TY - JOUR T1 - First report of the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus Skuse, 1984 (Diptera, Culicidae) in Cordoba (southern Spain). New challenges for the administration and citizens of Cordoba JF - Journal of the European Mosquito Control Association Y1 - 2019 A1 - Obregon, Rafael A1 - Flores, Enrique A1 - Jordano, Diego SP - 28 EP - 33 KW - Aedes albopictus KW - Asian tiger mosquito KW - Cordoba KW - Diptera KW - Invasion KW - invasive species KW - Spain AB - Abstract: The first record of the presence of the invasive Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus in the province of Cordoba is presented. Adults, larvae, pupae and exuviae have been located at different points of housing estates in the northeastern part of the city. One possible origin is the coast around Malaga, much frequented by the citizens of Cordoba. Its detection has been possible due to the programme of monitoring, surveillance and control of hematophagous Dipterans, initiated in 2016 by our research group (Terrestrial Ecology, RNM232) in collaboration with the Sanitation Public Company of Cordoba (SADECO). The arrival of the tiger mosquito in Cordoba is a relevant issue due to its implications for welfare and public health. In addition to the discomfort and injuries caused by its bites, it is a competent vector of non-endemic arboviruses such as Chikungunya fever, Dengue fever and Zika. Therefore, with the information gathered by our group, the SADECO technicians acted appropriately, with the focus being to control it and try to prevent it from spreading and causing public health problems. However, given the large flow of people between Cordoba and the coast around Malaga, a vacation area very popular among the people of Cordoba, it is foreseeable that the inadvertent transport of mosquitoes by car to Cordoba will generate new outbreaks. Therefore, it will be important to continue with the programme of early detection of this invasive species through coordinated work involving researchers from the University of Cordoba, SADECO technicians, and the local and provincial administrations, with the collaboration of neighbourhood associations and the population in general. The information presented in this article is relevant due to its implications for welfare and public health. Journal of the European Mosquito Control Association 37: 28-33, 2019 VL - 37 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Updated checklist of the mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) of Hungary JF - Journal of the European Mosquito Control Association Y1 - 2018 A1 - Sáringer-Kenyeres, M A1 - Tóth, S A1 - Kenyeres, Z SP - 14 EP - 16 KW - Aedes KW - albopictus KW - Central Europe KW - cinereus KW - invasive species KW - japonicus KW - koreicus AB - Abstract: The mosquito fauna of Hungary currently includes 54 taxa (53 species + 1 biotype). Four new species have been detected in the last seven years. One species was probably present earlier in the Hungarian fauna (Aedes geminus), but three new invasive species (Ae. albopictus, Ae. japonicus japonicus, Ae. koreicus) have been introduced or invaded recently. Journal of the European Mosquito Control Association 36: 14-16, 2018 VL - 36 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Blood-meal analysis and avian malaria screening of mosquitoes collected from human-inhabited areas in Hungary and Serbia JF - Journal of the European Mosquito Control Association Y1 - 2018 A1 - Kurucz, Kornelia A1 - Kepner, Anett A1 - Krtinic, Bosiljka A1 - Hederics, Dávid A1 - Foldes, Fanni A1 - Brigetta, Zana A1 - Jakab, Ferenc A1 - Kemenesi, Gabor SP - 3 EP - 13 KW - amphibian host KW - digestion status KW - host-feeding KW - invasive species KW - Plasmodium KW - vector competence AB - Mosquito-borne pathogens have a growing medical importance in several European countries. The emergence and invasion of exotic vector species increases the likelihood that additional vector-borne diseases may appear in regions that have not encountered them previously. In the last few years, different emerging pathogens affecting humans, livestock and wildlife were detected in mosquitoes in the Eastern European region; moreover, several invasive mosquito species were recorded in the area. The importance of particular mosquito species for the transmission of vector-borne pathogens is strongly determined by several factors such as their feeding behaviour. However, there is a huge knowledge gap regarding the ecological background of host use by mosquitoes and their capacity to act as vectors. Derived from a transboundary mosquito surveillance programme, a total of 84 engorged mosquitoes were subjected to PCR-based blood meal identification analysis and screened for Plasmodium species. The majority of tested mosquitoes were Aedes vexans and Culex pipiens, in addition to an exotic species Aedes koreicus, which was detected last summer for the first time in the vicinity of Balkans region. Hereby, we provide the first explicit data regarding the feeding behaviour of this exotic species in Europe. The human origin of blood-meal may highlight the possible medical importance of the species and its important role in mosquito nuisance. Aedes vexans mosquitoes exhibited mostly zoophilic behaviour compared to Cx. pipiens, which was found to be primarily anthropophilic and secondarily ornithophilic, along with amphibian host preference. We detected Plasmodium relictum in five Cx. pipiens, which had fed on humans. This study provides additional insight into the ectothermic host preference of Cx. pipiens in nature and highlights the human and veterinary health importance of these species. In addition, these results provide novel insight for the feeding patterns of the investigated mosquitoes. Journal of the European Mosquito Control Association 36: 3-13, 2018 VL - 36 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - COI sequencing for invasive mosquito surveillance in Germany reveals genetically divergent specimens near Aedes geniculatus (Diptera: Culicidae) JF - Journal of the European Mosquito Control Association Y1 - 2014 A1 - Krüger, Andreas A1 - Obermayr, Ulla A1 - Czajka, Christina A1 - Bueno-Marí, Ruben A1 - Jost, Artur A1 - Rose, Andreas SP - 22 EP - 26 KW - Aedes (Finlaya) echinus KW - Aedes (Finlaya) geniculatus KW - Aedes (Finlaya) gilcolladoi KW - COI barcoding KW - Germany KW - invasive species AB -

During routine surveillance for invasive mosquitoes in southern Germany, using BG-Sentinel traps that were run continuously for one to two weeks, specimens were often damaged which prevented morphological species identification. We used DNA sequencing of the COI gene for molecular identification of damaged specimens, and observed two individuals from 2013 with aberrant COI-sequences. These two specimens were collected on separate occasions, and represent COI haplotypes that differ from Aedes (Finlaya) geniculatus by 2.0 - 2.4%, and from Aedes (Finlaya) echinus by 4.4 - 5.0%. Further analysis revealed a similarity to an Aedes (Finlaya) specimen from Macedonia, with these three specimens forming a genetic cluster. Our findings are discussed in the context of the three Aedes (Finlaya) species presently reported in Europe, and the potential introduction into Germany by road traffic.


 

VL - 32 ER -