Biology and Behaviour of Aedes aegypti in the Human Environment: Opportunities for Vector Control of Arbovirus Transmission

Abstract

Aedes aegypti is a ubiquitous vector of arboviruses mostly in urbanised areas throughout the tropics and subtropics and a growing threat beyond. Control of Ae. aegypti is difficult and costly, and no vaccines are available for most of the viruses it transmits. With practical control solutions our goal, ideally suitable for delivery by householders in affected communities, we reviewed the literature on adult Ae. aegypti biology and behaviour, within and close to the human home, the arena where such interventions must impact. We found that knowledge was vague or important details were missing for multiple events or activities in the mosquito life cycle, such as the duration or location of the many periods when females rest between blood feeding and oviposition. The existing body of literature, though substantial, is not wholly reliable, and evidence for commonly held “facts” range from untraceable to extensive. Source references of some basic information are poor or date back more than 60 years, while other information that today is accepted widely as “fact” is not supported by evidence in the literature. Many topics, e.g., sugar feeding, resting preferences (location and duration), and blood feeding, merit being revisited in new geographical regions and ecological contexts to identify vulnerabilities for exploitation in control.

First report of V1016I, F1534C and V410L kdr mutations associated with pyrethroid resistance in Aedes aegypti populations from Niamey, Niger

“…With vaccines lacking, of limited efficacy or in limited supply, the control of these diseases relies on vector control using insecticidal interventions against immature and adult stages in combination with larval source reduction [ 9 , 10 ]. Understanding the resting behaviour (endophily or exophily), blood-feeding patterns and the preferential breeding habitats of immature stages as well as the insecticide resistance status are keys for effective vector control implementation and outbreaks preparedness [ 11 – 13 ]. West Africa is a region where dengue cases are predicted to increase in the coming years [ 14 ].…”

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“…aegypti, exhibits at least two different variants (Ae. aegypti formosus (Walker) (Aaf) and Aedes aegypti aegypti (L.) (Aaa) [20] .…”

“…The most common and familiar Aedes mosquitoes are Aaa [02] . In the twenty-first century, Aaa has emerged as a persistent pest in urban regions across the tropics and sub-tropics regions of the world [20] . The synanthropic behavior would have developed in Aaa when they expanded their range from Africa through human movements, frequently undertaking long-distance journeys [30,31] .…”

Effect of the ethanolic extract of Pachygone ovata (Poir.) leaf extract on the viability of the egg and larva of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) in the laboratory conditions

“…The size of the Aedes aegypti mosquito ranges from around 3-4 mm with white rings on its legs [2] . This Aedes aegypti has proven to be an important vector of various arboviruses, fulfilling its biological cycle in two environments, the aquatic in the first three stages (eggs, larvae and pupae) and the aerial in the adult stage [3] . The adult has mainly urban domestic habits, preferably daily and anthropophilic; The male feeds on the nectar of flowers and the females are hematophagous, a condition that makes it a vector of diseases such as Dengue, Zika, Chikungunya fever, and yellow fever [3][4] .…”

“…This Aedes aegypti has proven to be an important vector of various arboviruses, fulfilling its biological cycle in two environments, the aquatic in the first three stages (eggs, larvae and pupae) and the aerial in the adult stage [3] . The adult has mainly urban domestic habits, preferably daily and anthropophilic; The male feeds on the nectar of flowers and the females are hematophagous, a condition that makes it a vector of diseases such as Dengue, Zika, Chikungunya fever, and yellow fever [3][4] . The World Health Organization estimates that 2.5 billion people live in areas at risk of transmission of these diseases due to the presence of the vector and that about 50 million are infected each year, reported in 2019 in the region of the Americas.…”