Aedes koreicus in Belgium: to spread or not to spread?
Authors
Deblauwe, I.
De Wolf, K.
Schneider, A.
De Witte, J.
Vanslembrouck, A.
Smitz, N.
Meganck, K.
Dekoninck, W.
D Hondt, B.
Pardon, N.
Kurucz, K.
Müller, R.
Van Bortel, W.
Discipline
Biological sciences
Subject
Invertebrates
Audience
Scientific
Date
2021Publisher
Wageningen Academic Publisher
Metadata
Show full item recordDescription
Aedes koreicus is a proven vector of pathogens in the laboratory, and was, therefore, included in the Belgian exotic mosquito monitoring since its detection in 2008 at an industrial area in Maasmechelen (MM). At and around MM, Ae. koreicus was monitored longitudinally or cross-sectionally between 2012 and 2019. To follow-up its dispersal, a nearby industrial area (Dilsen-Stokkem; DS) was included in the monitoring. Adult, egg and larval sampling were performed. Since 2012, Ae. koreicus was collected each year at MM which remains the country s hot spot for this species. Some larvae and adults were detected at DS in 2014, and 2017 to 2019. This is only 1.4 km further than the furthest detection in 2009 (4 km from MM). It is not clear why the species did not disperse faster, in contrast to other populations in Europe. Preliminary genetic investigation of the COI gene fragment identified two haplotypes, with Bayesian analyses indicating there might have been a reintroduction at MM. In the light of the upcoming displacement of the companies at MM by 2035, human-aided dispersal of Ae. koreicus to other locations in Belgium or abroad is expected. In this context, sensitisation and control measures were implemented since 2018 and 2019, respectively. It will be important to continue these measures in the next years. We recommend to further investigate the context-dependent vector biology, and in particular to further assess the host preferences, vector competence and population genetics of this exotic mosquito in Europe.
Citation
Deblauwe, I.; De Wolf, K.; Schneider, A.; De Witte, J.; Vanslembrouck, A.; Smitz, N.; Meganck, K.; Dekoninck, W.; D Hondt, B.; Pardon, N.; Kurucz, K.; Müller, R.; Van Bortel, W. (2021). Aedes koreicus in Belgium: to spread or not to spread?. , Xth International EMCA Conference, Vol. 39, S46, Wageningen Academic Publisher, DOI: https://doi.org/10.52004/jemca2021.s1.Identifiers
Type
Conference
Peer-Review
No
Language
eng