Article
Aedes albopictus diversity and relationships in south-western Europe and Brazil by rDNA/ mtDNA and phenotypic analyses: ITS-2, a useful marker for spread studies
Registro en:
ARTIGAS, Patricio et al. Aedes albopictus diversity and relationships in south-western Europe and Brazil by rDNA/ mtDNA and phenotypic analyses: ITS-2, a useful marker for spread studies. Parsites & Vectors, v. 14, n.333, p. 1-23, 2021.
1756-3305
10.1186/s13071-021-04829-9
Autor
Artigas, Patricio
Reguera-Gomez, Marta
Valero, Maria Adela
Osca, David
Pacheco, Raquel da Silva
Freitas, Maria Goreti Rosa
Nascimento, Teresa Fernandes Silva do
Paredes‑Esquivel, Claudia
Lucientes, Javier
Mas-Coma, Santiago
Bargues, Maria Dolores
Resumen
Background: Aedes albopictus is a very invasive mosquito, which has recently colonized tropical and temperate
regions worldwide. Of concern is its role in the spread of emerging or re-emerging mosquito-borne diseases. Ae.
albopictus from south-western Europe and Brazil were studied to infer genetic and phenetic diversity at intra-individ‑
ual, intra-population and inter-population levels, and to analyse its spread.
Methods: Genotyping was made by rDNA 5.8S-ITS-2 and mtDNA cox1 sequencing to assess haplotype and nucleo‑
tide diversity, genetic distances and phylogenetic networks. Male and female phenotyping included combined
landmark-and outlined-based geometric morphometrics of wing size and shape.
Results: Specimens from seven populations from Spain, France and Brazil provided 12 cox1 and 162 5.8S-ITS-2
haplotypes, with great genetic variability diference between both markers (0.9% vs 31.2%). Five cox1 haplotypes
were shared with other countries, mainly Italy, USA and China, but none was shared between Europe and Brazil. The
5.8S-ITS-2 showed 2–7 intra-individual (mean 4.7) and 16–34 intra-/inter-population haplotypes (24.7), including
haplotypes shared between Spain, France and Brazil. A 4.3% of ITS-2 haplotypes were shared, mainly with Italy, USA
and Thailand, evidencing worldwide spread and introductions from areas where recent outbreaks of Ae. albopictus transmitted pathogens occurred. Wing size showed sex diferences. Wing shape distinguished between Brazilian
and European specimens. Both genetic and morphometric markers showed diferences between insular Spain and
continental Spain, France and Brazil.
Conclusions: ITS-2 proves to be a useful marker to assess Ae. albopictus spread, providing pronouncedly more
information than cox1, including intra-individual, intra-population and inter-population levels, furnishing a complete
overview of the evolutionary exchanges followed by this mosquito. Wing morphometry proves to be a useful pheno‑
typing marker, allowing to distinguish diferent populations at the level of both male and female specimens. Results
indicate the need for periodic surveillance monitorings to verify that no Ae. albopictus with high virus transmission
capacity is introduced into Europe.