Mosquitoes of Western Yunnan Province, China: Seasonal Abundance, Diversity, and Arbovirus Associations

Abstract

ObjectiveThe western borderland between Yunnan Province, China, and Myanmar is characterized by a climate that facilitates year-round production of mosquitoes. Numerous mosquito-transmitted viruses, including Japanese encephalitis virus circulate in this area. This project was to describe seasonal patterns in mosquito species abundance and arbovirus activity in the mosquito populations.MethodsMosquitoes were collected in Mangshi and Ruili cities of Dehong Prefecture near the border of China and Burma in Yunnan Province, the Peoples Republic of China in 2010. We monitored mosquito species abundance for a 12-month period using ultraviolet light, carbon dioxide baited CDC light and gravid traps; and tested the captured mosquitoes for the presence of virus to evaluate mosquito-virus associations in rural/agricultural settings in the area.ResultsA total of 43 species of mosquitoes from seven genera were collected, including 15 Culex species, 15 Anopheles spp., four Aedes spp., three Armigeres spp., one Mimomyia spp., two Uranotaenia spp. and three Mansonia spp.. Species richness and diversity varied between Mangshi and Ruili. Culex tritaeniorhynchus, Culex quinquefasciatus, Anopheles sinensis and Anopheles peditaeniatus were the most abundant species in both sampling sites. Ultraviolet light traps collected more specimens than CDC light traps baited with dry ice, though both collected the same variety of mosquito species. The CDC gravid trap was the most effective trap for capture of Culex quinquefasciatus, a species underrepresented in light trap collections. A total of 26 virus strains were isolated, which included 13 strains of Japanese encephalitis virus, four strains of Getah virus, one strain of Oya virus, one strain from the orbivirus genus, and seven strains of Culex pipien pallens densovirus.ConclusionsThe present study illustrates the value of monitoring mosquito populations and mosquito-transmitted viruses year-round in areas where the climate supports year-round adult mosquito activity.

Spatial heterogeneity and temporal dynamics of mosquito population density and community structure in Hainan Island, China

“…Armigeres ( Armigeres ) subalbatus is a species complex of zoophilic mosquitoes belonging to the genus Armigeres , which is the least studied genus of mosquitoes captured during this study with regard to public health [ 36 , 49 , 50 ]. It is a natural vector for filarial worms of livestock, which causes filariasis in humans [ 36 , 50 ]. This species has also been found at a low density and carrying virus in Yunnan, China [ 50 ].…”

“…It is a natural vector for filarial worms of livestock, which causes filariasis in humans [ 36 , 50 ]. This species has also been found at a low density and carrying virus in Yunnan, China [ 50 ]. Moreover, a study in central China found that Ar.…”

Evaluation of CDC light traps for mosquito surveillance in a malaria endemic area on the Thai-Myanmar border

“…In addition, the use of CDC-LT with dry ice was most effective for trapping of Cx. quinquefasciatus when compared with UV light traps and gravid traps in China [ 33 ]. This effect was not observed in the present study but this may be attributable to the low numbers of Cx.…”

A viral metagenomic analysis reveals rich viral abundance and diversity in mosquitoes from pig farms

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