Seasonal Phenological Patterns and Flavivirus Vectorial Capacity of Medically Important Mosquito Species in a Wetland and an Urban Area of Attica, Greece

Abstract

Seasonal patterns of mosquito population density and their vectorial capacity constitute major elements to understand the epidemiology of mosquito-borne diseases. Using adult mosquito traps, we compared the population dynamics of major mosquito species (Culex pipiens, Aedes albopictus, Anopheles spp.) in an urban and a wetland rural area of Attica Greece. Pools of the captured Cx. pipiens were analyzed to determine infection rates of the West Nile virus (WNV) and the Usutu virus (USUV). The data provided were collected under the frame of the surveillance program carried out in two regional units (RUs) of the Attica region (East Attica and South Sector of Attica), during the period 2017–2018. The entomological surveillance of adult mosquitoes was performed on a weekly basis using a network of BG-sentinel traps (BGs), baited with CO2 and BG-Lure, in selected, fixed sampling sites. A total of 46,726 adult mosquitoes were collected, with larger variety and number of species in East Attica (n = 37,810), followed by the South Sector of Attica (n = 8916). The collected mosquitoes were morphologically identified to species level and evaluated for their public health importance. Collected Cx. pipiens adults were pooled and tested for West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) presence by implementation of a targeted molecular methodology (real-time PCR). A total of 366 mosquito pools were analyzed for WNV and USUV, respectively, and 38 (10.4%) positive samples were recorded for WNV, while no positive pool was detected for USUV. The majority of positive samples for WNV were detected in the East Attica region, followed by the South Sector of Attica, respectively. The findings of the current study highlight the WNV circulation in the region of Attica and the concomitant risk for the country, rendering mosquito surveillance actions and integrated mosquito management programs as imperative public health interventions.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Perception of Mosquito Control in Different Citizenship Regimes within and Surrounding the Malakasa Open Accommodation Refugee Camp in Athens, Greece

“…longiareolata (16♀, 2♂) and Ae. caspius (10♀, 0♂), which is in accordance with previous studies [ 29 , 30 ]. The high abundance of Cx.…”

“…The composition of mosquito fauna in the Open Accommodation Refugee Camp at Malakasa, was investigated by the monitoring system of two BG-sentinel traps (BGs) (Biogents AG, Regensburg, Germany) baited with CO2 and BG-lure [ 29 ]. Due to limited access samples were collected every 10–15 days.…”

Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Aedes albopictus Populations in Rural and Agricultural Areas in Chania, Greece, After Its Invasion

“…In a similar study (39) conducted in peridomicile and intradomicile environments in Brazil, the maximum value of POI was nearly 10%. Furthermore, this oviposition pattern is in accordance with previous studies in Greece (4,46,47).…”

Entomological Surveillance Activities in Regions in Greece: Data on Mosquito Species Abundance and West Nile Virus Detection in Culex pipiens Pools (2019–2020)

“…In the 2019–2020 national program, Ae. caspius was found to be abundant mostly in the regions of Central Macedonia and Western Greece, as in previous entomological studies [ 31 , 34 ]; however, its role as a disease vector in Greece and as a WNV vector is to be further investigated.…”

“…albopictus , is recorded in Greece since 2003. Monitoring and surveillance of this species are continuously performed in the country thereafter and so far it has been found in 11 regions surveyed [ 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ]. In the present study, it was recorded in 7 out of 8 regions surveyed in 2019 and in 10 out of 11 in 2020.…”