On the tracks of an uninvited guest, the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus in Cyprus
Abstract Background Aedes albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito, which is listed among the world's 100 most dangerous invasive species, is the main vector of chikungunya, dengue and Zika viruses. This mosquito species has rapidly dispersed and invaded much of the globe assisted by its life histo...
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BMC
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-024-06651-5 |
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| author | Riccardo Piccinno Giulia Fiorenza Marlen Ines Vasquez Jeremy Bouyer Gregoris Notarides Ludvik Marcus Gomulski Soteris Meletiou Mustafa Akiner Antonios Michaelakis Federico Forneris Giovanni Maga Giuliano Gasperi Anna Rodolfa Malacrida |
| author_facet | Riccardo Piccinno Giulia Fiorenza Marlen Ines Vasquez Jeremy Bouyer Gregoris Notarides Ludvik Marcus Gomulski Soteris Meletiou Mustafa Akiner Antonios Michaelakis Federico Forneris Giovanni Maga Giuliano Gasperi Anna Rodolfa Malacrida |
| author_sort | Riccardo Piccinno |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Aedes albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito, which is listed among the world's 100 most dangerous invasive species, is the main vector of chikungunya, dengue and Zika viruses. This mosquito species has rapidly dispersed and invaded much of the globe assisted by its life history traits and high propagule pressure driven by human activities. Aedes albopictus is currently widespread across mainland Europe and the Mediterranean region, including the islands. Cyprus remained free of Ae. albopictus until October 2022, when specimens were recorded for the first time in Limassol district, including the port area. Understanding the processes associated with the introduction, expansion and establishment of this vector in Cyprus is of primary importance to mitigate its dispersal on the island, and to implement control methods to prevent disease outbreaks. A genetic analysis of these invasive specimens collected in Limassol district and in areas from the Central Mediterranean was performed to obtain a genetic portrait of the demographic history of the invasive mosquitoes on Cyprus. Methods We applied highly polymorphic simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers to the Ae. albopictus mosquitoes collected in Cyprus and to specimens from Italy, France, Switzerland, the Balkans, Greece and Turkey to construct an SSR individual genotype dataset that would enable the invasion pattern of Ae. albopictus in Cyprus to be traced. Bayesian clustering analyses using STRUCTURE and BayesAss version 3 were employed to derive information on the degree of ancestry among Cypriot and Mediterranean mosquitoes and on recent mosquito movements both within Cyprus and between Cyprus and the Central Mediterranean areas. Results The Cypriot mosquitoes appear to be highly polymorphic with no signs of genetic drift due to recent founder effects. An ongoing mosquito dispersal within the Limassol district was detected, suggesting the presence of established, hidden adventive populations. These mosquitoes share a high degree of ancestry with those in the Balkans and parts of northern Italy that border the Adriatic Sea. Conclusions Considering the trade connections of Limassol port, Cyprus with the Balkans and the Adriatic Italian region, we hypothesise that these areas may be involved in the incursion of Ae. albopictus into Cyprus. As the Balkan and Italian mosquitoes display high competence for CHIKV, questions arise about possible arbovirus outbreaks in Cyprus and highlight the need to implement surveillance and control measures. Graphical Abstract |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9911c80670cb49f58d7ee7d6060f49ee |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj-art-9911c80670cb49f58d7ee7d6060f49ee2025-02-09T12:15:18ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052025-02-0118111310.1186/s13071-024-06651-5On the tracks of an uninvited guest, the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus in CyprusRiccardo Piccinno0Giulia Fiorenza1Marlen Ines Vasquez2Jeremy Bouyer3Gregoris Notarides4Ludvik Marcus Gomulski5Soteris Meletiou6Mustafa Akiner7Antonios Michaelakis8Federico Forneris9Giovanni Maga10Giuliano Gasperi11Anna Rodolfa Malacrida12Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of PaviaDepartment of Biology and Biotechnology, University of PaviaDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Cyprus University of TechnologyInsect Pest Control Subprogramme, Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)Department