A survey of mosquitoes breeding in used tires in Spain for the detection of imported potential vector species.

The used tire trade has facilitated the introduction, spread, and establishment of the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, and other mosquito species in several countries of America, Africa, Oceania, and Europe. A strategy for detecting these imported mosquito vectors was developed in Spain during 2003-2004 by EVITAR (multidisciplinary network for the study of viruses transmitted by arthropods and rodents). A survey in 45 locations found no invasive species. Eight autochthonous species of mosquitoes were detected in used tires, including Culex pipiens, Cx. hortensis, Cx. modestus, Anopheles atroparvus, An. claviger, Culiseta longiareolata, Cs. annulata, and Aedes caspius. Dominant species were Cx. pipiens and Cs. longiareolata. Aedes caspius was found in only once, near its natural breeding habitat. Considering the recent discovery of an established population of Ae. albopictus in Catalonia, the increasing commerce of used tires in Spain for recycling, storage, and recapping might greatly contribute to the rapid spread of this species across the Iberian Peninsula.     

我国蚊虫体内感染的Wolbachia的wsp基因序列测定与分析

测定了我国尖音库蚊复合组和白纹伊蚊蚊虫体内感染的Wolbachia株的wsp基因序列。核苷酸和氨基酸的同源性及系统关系分析表明,我国尖音库蚊复合组和白纹伊蚊中Wolbachia株的wsp基因序列与Pip组其它株的核苷酸及氨基酸同源性分别为98%～100%和97%～100%, 属B大组Wolbachia中的Pip组。     

竹叶花椒果实精油对两种蚊虫的毒杀活性研究

采用浸液法测试了竹叶花椒果实的水蒸汽蒸馏精油对白纹伊蚊和致倦库蚊幼虫的毒杀效果,并用三角瓶密闭熏蒸法研究了精油对这两种成蚊的熏杀活性;此外,采用GC-MS分析了该精油的化学成分。研究结果:(1)精油对白纹伊蚊和致倦库蚊的Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ龄期幼虫及蛹的LC50值分别为25.634/61.472、31.763/76.431、52.356/110.172、258.497/121.884和198.263/162.048mg.L-1;(2)精油对白纹伊蚊和致倦库蚊成蚊的LC50值分别为24.957和29.517μg.cm-3;(3)在147.52μg.cm-3熏杀剂量下,精油对白纹伊蚊和致倦库蚊成蚊的KT50值分别为3.493和2.993min,24h致死率均为100%;(4)共鉴定出18种化合物,其中萜烯类10种,占精油总量的67.122%,为竹叶花椒果实精油的主要成分。竹叶花椒果实精油对白纹伊蚊和致倦库蚊均有明显的致死作用,且作用速度快,具有开发为植物源杀蚊剂的潜力。     

致倦库蚊对登革Ⅱ型病毒的中肠感染屏障作用

为探讨致倦库蚊对登革Ⅱ型病毒的中肠感染屏障作用,通过病毒分离、逆转录聚合酶链反应、透射电镜等技术进行了相关研究。结果表明：吸食感染性血液后,登革Ⅱ型病毒能侵染白纹伊蚊中肠上皮细胞并大量复制,但不能侵染致倦库蚊中肠上皮细胞。以上研究证明致倦库蚊对登革Ⅱ型病毒存在中肠感染屏障。     

Alternative splicing generates multiple transcripts of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein 1 in Aedes and Culex spp. mosquitoes

We determined the sequences of cDNA encoding Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein 1 (IAP1) homologues from Aedes triseriatus, Aedes albopictus, Aedes aegypti, Culex pipiens and Culex tarsalis. The cDNAs encode translation products that share > or = 84% sequence similarity. The IAP1 mRNA of each mosquito species exists as 3-5 distinct variants due to the presence of heterogeneous sequences at the distal end of their 5'UTRs. Partial genomic sequencing upstream of the 5' end of the Ae. triseriatus IAP1 gene, and analysis of the Ae. aegypti genomic sequence, suggest that these mRNA variants are generated by alternative splicing. Each IAP1 mRNA variant from Ae. triseriatus and Cx. pipiens was detected by RT-PCR in all mosquito life-stages and adult tissues examined, and the relative concentration of each Ae. triseriatus IAP mRNA variant in various tissues was determined.     

