Author:
Pichler Verena,Caputo Beniamino,Valadas Vera,Micocci Martina,Horvath Cintia,Virgillito Chiara,Akiner Mustafa,Balatsos Georgios,Bender Christelle,Besnard Gilles,Bravo-Barriga Daniel,Bueno-Mari Rubén,Collantes Francisco,Delacour-Estrella Sarah,Dikolli Enkelejda,Falcuta Elena,Flacio Eleonora,García-Pérez Ana L.,Kalan Katja,Kavran Mihaela,L’Ambert Gregory,Lia Riccardo P.,Marabuto Eduardo,Medialdea Raquel,Melero-Alcibar Rosario,Michaelakis Antonios,Mihalca Andrei,Mikov Ognyan,Miranda Miguel A.,Müller Pie,Otranto Domenico,Pajovic Igor,Petric Dusan,Rebelo Maria Teresa,Robert Vincent,Rogozi Elton,Tello Ana,Zitko Toni,Schaffner Francis,Pinto Joao,della Torre Alessandra
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Colonization of large part of Europe by the Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus is causing autochthonous transmission of chikungunya and dengue exotic arboviruses. While pyrethroids are recommended only to reduce/limit transmission, they are widely implemented to reduce biting nuisance and to control agricultural pests, increasing the risk of insurgence of resistance mechanisms. Worryingly, pyrethroid resistance (with mortality < 70%) was recently reported in Ae. albopictus populations from Italy and Spain and associated with the V1016G point mutation in the voltage-sensitive sodium channel gene conferring knockdown resistance (kdr). Genotyping pyrethroid resistance-associated kdr mutations in field mosquito samples represents a powerful approach to detect early signs of resistance without the need for carrying out phenotypic bioassays which require availability of live mosquitoes, dedicated facilities and appropriate expertise.
Methods
Here we report results on the PCR-genotyping of the V1016G mutation in 2530 Ae. albopictus specimens from 69 sampling sites in 19 European countries.
Results
The mutation was identified in 12 sites from nine countries (with allele frequencies ranging from 1 to 8%), mostly distributed in two geographical clusters. The western cluster includes Mediterranean coastal sites from Italy, France and Malta as well as single sites from both Spain and Switzerland. The eastern cluster includes sites on both sides of the Black Sea in Bulgaria, Turkey and Georgia as well as one site from Romania. These results are consistent with genomic data showing high connectivity and close genetic relationship among West European populations and a major barrier to gene flow between West European and Balkan populations.
Conclusions
The results of this first effort to map kdr mutations in Ae. albopictus on a continental scale show a widespread presence of the V1016G allele in Europe, although at lower frequencies than those previously reported from Italy. This represents a wake-up call for mosquito surveillance programs in Europe to include PCR-genotyping of pyrethroid resistance alleles, as well as phenotypic resistance assessments, in their routine activities.
Graphical Abstract
Funder
Junta de Extremadura
EU Environmental Funding Programme LIFE+ Greek Environment Policy and Governance
Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Ministero dell'Università e della Ricerca
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Infectious Diseases,Parasitology
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