Long-term dynamics of the mosquito Aedes aegypti in temperate Argentina

SYLVIA FISCHER; MARÍA SOL DE MAJO; LAURA QUIROGA; MELINA PAEZ; NICOLÁS SCHWEIGMANN

BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH

CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS

Lugar: Cambridge; Año: 2017 vol. 107 p. 225 - 233

0007-4853

BuenosAires city is located near the southern limit of the distribution of Aedesaegypti (Diptera: Culicidae). This study aimed to assess long term variationsin the abundance of Ae. aegypti in Buenos Aires in relation to changes inclimatic conditions. Ae. aegypti weekly oviposition activity was analyzed andcompared through nine warm seasons from 1998 to 2014, with 200 ovitraps placedacross the whole extension of the city. The temporal and spatial dynamics ofabundances were compared among seasons, and their relation with climaticvariables were analyzed. Results showed a trend to higher peak abundances, ahigher number of infested sites, and longer duration of the oviposition seasonthrough subsequent years, consistent with a long term colonization process. Incontrast, thermal favorability and rainfall pattern did not show a consistenttrend of changes. The long term increase in abundance, and the recentlydocumented expansion of Ae. aegypti to colder areas of Buenos Aires provincesuggest that local populations might be adapting to lower temperatureconditions. The steadily increasing abundances may have implications on therisk of dengue transmission.