几种蚊虫线粒体DNA-16SrRNA序列及其相互关系的研究

测定我国尖音库蚊复合组4亚种（尖音库蚊、淡色库蚊、致倦库蚊和骚扰库蚊）、三带喙库蚊、白纹伊蚊和中华按蚊的线粒体DNA 16S rRNA基因（mtDNA-16S rRNA)序列,发现我国尖音库蚊复合组4亚种mtDNA-16S rRNA序列基本一致,长度为555bp(554bp),GC含量为25．41％。该序列与其他3种蚊虫在种间存在差异,与三带喙库蚊的种间差异为0．54％;与白纹伊蚊的种间差异为5．77％;与中华按蚊的种间差异为9．62％。分子系统关系分析表明该序列与传统分类系统的同属或同亚科种类近似性相一致。     

Potential vectors of West Nile virus following an equine disease outbreak in Italy

In the late summer of 1998, an outbreak of equine encephalomyelitis due to West Nile virus (WNV) occurred in the Tuscany region of central Italy. The disease was detected in 14 race horses from nine localities in four Provinces: Firenze, Lucca, Pisa and Pistoia. The outbreak area included Fucecchio wetlands (1800 ha), the largest inland marsh in Italy, and the adjacent hilly Cerbaie woodlands with farms breeding horses. To detect potential vectors of WNV, entomological surveys of Fucecchio and Cerbaie were undertaken during 1999-2002 by collecting mosquito larvae from breeding sites and adult mosquitoes by several methods of sampling. Among 6023 mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) collected, 11 species were identified: Aedes albopictus (Skuse), Ae. vexans (Meigen), Anopheles atroparvus Van Thiel, An. maculipennis Meigen s.s., An. plumbeus Stephens, Culex impudicus Ficalbi, Cx. pipiens L., Culiseta longiareolata Macquart), Ochlerotatus caspius (Pallas), Oc. detritus (Haliday) and Oc. geniculatus (Olivier). In Fucecchio marshes, Cx. impudicus predominated with seasonal peak densities in spring and autumn: its greatest abundance during early spring coincides with arrival of migratory birds from Africa. In Cerbaie hills, Cx. pipiens predominated with peak population density in late summer. No viruses were isolated from 665 mosquitoes processed. These findings, plus other data on Italian mosquito bionomics, suggest a possible mode of WNV transmission involving the most abundant Culex in the Fucecchio-Cerbaie areas. Culex impudicus, being partly ornithophilic, might transmit WNV from migratory to non-migratory birds during springtime; Cx. pipiens, having a broader host range, would be more likely to transmit WNV from birds to horses and, perhaps, to humans by late summer.     

First report of the oriental mosquito Aedes albopictus on the West African island of Bioko,Equatorial Guinea

The invasive oriental mosquito Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae) was detected on Bioko Island for the first time in November 2001. It was found to be well established breeding in artificial containers at Planta, near Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea. Associated species of mosquito larvae were Aedes aegypti (L.), Ae. africanus (Theobald), Culex near decens Theobald, Cx. duttoni Theobald, Cx. quinquefasciatus Say, Cx. tigripes De Grandpré & De Charmoy, Eretmapodites quinquevittatus Theobald and Mansonia africana (Theobald). This is the third tropical African country to be invaded by Ae. albopictus, which has recently spread to many parts of the Americas and Europe--with vector competence for dengue, yellow fever and other arboviruses. In the Afrotropical environment, it will be interesting to monitor the ecological balance and/or displacement between introduced Ae. albopictus and indigenous Ae. aegpyti (domestic, peri-domestic and sylvatic populations).     

Research on Culicidae attracted to dog bait in Piedmont

Dog attracted mosquitoes were collected in Piedmont (NW Italy) in 1992 and 1993. Sampling sites where chosen on ecological and epidemiological basis, according to the results of a previous study on the distribution and prevalence of canine filariosis in this region. Dog baited traps were operated monthly (two nights/site from June to September) in six plain sites differing in the prevalence of heartworm infected dogs (including two sites where no positivity was recorded). A single capture was carried out in July-August in three more plain and four hill localities, as well as in a prealpine and a suburban zone inside the heartworm endemic area. The following species were collected (number of specimens in brackets): Aedes caspius (2255), Ae, cantans (1), Ae. cinereus (1), Ae, geniculatus (7), Ae. vexans (58), Aedes spp. (221), Anopheles claviger (1), An. maculipennis s.l. (405), Coquillettidia richiardii (16), Culex modestus (6361), Cx. pipiens (2032), Cx. territans (2), Culex spp. (94), Culiseta annulata (1). Cx. pipiens was captured in 15 sites, Cx. modestus and Ae. caspius in 13, and 12, respectively, An. maculipennis s.l. in 7, Ae. vexans in 6, Cq. richiardii in 4, Ae. geniculatus in 3, Cx. territans in 2, Ae. cantans, Ae. cinereus, An. claviger and Cs. annulata in one. Species abundance and relative composition differed between habitats and between similar habitats with a different prevalence of microfillaraemic dogs. Regression analysis of heartworm prevalence vs. mosquitoes abundance demonstrated a positive linear relationship. Data suggest that four species (Ae. caspius, An. maculipennis s.l., Cx. modestus and Cx. pipiens) are playing a major role in the transmission of canine filariosis in Piedmont.     

