Urban Populations of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) From Central Argentina: Dispersal Patterns Assessed by Bayesian and Multivariate Methods

• Published in: Journal of medical entomology Vol. 57; no. 4; pp. 1069 - 1076
• Main Authors: Ayala, Ana María, Vera, Noelia Soledad, Chiappero, Marina Beatriz, Almirón, Walter Ricardo, Gardenal, Cristina Noemí
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: US Entomological Society of America 01.07.2020; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Aedes; Aedes aegypti; Analysis; Animal Distribution; Animals; Argentina; Bayes Theorem; Bayesian analysis; Cities; Clustering; Control programs; Córdoba city (Argentina); Dengue fever; Disease transmission; Dispersal; Dispersion; Genetic analysis; Genetic structure; Health risks; Infectious diseases; Methods; Microsatellites; Mosquito Vectors; Mosquitoes; Multivariate Analysis; Neighborhoods; Phylogeography; POPULATION BIOLOGY/GENETICS; population genetic structure; Population genetics; Populations; Urban planning; Urban population; Urban populations; Vector-borne diseases; Argentina; Cities; Brazil; microsatellites; population genetic structure; Córdoba city (Argentina); Aedes aegypti
• ISSN: 0022-2585; 1938-2928
• DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjaa017

Aedes aegypti (L.), the main vector of dengue and other arboviruses, was declared eradicated from Argentina in 1964; however, in 1987, it was detected again and nowadays it occurs in most of the country territory. To understand the transmission of vector-borne diseases, knowledge of the dispersal of vector populations is essential to evaluate the risk of pathogen transmission. We conducted a population genetic analysis of Ae. aegypti in 20 neighborhoods from Córdoba, the second largest city in Argentina, using 10 microsatellite loci. High genetic differentiation and the absence of an isolation by distance pattern was found using Weir and Cockerham's θ. Bayesian and multivariate clustering analyses showed that the studied sites included individuals with high membership coefficients (Q) in their populations, individuals with membership in another cluster, and admixed individuals. Individuals with high Q in clusters different from the population in which they were collected strongly suggests that passive transport is important in shaping the Ae. aegypti dispersal pattern in Córdoba city. Knowing the genetic structure of Ae. aegypti populations and their dispersal patterns would contribute to the implementation of vector control programs.