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Monitoring of exotic mosquitoes in Belgium (MEMO): Final Report Phase 7 Part 1: MEMO results

dc.contributor.authorDeblauwe, I.
dc.contributor.authorDe Wolf, K.
dc.contributor.authorSmitz, N.
dc.contributor.authorVanslembrouck, A.
dc.contributor.authorSchneider, A.
dc.contributor.authorDe Witte, J.
dc.contributor.authorVerlé, I.
dc.contributor.authorDekoninck, W.
dc.contributor.authorDe Meyer, M.
dc.contributor.authorBackeljau, T.
dc.contributor.authorGombeer, S.
dc.contributor.authorMeganck, K.
dc.contributor.authorVan Bourgonie, YR.
dc.contributor.authorVanderheyden, A.
dc.contributor.authorMüller, R.
dc.contributor.authorVan Bortel, W.
dc.coverage.spatialEurope
dc.coverage.spatialBelgium
dc.date2020
dc.date.accessioned2024-03-14T13:22:09Z
dc.date.available2024-03-14T13:22:09Z
dc.identifier.urihttps://orfeo.belnet.be/handle/internal/12551
dc.descriptionThe early detection of exotic mosquito species (EMS) along high-risk introduction routes before populations become established is of paramount importance to prevent local transmission of mosquito-borne diseases. Following previous EMS surveillance projects in Belgium, a three-year national active EMS monitoring project (MEMO) started in July 2017 to detect possible foci of introduction and establishment of EMS at an early stage in Belgium. Each year, active monitoring was implemented in 20 to 23 different Points of Entry (PoE). The risk of introduction and establishment of the EMS at each PoE was re-evaluated annually to ensure that the monitoring focused on the real high risk sites. Different collection methods were used, including BG-Sentinel and Mosquito Magnet® traps to collect host seeking female mosquitoes, oviposition traps to detect egg-laying females, and larval sampling. The collected specimens were sorted and identified using morphological characteristics. The caught EMS and five percent of all collected mosquitoes were molecularly identified to validate and confirm the morphological identification, which were deposited in a molecular reference collection. A specific molecular identification pipeline was developed to enable the proper identification of all mosquito species occurring in Belgium. Further, a morphological collection of the most intact specimens sampled during the MEMO project was generated for future reference. Data management was done using the VECMAP® software. In total of 52478 mosquito (Diptera, Culicidae) specimens, belonging to 31 species (or species complexes) and five genera (Aedes, Anopheles, Culex, Culiseta, Coquillettidia) were collected. Three new species for Belgium were collected, namely Anopheles daciae, Culex modestus and Culiseta longiarealata. Four EMS were detected: Aedes albopictus, Aedes japonicus, Aedes koreicus and Anopheles pharoenis. Two EMS are locally established: Aedes japonicus in Natoye (used tyre company Havelange) and Aedes koreicus in Maasmechelen (industrial area Op de Berg ). Aedes japonicus is known to occur in Belgium since 2002. In 2012 the first eradication campaign was implemented in Natoye and Ae. japonicus was considered eradicated in 2015. However, in 2017 the species was again detected at the same location. The observations of 2018 and 2019 in Natoye indicate that the species is spreading again. Based on microsatellite analysis (DNA markers), this recent population is an admixture of the original population, which survived the eradication, and a newly introduced genotype from an external source. Also new introductions of Ae. japonicus were detected in Maasmechelen and Eupen, the latter of which originated from West Germany. Detected for the first time in 2008, Ae. koreicus does not seem to spread fast, but can be considered widely spread now. A first control campaign to reduce the population size started in 2019. Aedes albopictus is not established in Belgium yet. During the project, it was collected at seven PoE s in 2018 (five PoE s) and 2019 (four PoE s). Besides known introduction pathways in Belgium such as used tyre and lucky bamboo trade, the species was caught at multiple parking lots along highways, which is a new introduction pathway for Belgium. Anopheles pharoensis was detected at the airport of Liège by a Mosquito Magnet® trap. This species is a tropical mosquito mostly present in West, East and southern Africa, Egypt, Israel and Syria. In African countries it is a common secondary vector of malaria. The climatic conditions in Belgium are considered as non-suitable for possible establishment of this EMS. The three-year MEMO project showed that the situation in Belgium is changing. On top of the known introduction pathways, the used tyre and lucky bamboo trade, a new one for Belgium was found, the passive ground transport. This will be a new challenge in the coming years for Belgium as established populations of Ae. albopictus are approaching Belgium and introductions through passive ground transport will become more frequent. Further, during the project we already observed an increase in the percentage of positive PoE s in Belgium, and EMS were introduced into Belgium in all months between May and October. All these findings, stress the importance of the need for an integrated surveillance and control management plan for EMS at national and regional levels setting out clear criteria for surveillance, action, control methods and strategies with appropriate supervision and evaluation.
dc.languageeng
dc.publisherNEHAP
dc.titleMonitoring of exotic mosquitoes in Belgium (MEMO): Final Report Phase 7 Part 1: MEMO results
dc.typeReport
dc.subject.frascatiBiological sciences
dc.audienceScientific
dc.subject.freeInvertebrates
dc.source.page100
Orfeo.peerreviewedNot pertinent
dc.identifier.rmca5844


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