Head of a female Asian rock pool mosquito. Credit: Senckenberg
Scientists at the Senckenberg Research Center for Biodiversity and Climate and at the Goethe University, in conjunction with other German colleagues, have developed distribution models for the invasive Asian rock pool mosquito. This mosquito species is a potential carrier of vectors for infectious diseases, such as dengue fever or West Nile virus. In a recent study, published in the scientific journal Parasitology Research, the scientists identified new risk hotspots in Southern Hesse, the Saarland and northern North Rhine-Westphalia, and they recommend a careful monitoring of this invasive insect.
Chinese mitten crabs, ring-necked parakeets, rheas and Egyptian geese: exotic species have long since become part of German ecosystems and now live right in our midst. In Germany alone, more than one thousand non-native animal species are registered – but most of the introduced species do not survive the winter in our latitudes. "However, the Asian rock pool mosquito is a different case," says Professor Dr. Sven Klimpel, a parasitologist at the Senckenberg Research Center for Biodiversity and Climate and the Goethe University in Frankfurt, and he adds, "These mosquitoes have spread extensively across Germany and Europe in recent years." For the first time, the dipterans were reported in 2008 from southern Baden-Wuerttemberg; since then, populations have also become established in Lower Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia. Contrary to the Asian tiger mosquito, the Asian rock pool mosquito is adapted to cooler temperatures and is perfectly able to cope with the climatic conditions in Central Europe.
Female of the potentially dangerous mosquito Ochlerotatus japonicus japonicus. Credit: Senckenberg
While other invasive species do not constitute a threat and may even enrich the species diversity, the Asian rock pool mosquito is a potential carrier of dangerous infectious diseases or their vectors, such as dengue fever, the Japanese encephalitis or the West Nile virus. "To date, the transmission potential has only been confirmed in the laboratory and not in the outdoors. However, the West Nile virus could already be isolated from wild-caught mosquitoes in the USA," explains Klimpel.
In their study, the parasitologists and infection biologists have modeled potential distribution areas for this mosquito. To this end, they combined various factors, such as the monthly average temperature or the months with the lowest precipitation with mathematical variables and the actual discovery data. "This methodology enables us to predict the distribution of a species on the basis of incomplete observations and samples," explains Klimpel, and he adds, "This is necessary, since there is no systematically designed sampling procedure for the mapping of the exact distribution area to date – not least for cost reasons."In order to better be able to coordinate future monitoring and prevention programs, it is essential to know and localize potentially favorable regions for this mosquito species.
Modeled distribution areas of the Asian rock pool mosquito in Germany. Warm colors (on a scale from blue to red) indicate a higher likelihood of settlement. Credit: Senckenberg
"Our modeling clearly shows that besides the already known areas in Baden-Wuerttemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony, Southern Hesse, the Saarland and the northern parts of North Rhine-Westphalia also constitute climatically favorable areas for the Asian rock pool mosquito," according to Klimpel's summary of the scientific study. On the basis of these results, the monitoring of the Asian rock pool mosquito can be done in a more focused and systematic fashion, and sampling may be conducted efficiently, fast and cost-effectively.
Explore further: Experts warn of potential upsurge in mosquito and tick-borne diseases as UK climate gets warmer
More information: "Modeling of the putative distribution of the arbovirus vector Ochlerotatus japonicus japonicus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Germany." Parasitology Research. DOI: 10.1007/s00436-014-4274-1
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Head of a female Asian rock pool mosquito. Credit: Senckenberg
Scientists at the Senckenberg Research Center for Biodiversity and Climate and at the Goethe University, in conjunction with other German colleagues, have developed distribution models for the invasive Asian rock pool mosquito. This mosquito species is a potential carrier of vectors for infectious diseases, such as dengue fever or West Nile virus. In a recent study, published in the scientific journal Parasitology Research, the scientists identified new risk hotspots in Southern Hesse, the Saarland and northern North Rhine-Westphalia, and they recommend a careful monitoring of this invasive insect.
