Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Aedes Albopictus and Culex Pipiens along an Urban-Natural Gradient in the Ventotene Island, Italy

Abstract

The distribution of mosquitos and their corresponding hosts is critical in public health to determine the risk of transmission for vector-borne diseases. In this pilot study conducted in the small Mediterranean island of Ventotene, a known stopover site for migratory birds, the spatio-temporal distribution of two major mosquito vectors is analyzed from the natural to urban environment. The results show that Aedes albopictus aggregates mostly near areas with a human presence and the urban landscape, while Culex pipiens is more spatio-temporally spread, as it can also be found in wilder and less anthropized areas where the availability of human hosts is limited. Culex pipiens is also active earlier in the year. From a microgeographical perspective, our results confirm the anthropophilic spatial distribution of Ae. Albopictus, while suggesting that the circulation of bird zoonosis, such as West Nile, could be favored by the Cx. pipiens distribution. The results highlight the different ecology of the vectors and the interplay with their hosts, even at a small scale. The current evidence may help in forecasting the risk of pathogen transmission and surveillance planning.

Culex pipiens distribution in Tunisia: Identification of suitable areas through Random Forest and MaxEnt approaches

“…Hence, it is crucial to understand how Cx. pipiens is distributed across the environment and what natural and anthropogenic determinants influence its spatial distribution (Manica et al., 2020 ).…”

Spatial Analysis of Mosquito-Borne Diseases in Europe: A Scoping Review

“…In Italy, Ae. albopictus was mostly found near areas with a human presence and urban landscape [38], while Culex pipiens had a more scattered distribution and could be found in wilder and less urbanised areas [100]. Finally, in Spain, unsuitable areas for Culex pipiens were located at higher altitudes and in colder regions [96].…”