Aedes albopictus diversity and relationships in south-western Europe and Brazil by rDNA/mtDNA and phenotypic analyses: ITS-2, a useful marker for spread studies

Abstract

Background Aedes albopictus is a very invasive mosquito, which has recently colonized tropical and temperate regions worldwide. Of concern is its role in the spread of emerging or re-emerging mosquito-borne diseases. Ae. albopictus from south-western Europe and Brazil were studied to infer genetic and phenetic diversity at intra-individual, intra-population and inter-population levels, and to analyse its spread. Methods Genotyping was made by rDNA 5.8S-ITS-2 and mtDNA cox1 sequencing to assess haplotype and nucleotide diversity, genetic distances and phylogenetic networks. Male and female phenotyping included combined landmark-and outlined-based geometric morphometrics of wing size and shape. Results Specimens from seven populations from Spain, France and Brazil provided 12 cox1 and 162 5.8S-ITS-2 haplotypes, with great genetic variability difference between both markers (0.9% vs 31.2%). Five cox1 haplotypes were shared with other countries, mainly Italy, USA and China, but none was shared between Europe and Brazil. The 5.8S-ITS-2 showed 2–7 intra-individual (mean 4.7) and 16–34 intra-/inter-population haplotypes (24.7), including haplotypes shared between Spain, France and Brazil. A 4.3% of ITS-2 haplotypes were shared, mainly with Italy, USA and Thailand, evidencing worldwide spread and introductions from areas where recent outbreaks of Ae. albopictus-transmitted pathogens occurred. Wing size showed sex differences. Wing shape distinguished between Brazilian and European specimens. Both genetic and morphometric markers showed differences between insular Spain and continental Spain, France and Brazil. Conclusions ITS-2 proves to be a useful marker to assess Ae. albopictus spread, providing pronouncedly more information than cox1, including intra-individual, intra-population and inter-population levels, furnishing a complete overview of the evolutionary exchanges followed by this mosquito. Wing morphometry proves to be a useful phenotyping marker, allowing to distinguish different populations at the level of both male and female specimens. Results indicate the need for periodic surveillance monitorings to verify that no Ae. albopictus with high virus transmission capacity is introduced into Europe. Graphic Abstract

First Detection of the Invasive Mosquito Vector Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Benin, West Africa, 2021

“…2 ). Because of its high conservation, the COI gene is most widely used for phylogenetic analysis and is the standard for molecular mosquito identification, although disadvantages and limitations of these marker should be taken into account ( Lee et al 2019 , Artigas et al 2021 ). In accordance with phylogenetic studies from Central Africa, our results suggest that Ae.…”

Multiple invasions, Wolbachia and human-aided transport drive the genetic variability of Aedes albopictus in the Iberian Peninsula

“…As for future directions, although ITS2 has proved to be a useful marker for studies on the spread of Ae. albopictus 47 , the reassessment of the species' genetic diversity and population structure through the use of molecular markers with greater variability and/or potential, such as microsatellites and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), could provide more detailed and deeper insights into the description of fine-scale dispersal patterns, gene flow and introduction routes. Global patterns of mtDNA and nuclear variation were highly discordant, with mtDNA showing little genetic diversity and a single star-like haplotype network.…”

Multiple invasions,Wolbachiaand human-aided transport drive the genetic variability ofAedes albopictusin the Iberian Peninsula

“…As for future directions, although ITS2 has proved to be a useful marker for studies on the spread of Ae. albopictus [84], the reassessment of the species' genetic diversity and population structure through the use of molecular markers with greater variability and/or potential, such as microsatellites and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), could provide more detailed and deeper insights into the description of fine-scale dispersal patterns, gene flow and introduction routes.…”