小蓬草精油对两种蚊虫的毒杀活性和成分分析

【目的】明确小蓬草Conyza canadensis ( L.) Cronq.精油的杀虫潜力及其活性成分。【方法】通过浸虫法和密闭熏蒸法测试了小蓬草精油对白纹伊蚊Aedes albopictus和致倦库蚊Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus幼虫及成蚊的毒杀活性, 并利用气相色谱 质谱联用仪（GC-MS）对精油的挥发性成分进行了定性分析。【结果】 小蓬草精油对白纹伊蚊1-4龄期幼虫及蛹的24 h LC50值分别为25.01, 45.88, 56.94, 64.60和346.23 μg/mL; 对致倦库蚊幼虫1-4龄期幼虫及蛹的24 h LC₅₀值分别为9.16, 8.65, 32.12, 43.68和197.83 μg/mL。在剂量分别为48, 64, 80, 96, 112和128 μg/cm3时, 小蓬草精油对白纹伊蚊成蚊的KT₅₀值分别为28.81, 22.31, 20.38, 17.05, 13.92和9.74 min; 对致倦库蚊的KT50值分别为34.90, 32.97, 23.97, 19.60, 15.20和10.34 min。 24 h熏蒸对白纹伊蚊和致倦库蚊成蚊的LC50值分别是75.46和99.19 μg/cm³。小蓬草精油的GC MS定性分析共分离鉴定出31种化合物, 其中单萜类物质6种, 倍半萜烯类物质17种, 含氧萜烯类6种。【结论】结果表明小蓬草精油对这两种蚊虫的毒杀活性较高, 具有深开发潜力。     

Are Aedes albopictus or other mosquito species from northern Italy competent to sustain new arboviral outbreaks?

The Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae), native to Southeast Asia, has extended its geographical distribution to invade new temperate and tropical regions. This species was introduced in 1990 to Italy and has since become the main pest in urban settings. It was incriminated as a principal vector in the first European outbreak of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in the province of Ravenna (Italy) in 2007. This outbreak was associated with CHIKV E1-226V, efficiently transmitted by Ae. albopictus . The occurrence of this outbreak in a temperate country led us to estimate the potential of Ae. albopictus to transmit CHIKV and dengue virus (DENV), and to determine the susceptibility to CHIKV of other mosquito species collected in northern Italy. Experimental infections showed that Ae. albopictus exhibited high disseminated infection rates for CHIKV (75.0% in Alessandria; 90.3% in San Lazzaro) and low disseminated infection rates for DENV-2 (14.3% in San Lazzaro; 38.5% in Alessandria). Moreover, Ae. albopictus was able to attain a high level of viral replication, with CHIKV detectable in the salivary glands at day 2 after infection. In addition, the other three mosquito species, Anopheles maculipennis Meigen, Aedes vexans vexans (Meigen) and Culex pipiens L., showed variable susceptibilities to infection with CHIKV, of 0%, 7.7% and 0–33%, respectively. This information on vector competence is crucial in assessing the risk for an outbreak of CHIKV or DENV in Italy.     

Parasitism of Ascogregarina taiwanensis and Ascogregarina culicis (Apicomplexa: Lecudinidae) in larvae of Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) from Manaus, Amazon region, Brazil

The aim of the study was to determine the existence of Ascogregarina spp. in larvae of Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti collected in urban and suburban areas of Manaus, Amazon region, Brazil. Between May 2004 and July 2005, the mid-gut of 3rd and 4th instar larvae, collected in tire traps in six neighborhoods of Manaus, was examined for the presence of trophozoites of Ascogregarina. Coexistence of Ae. albopictus larvae infected by A. taiwanensis, and Ae. aegypti larvae by A. culicis, was detected in traps in the field. The percentage of Ae. albopictus larvae infected by A. taiwanensis ranged from 21% to 93.5% and of Ae. aegypti larvae infected by A. culicis from 22% to 95%. The mean infection intensity was similar in both species of Aedes. In traps located in Mauazinho, the replacement of Ae. aegypti by Ae. albopictus larvae was observed. In Manaus, Ae. albopictus larvae were parasitized by A. taiwanensis, and Ae. aegypti larvae by A. culicis. Infection rates were high when the species of Aedes were found separately.     

The mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Maliuc (Danube delta)--faunistical and ecological data

The paper reports the results of the survey of the mosquito fauna in the Maliuc area (Danube delta) in 1983-1985. 16 mosquito species have been recorded in the area during the investigations: Anopheles maculipennis--complex, An. hyrcanus, Uranotaenia unguiculata, Coquillettidia richiardii, Culiseta annulata, Aedes vexans, Ae. cinereus, Ae. caspius, Ae. dorsalis, Ae. excrucians, Ae. flavescens, Ae. leucomelas, Ae. intrudens, Culex pipiens, C. martinii, Cx. modestus. They have been captured by light traps, on human bait, with entomological hand net and within an indoor resting site (building). Six types of habitats of adult mosquitoes, taking into account the characteristics of the soil and vegetation have been identified in the area. The quantitative and qualitative differences of the mosquito fauna within these six habitats have been recorded. Also, the suitable capture methods within every habitat have been established.     

The invasion of urban forest by dengue vectors in Rio de Janeiro.

The invasion of a secondary forest within the city of Rio de Janeiro by Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus was evaluated from July 1997 to June 1998 through collections of immature stages in ovitraps set at 1 m, 10 m, 100 m, 500 m, and 1,000 m into the forest from houses on the periphery. Both mosquito species were much more abundant close to houses (1-10 m). Aedes aegypti was not collected beyond 100 m, while Ae. albopictus was the most abundant species overall and in ovitraps at all distances from houses. Abundances of Ae. albopictus were significantly correlated with time-lagged rainfall and with abundances of Ae. aegypti. Co-occurrences of Ae. albopictus in traps with Ae. aegypti and Limatus durhami, but not with Culex dolosus, were more likely close to houses. The results suggest that the urban forest is a refuge for both Aedes species, but especially for Ae. albopictus, whose abundance both near houses and in the forest raises concern that this invader may transmit arboviruses to humans that are presently restricted to the sylvan environment.     

Isolation of the spirochaete Borrelia afzelii from the mosquito Aedes vexans in the Czech Republic

During the years 1993–1995, a total of 3580 culicine mosquitoes of six species were collected in South Moravia, Czech Republic, and examined by dark-field microscopy for the presence of borreliae. Females of Aedes cantans , Ae. sticticus , Ae. vexans , Culex pipiens and Cx pipiens biotype molestus (but not Ae. geniculatus or Culiseta annulata ) harboured spirochaetes, the frequencies ranging from 0.7% to 7.8%. One isolate (BR-53) from Ae. vexans was identified as Borrelia afzelii genospecies. The potential role of mosquitoes in the epidemiology of Lyme borreliosis should be investigated.     

椿叶花椒果实精油对两种蚊虫的生物活性及成分分析

为筛选环保型的植物源灭蚊活性物质, 研究了椿叶花椒 Zanthoxylum ailanthoides 果实精油对白纹伊蚊Aedes albopictus和致倦库蚊Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus成蚊的熏杀活性, 并测试了精油对这两种蚊幼虫的毒杀效果。此外, 采用GC-MS分析了该精油的化学成分。 结果表明：在102.145 μg·cm^-3熏杀剂量下, 精油对白纹伊蚊和致倦库蚊成蚊的KT50值分别为2.788和3.505 min, 24 h致死率分别为100%和97.53%。该精油对白纹伊蚊和致倦库蚊4龄幼虫的LC50值分别为45.237和20.759 mg·L^-1。从椿叶花椒果实精油中共鉴定出14种化合物, 其中2-十一酮为主要成分, 相对含量为89.86%。结果说明椿叶花椒果实精油对两种蚊虫均有明显的杀虫活性, 具有开发成植物源灭蚊剂的潜力。     

Susceptibility of ten species of mosquito larvae to the parasitic nematode Romanomermis iyengari and its development