of Chemical Engineering, Cyprus University of TechnologyDepartment of Biology and Biotechnology, University of PaviaDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Cyprus University of TechnologyRecep Tayyip Erdogan UniversityLaboratory of Insects & Parasites of Medical Importance, Benaki Phytopathological InstituteDepartment of Biology and Biotechnology, University of PaviaInstitute of Molecular Genetics of the National Research Council (IGM-CNR)Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of PaviaDepartment of Biology and Biotechnology, University of PaviaAbstract Background Aedes albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito, which is listed among the world's 100 most dangerous invasive species, is the main vector of chikungunya, dengue and Zika viruses. This mosquito species has rapidly dispersed and invaded much of the globe assisted by its life history traits and high propagule pressure driven by human activities. Aedes albopictus is currently widespread across mainland Europe and the Mediterranean region, including the islands. Cyprus remained free of Ae. albopictus until October 2022, when specimens were recorded for the first time in Limassol district, including the port area. Understanding the processes associated with the introduction, expansion and establishment of this vector in Cyprus is of primary importance to mitigate its dispersal on the island, and to implement control methods to prevent disease outbreaks. A genetic analysis of these invasive specimens collected in Limassol district and in areas from the Central Mediterranean was performed to obtain a genetic portrait of the demographic history of the invasive mosquitoes on Cyprus. Methods We applied highly polymorphic simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers to the Ae. albopictus mosquitoes collected in Cyprus and to specimens from Italy, France, Switzerland, the Balkans, Greece and Turkey to construct an SSR individual genotype dataset that would enable the invasion pattern of Ae. albopictus in Cyprus to be traced. Bayesian clustering analyses using STRUCTURE and BayesAss version 3 were employed to derive information on the degree of ancestry among Cypriot and Mediterranean mosquitoes and on recent mosquito movements both within Cyprus and between Cyprus and the Central Mediterranean areas. Results The Cypriot mosquitoes appear to be highly polymorphic with no signs of genetic drift due to recent founder effects. An ongoing mosquito dispersal within the Limassol district was detected, suggesting the presence of established, hidden adventive populations. These mosquitoes share a high degree of ancestry with those in the Balkans and parts of northern Italy that border the Adriatic Sea. Conclusions Considering the trade connections of Limassol port, Cyprus with the Balkans and the Adriatic Italian region, we hypothesise that these areas may be involved in the incursion of Ae. albopictus into Cyprus. As the Balkan and Italian mosquitoes display high competence for CHIKV, questions arise about possible arbovirus outbreaks in Cyprus and highlight the need to implement surveillance and control measures. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-024-06651-5Aedes albopictusAsian tiger mosquitoCyprusInvasiveVector |
| spellingShingle | Riccardo Piccinno Giulia Fiorenza Marlen Ines Vasquez Jeremy Bouyer Gregoris Notarides Ludvik Marcus Gomulski Soteris Meletiou Mustafa Akiner Antonios Michaelakis Federico Forneris Giovanni Maga Giuliano Gasperi Anna Rodolfa Malacrida On the tracks of an uninvited guest, the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus in Cyprus Parasites & Vectors Aedes albopictus Asian tiger mosquito Cyprus Invasive Vector |
| title | On the tracks of an uninvited guest, the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus in Cyprus |
| title_full | On the tracks of an uninvited guest, the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus in Cyprus |
| title_fullStr | On the tracks of an uninvited guest, the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus in Cyprus |
| title_full_unstemmed | On the tracks of an uninvited guest, the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus in Cyprus |
| title_short | On the tracks of an uninvited guest, the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus in Cyprus |
| title_sort | on the tracks of an uninvited guest the asian tiger mosquito aedes albopictus in cyprus |
| topic | Aedes albopictus Asian tiger mosquito Cyprus Invasive Vector |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-024-06651-5 |
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