The mosquito fauna of the western region of Spain with emphasis on ecological factors and the characterization of Culex pipiens forms |
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Authors: | Daniel Bravo‐Barriga Bruno Gomes Antonio P.G. Almeida Francisco J. Serrano‐Aguilera Juan E. Pérez‐Martín Rafael Calero‐Bernal David Reina Eva Frontera João Pinto |
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Affiliation: | 1. Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, University of Extremadura, Caceres, Spain;2. Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Unidade de Parasitologia Médica, Portugal;3. Center for Viral Zoonoses, Department of Medical Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa;4. Parasitology Service National Centre for Microbiology, Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain |
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Abstract: | This study updates the diversity, distribution, and seasonal trends of mosquitoes in a western region of Spain, assesses ecological determinants of Culex pipiens s.l., and determines form composition of Cx. pipiens s.s. populations. A total of 1,495 mosquitoes of 16 species was collected during 2012–2013, of which Cx. pipiens s.l. and Cx. theileri were the most abundant. Five new records for An. maculipennis s.s., Orthopodomyia pulcripalpis, Aedes (Ochlerotatus) punctor, Cx. europaeus, and Cx. modestus were found for this region. Cx. pipiens density varied across weather and habitat patterns, correlating positively with high temperatures and with a preference for urbanized areas and rural areas within a proximity of ovine farms. Moreover, molecular identification by CQ11FL was performed in 467 Cx. pipiens s.s., detecting both pipiens (66%) and molestus (8.4%) forms coexisting in different habitats (urban, peri‐urban and rural) aboveground with a high degree of hybridization (25.7%). The abundance of Cx. pipiens in urban areas and farms, with the presence of hybrids, may increase their capacity to act as bridge vectors for the transmission of arboviral infections. These data will be helpful for further implementation of entomological programs focused on risk assessment for arboviruses or other mosquito‐borne pathogens. |
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Keywords: | Culex pipiens molestus form hybrids CQ11FL ecological factor Spain |
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