Ten species of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) from five genera were exposed to preparasites of the tropical mermithid nematode species Romanomermis iyengari (Welch) (Nematoda: Mermithidae), a strain isolated in 1978 from Pondicherry. By exposing mosquito larvae during the second instar, nematode infection was invariably lethal, the rate being highest in Culex sitiens Wiedemann (95%) followed by Cx. quinquefasciatus Say (90%), Aedes aegypti (L.) (79%), Anopheles subpictus Grassi (64%), Ae. albopictus (Skuse) and Armigeres subalbatus Coquillett (62%), Cx. tritaeniorhynchus Giles (57%), Mansonia annulifera (Theobald) (46%), An. stephensi Liston (40%) and An. culicifacies Giles (36%). When fourth-instar larvae were exposed, the infection was highest in Ar. subalbatus (66%), followed by An. stephensi (52%), Cx. quinquefasciatus (47%), Ae. aegypti and An. subpictus (42%), Ae. albopictus (30%), An. culicifacies (29%), Cx. sitiens (24%), Cx. tritaeniorhynchus (19%) and Ma. annulifera (8%), with 2-45% of infected culicines surviving to adulthood. The parasitic phase of the nematode lasted 5-7 days in all the host species, yielding 1.1-3.2 parasites per II instar and 1.1-2.5 parasites per IV instar. The overall output of parasites per 100 mosquito larvae (infected + uninfected) was highest for Ae. aegypti when mosquitoes were exposed during II instar (2.53 parasites/larva) and for Ar. subalbatus when mosquitoes were exposed during IV instar (1.65/larva), and lowest for Ma. annulifera exposed during IV instar (0.09/larva). For routine laboratory culture of R. iyengari it is convenient to employ Cx. quinquefasciatus as the host yielding 90-190 parasites/100 larva.     

Aedes albopictus in Italy and possible diffusion of the species into the Mediterranean area

Aedes albopictus (Skuse), the important Asian vector mosquito recently introduced in United States and Brazil, is reported from Genoa, North Italy. The infestation was discovered in a kindergarten pre-school center in September 1990 just after the summer holidays. Many discarded tires, well known to provide excellent breeding places for Ae albopictus, had been left in the school playground to be used as toys by the children. After sampling a few biting mosquito specimens for identification, the local health service carried out on September 18 an extensive indoor/outdoor treatment with pyrethroid insecticide. The extent of the infestation in the city of Genoa and in other areas of the Ligurian region has not been evaluated since the identification of the species was available in October, at the end of Ae albopictus reproductive period. A general survey in various Italian regions is being planned for the 1991 spring-summer period. The present record, together with the previous report of Ae albopictus in Albania, clearly supports the hypothesis of a spreading of the species in the Mediterranean area.     

Susceptibility of mosquitoes in central Taiwan to natural infections of Dirofilaria immitis

From October 1997 to September 1998, 3085 Culex quinquefasciatus (Say) (Diptera: Culicidae), 584 Cx. tritaeniorhynchus (Giles) (Diptera: Culicidae), 392 Cx. annulus (Theobald) (Diptera: Culicidae), 374 Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae) and 102 Armigeres subalbatus (Coquillet) (Diptera: Culicidae) were collected and examined for Dirofilaria immitis (Leidy) (Spirurida: Filariidae) infection. However, only Cx. quinquefasciatus and Ae. albopictus were infected, with a prevalence of 4.28% and 3.74%, respectively. The intensity of D. immitis found in Ae. albopictus (3.43 larvae/mosquito) was higher than that found in Cx. quinquefasciatus (2.89 larvae/mosquito). After being fed with canine blood containing 7500 microfilariae (mf) per mL, Cx. quinquefasciatus ingested approximately two times as many mf as Ae. albopictus (mean of 31.73 in comparison to 16.47). However, almost three times as many third-stage infective larvae developed in Ae. albopictus as in Cx. quinquefasciatus (mean of 3.25 as compared with 1.10), with a vector efficiency index (VEI) of 19.73 and 3.47, respectively. The results showed that Cx. quinquefasciatus and Ae. albopictus served as natural vectors of D. immitis in central Taiwan. Although Ae. albopictus was more efficient for heartworm transmission, Cx. quinquefasciatus may play a more prominent role on the transmission of dirofilariasis in central Taiwan.     

用刘氏中剑水蚤防治蚊幼虫(英文)

本研究在室内评价了在济宁采集的捕食性刘氏中剑水蚤单用及与球形芽孢杆菌(B.s.)或苏云金杆菌以色列变种(B.t.i.)合用对蚊幼虫的控制效果。在室内,刘氏中剑水蚤对白蚊伊蚊Ⅰ龄幼虫的捕食效果好于对中华按蚊和淡色库蚊幼虫的效果。蚊笼模拟试验表明,刘氏中剑水蚤可分别于9、10和7周内消灭淡色库蚊、中华按蚊和白蚊伊蚊的幼虫种群。该剑水蚤增长速率快,大量培养经济易行。现场试验证明,刘氏中剑水蚤虽可在蚊虫孳生地存活时间长于蚊虫季节,但单用该剑水蚤不能象化学杀虫剂一样快速完全地控制三种蚊虫。刘氏中剑水蚤与B.s.或B.t.i.合用,应用刘氏中剑水蚤的长持效和生物杀虫剂的速效,取得了高效、持久的防治效果。因此二者合用可用于蚊虫防治并可作为蚊虫综合防治的一个组成部分。