First detection of Aedes japonicus in Spain: an unexpected finding triggered by citizen science

Abstract

BackgroundAedes japonicus is an invasive vector mosquito from Southeast Asia which has been spreading across central Europe since the year 2000. Unlike the Asian Tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) present in Spain since 2004, there has been no record of Ae. japonicus in the country until now.ResultsHere, we report the first detection of Ae. japonicus in Spain, at its southernmost location in Europe. This finding was triggered by the citizen science platform Mosquito Alert. In June 2018, a citizen sent a report via the Mosquito Alert app from the municipality of Siero in the Asturias region (NW Spain) containing pictures of a female mosquito compatible with Ae. japonicus. Further information was requested from the participant, who subsequently provided several larvae and adults that could be classified as Ae. japonicus. In July, a field mission confirmed its presence at the original site and in several locations up to 9 km away, suggesting a long-time establishment. The strong media impact in Asturias derived from the discovery raised local participation in the Mosquito Alert project, resulting in further evidence from surrounding areas.ConclusionsWhilst in the laboratory Ae. japonicus is a competent vector for several mosquito-borne pathogens, to date only West Nile virus is a concern based on field evidence. Nonetheless, this virus has yet not been detected in Asturias so the vectorial risk is currently considered low. The opportunity and effectiveness of combining citizen-sourced data to traditional surveillance methods are discussed.

Global occurrence data improve potential distribution models for Aedes japonicus japonicus in non‐native regions

“…j. japonicus was the third non-native mosquito species recorded, 23 and since its first detection in the early 2000s, the species has been observed to expand its range and new records are reported continuously. [24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32] A niche unfilling within the new ranges in Europe and North America is very likely for Ae. j. japonicus due to the short time since its first detection on both continents.…”

Dynamics and Distribution of the Invasive Mosquito Aedes koreicus in a Temperate European City

“…In particular, Aedes species are of greater concern due to their competence as vectors of several pathogens such as, for instance, dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses [2]. Improvement in surveillance systems allows better detection of the introduction of invasive Aedes species [3][4][5][6]. However, in the face of the new challenges posed by global environmental change and insecticide resistance, there is the need to develop a novel approach to mosquito control based on the One Health perspective rather than the insecticide-only approach [7,8].…”

Sustainable innovation in vector control requires strong partnerships with communities

“…With almost 15,000 reports lodged since its launch in 2014, the application has served to monitor the spread of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes across Spain and was recently the source of the first-ever confirmed observation of A. japonicus in the country. In addition to serving as a tool of entomological surveillance, Mosquito Alert has also proved its value as a means of promoting social awareness and education about mosquitoborne diseases [18] . Another example discussed at the workshop was the recruitment and training of local residents in the Kilombero Valley, southern Tanzania, to locate swarms of Anopheles mosquitoes.…”