Complexity of the relationship between global warming and urbanization – an obscure future for predicting increases in vector-borne infectious diseases

Wilke, André Barretto Bruno; Beier, John C.; Benelli, Giovanni

doi:10.1016/j.cois.2019.06.002

Cited by 77 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 99 publications

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“…Even though the role of cemeteries in the proliferation of vector mosquitoes has been studied for many years [32], not only the mosquito community composition varies from place to place but resource availability, local variation in climate and the increase in global temperatures due to global warming also have to be taken into consideration [54,55]. Constant surveillance of problematic areas for the proliferation of vector mosquitoes in urban areas is key to not only better understand how mosquito species may be exploiting these habitats but also to assess the spreading of invasive species in urban areas.…”

Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 99%

Cemeteries in Miami-Dade County, Florida are important areas to be targeted in mosquito management and control efforts

et al. 2020

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Definable habitats at the neighborhood level provide a wide range of favorable habitats with optimal conditions and environmental resources for mosquito survival. Problematic habitats for controlling mosquitoes in urban environments such as tire shops, bromeliad patches, and construction sites must be taken into consideration in the development of effective mosquito management and control in urban areas. Cemeteries are often located in highly urbanized areas serving as a haven for populations of vector mosquito species due to the availability of natural resources present in most cemeteries. Even though Miami-Dade County, Florida was the most affected area in the United States during the Zika virus outbreak in 2016 and is currently under a mosquito-borne illness alert after 14 confirmed locally transmitted dengue cases, the role of cemeteries in the proliferation of vector mosquitoes is unknown. Therefore, our objective was to use a cross-sectional experimental design to survey twelve cemeteries across Miami-Dade County to assess if vector mosquitoes in Miami can be found in these areas. Our results are indicating that vector mosquitoes are able to successfully exploit the resources available in the cemeteries. Culex quinquefasciatus was the most abundant species but it was neither as frequent nor present in its immature form as Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. This study revealed that vector mosquitoes, such as Ae. aegypti, Ae. albopictus, and Cx. quinquefasciatus are successfully exploiting the resources available in these areas being able to thrive and reach high numbers. Mosquito control strategies should consider both long-term strategies, based on changing human behavior to reduce the availability of aquatic habitats for vector mosquitoes; as well as short-term strategies such as drilling holes or adding larvicide to the flower vases. Simple practices would greatly help improve the effectiveness of mosquito management and control in these problematic urban habitats.

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Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 99%

Cemeteries in Miami-Dade County, Florida are important areas to be targeted in mosquito management and control efforts

et al. 2020

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“…In the last decades, canine vector-borne diseases (CVBDs) have been expanding worldwide due to several factors linked with increase in pet travelling along with owners, relocation of sheltered animals from endemic to previously non-endemic regions, as well as to the modification of the ecology of arthropod vectors and, importantly, environmental modifications [1][2][3]. Therefore, the spreading of new parasites and pathogens, and related infections, in previously non-endemic geographical areas poses major concerns to veterinary practitioners and, in the case of zoonotic ones, to public health officials [2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Leishmania infantum and Dirofilaria immitis infections in Italy, 2009–2019: changing distribution patterns

et al. 2020

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Background: For long time, canine leishmaniosis (CanL) was considered endemic in the southern, central, and insular regions of Italy, whereas heartworm disease (HW) caused by Dirofilaria immitis was considered endemic in the northern region and in the swampy Po Valley. Following the reports of new foci of both diseases, in this study we update the distribution patterns and occurrence of new foci of CanL and HW discussing the main drivers for the changes in the epidemiology of these two important zoonotic canine vector-borne diseases.Methods: Based on the statistical analyses of serological assays (n = 90,633) on L. infantum exposure and D. immitis infection performed by two reference diagnostic centres in Italy over a ten-year period (2009-2019) irrespective of the anamnesis of dogs. The distribution patterns of both parasites are herein presented along with the occurrence of new foci.Results: Results highlighted the changing distribution patterns of L. infantum vs D. immitis infection in Italy. CanL is endemic in some areas of northern regions and HW has endemic foci in central and southern regions and islands. Significant differences in L. infantum exposure and HW infection prevalence among the study macroareas were detected. The overall results of the positive tested samples were 28.2% in southern Italy and islands, 29.6% in central Italy and 21.6% in northern Italy for L. infantum and 2.83% in northern Italy, 7.75% in central Italy and 4.97% in southern Italy and islands for HW. HW positivity significantly varied over years (χ 2 = 108.401, df = 10, P < 0.0001), gradually increasing from 0.77% in 2009 to 8.47% in 2016-2017.Conclusions: New potential epidemiological scenarios are discussed according to a range of factors (e.g. environmental modifications, occurrence of competent insect vectors, transportation of infected animals to non-endemic areas, chemoprophylaxis or vector preventative measures), which may affect the current distribution. Overall, the results advocate for epidemiological surveillance programmes, more focussed preventative and control measures even in areas where few or no cases of both diseases have been diagnosed.

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“…Biological invasions are a global driver of change, whose ecological and socio-economic impacts have been increasingly acknowledged over the last few decades [1] . The transmission of pathogens, operated by invasive alien vector species, is among the most worrisome consequences of biological invasions, due to its ecological and socio-economic impacts and its interplay with climate change and urbanization [2] [3] . Therefore, due to their role in major epidemics [4] and also their ecological impacts [5] , invasive alien mosquitoes have become among the most studied, and managed, invasive alien species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

GoogleTrends reflects the abundance of the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus): a call for the web-based surveillance of invasive alien vector species

Cerri¹,

Bertolino²

2020

Preprint

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The Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) is becoming widespread in Europe, where it can transmit some major arboviruses, including Chikungunya and Dengue. While surveillance initiatives are being implemented and harmonized between states, the spread of A.albopictus is outrunning them and cost-effective surveillance tools are needed.In this study, we tested whether on-line searches on Google can be adopted to monitor the abundance of A.albopictus. By using data from a long-term monitoring program in the Emilia-Romagna region (Italy), we tested whether the monthly level of infestation was causally related to the monthly GoogleTrends index for the species.The logarithm of the level of infestation from A.albopictus had a very strong causal effect over the total volume of Google searches about the species. Our statistical model was highly predictive for the GoogleTrends index, suggesting that this cheap on-line metric can be adopted as a proxy for the real level of infestation from A.albopictus.While GoogleTrends has been adopted to identify and monitor epidemics, including vector-borne diseases, no study tested whether it can reflect the numerical abundance of vector species. To the best of our knowledge, our study, among the few validating GoogleTrends with surveillance data, was the first one opening this possibility. Therefore, we believe that the analysis of on-line search volumes might become an important complement to existing surveillance initiatives for invasive vector species worldwide.

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Complexity of the relationship between global warming and urbanization – an obscure future for predicting increases in vector-borne infectious diseases

Cited by 77 publications

References 99 publications

Cemeteries in Miami-Dade County, Florida are important areas to be targeted in mosquito management and control efforts

Cemeteries in Miami-Dade County, Florida are important areas to be targeted in mosquito management and control efforts

Leishmania infantum and Dirofilaria immitis infections in Italy, 2009–2019: changing distribution patterns

GoogleTrends reflects the abundance of the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus): a call for the web-based surveillance of invasive alien vector species

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