Chinese mitten crabs, ring-necked parakeets, rheas and Egyptian geese: exotic species have long since become part of German ecosystems and now live right in our midst. In Germany alone, more than one thousand non-native animal species are registered – but most of the introduced species do not survive the winter in our latitudes. "However, the Asian rock pool mosquito is a different case," says Professor Dr. Sven Klimpel, a parasitologist at the Senckenberg Research Center for Biodiversity and Climate and the Goethe University in Frankfurt, and he adds, "These mosquitoes have spread extensively across Germany and Europe in recent years." For the first time, the dipterans were reported in 2008 from southern Baden-Wuerttemberg; since then, populations have also become established in Lower Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia. Contrary to the Asian tiger mosquito, the Asian rock pool mosquito is adapted to cooler temperatures and is perfectly able to cope with the climatic conditions in Central Europe.
Female of the potentially dangerous mosquito Ochlerotatus japonicus japonicus. Credit: Senckenberg
While other invasive species do not constitute a threat and may even enrich the species diversity, the Asian rock pool mosquito is a potential carrier of dangerous infectious diseases or their vectors, such as dengue fever, the Japanese encephalitis or the West Nile virus. "To date, the transmission potential has only been confirmed in the laboratory and not in the outdoors. However, the West Nile virus could already be isolated from wild-caught mosquitoes in the USA," explains Klimpel.
In their study, the parasitologists and infection biologists have modeled potential distribution areas for this mosquito. To this end, they combined various factors, such as the monthly average temperature or the months with the lowest precipitation with mathematical variables and the actual discovery data. "This methodology enables us to predict the distribution of a species on the basis of incomplete observations and samples," explains Klimpel, and he adds, "This is necessary, since there is no systematically designed sampling procedure for the mapping of the exact distribution area to date – not least for cost reasons."In order to better be able to coordinate future monitoring and prevention programs, it is essential to know and localize potentially favorable regions for this mosquito species.
Modeled distribution areas of the Asian rock pool mosquito in Germany. Warm colors (on a scale from blue to red) indicate a higher likelihood of settlement. Credit: Senckenberg
"Our modeling clearly shows that besides the already known areas in Baden-Wuerttemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony, Southern Hesse, the Saarland and the northern parts of North Rhine-Westphalia also constitute climatically favorable areas for the Asian rock pool mosquito," according to Klimpel's summary of the scientific study. On the basis of these results, the monitoring of the Asian rock pool mosquito can be done in a more focused and systematic fashion, and sampling may be conducted efficiently, fast and cost-effectively.
Explore further: Experts warn of potential upsurge in mosquito and tick-borne diseases as UK climate gets warmer
More information: "Modeling of the putative distribution of the arbovirus vector Ochlerotatus japonicus japonicus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Germany." Parasitology Research. DOI: 10.1007/s00436-014-4274-1
Medical Xpress on facebook
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Experts warn of potential upsurge in mosquito and tick-borne diseases as UK climate gets warmer
Climate change could accelerate the emergence of vector-borne diseases such as chikungunya, dengue fever, and West Nile virus in the UK, warn leading public health experts Dr Jolyon Medlock and Professor Steve Leach from ...
Swiss on alert for mosquito blamed for dengue
Scientists in Switzerland are hunting for a species of mosquito capable of spreading the tropical disease dengue that may have crossed the Alps.
Climate right for Asian mosquito to spread in N. Europe
The climate in northwestern Europe and the Balkans is becoming suitable for the Asian tiger mosquito, a disease-spreading invasive species, scientists said on Wednesday.
Deadly threat bangs at Queensland's door
Scientists at The University of Queensland have identified a deadly threat lurking just 30 kilometres north of Queensland.
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(HealthDay)—The use of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors is not associated with an increased risk of hospitalization for community-acquired pneumonia, according to a study published in the April ...
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