of many populations and regions has important implications for attempts to control Ae. aegypti, especially for the methods using genetic modification of populations.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectore

Dengue Vector Dynamics in Pakistan

During the last few year dengue has become an emerging vector borne disease in Pakistan. Aedes aegypti once considered eradicated from almost whole of Pakistan was again collected from 13 different cities. This mosquito has not only started reinvading its previously occupied areas (Karachi, Peshawar and Lahore) but is also spreading to new areas where it was not present before (Attock, Haripur, Hasanabdal, Taxilla, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, Multan and Hyderabad). This mosquito is breeding in almost all types of artificial containers especially in tyres. Though this mosquito is mostly using outdoors containers for ovipositon but was also found breeding indoors in household. Eleven microsatellite markers were used to determine the genetic population structure of Aedes aegypti in Pakistan using mosquitoes collected from 13 different cities. There appears to be a single population of this mosquito in Pakistan with a pattern of isolation by distance rather than distinct sub-populations. The large scale of isolation by distance suggests long range passive dispersal which may be facilitated by the tyre trade in Pakistan. A decrease in genetic diversity from north to south suggests a recent spread of this mosquito from Karachi. A strong negative correlation between genetic distance and quality of road connections between cities suggests human-aided passive dispersal of Ae. aegypti in Pakistan. Dengue detection in mosquitoes collected from different areas of Pakistan with special reference to tyres shows that vertical transmission is not playing any significant role in the maintenance of dengue virus in mosquito of population. Absence of virus in larvae collected from tyres suggest that though tyres are playing important role in the spread of vector mosquito in Pakistan but its not playing any role in the spread of dengue virus in the study area. The long-range dispersal of Aedes aegypti in Pakistan could facilitate the strategy of introducing transgenic Aedes aegypti or an intracellular bacterium, like the endosymbiotic Wolbachia, for controlling the population of this dengue vector in Pakistan

Global genetic diversity of Aedes aegypti

Mosquitoes, especially Aedes aegypti, are becoming important models for studying invasion biology. We characterized genetic variation at 12 microsatellite loci in 79 populations of Ae. aegypti from 30 countries in six continents, and used them to infer historical and modern patterns of invasion. Our results support the two subspecies Ae. aegypti formosus and Ae. aegypti aegypti as genetically distinct units. Ae. aegypti aegypti populations outside Africa are derived from ancestral African populations and are monophyletic. The two subspecies co-occur in both East Africa (Kenya) and West Africa (Senegal). In rural/forest settings (Rabai District of Kenya), the two subspecies remain genetically distinct, whereas in urban settings, they introgress freely. Populations outside Africa are highly genetically structured likely due to a combination of recent founder effects, discrete discontinuous habitats and low migration rates. Ancestral populations in sub-Saharan Africa are less genetically structured, as are the populations in Asia. Introduction of Ae. aegypti to the New World coinciding with trans-Atlantic shipping in the 16th to 18th centuries was followed by its introduction to Asia in the late 19th century from the New World or from now extinct populations in the Mediterranean Basin. Aedes mascarensis is a genetically distinct sister species to Ae. aegypti s.l. This study provides a reference database of genetic diversity that can be used to determine the likely origin of new introductions that occur regularly for this invasive species. The genetic uniqueness of many populations and regions has important implications for attempts to control Ae. aegypti, especially for the methods using genetic modification of populations.National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/[R01 AI101112]/NIAID/Estados UnidosNational Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/[3R01AI091646-04S1]/NIAID/Estados UnidosUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (CIET