Natural competitors redcude vector populations by displacing the vectors and replacing infective with non-infective bites.
Dear Aline Edith Mekeu Noutcha,
Possible interactions among related vector species is an important area for discussion. The critical thing to consider in this case is that both Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are known to be competent vectors of Zika virus, and both have been implicated as the primary vectors of Zika virus in major outbreaks in various locations globally. While Ae. aegypti is more highly involved in Brazil and the Americas during the current outbreak, it is important to note that Ae. albopictus was the primary vector in the Gabon African outbreak during the last decade. So, in the case of Zika virus, it would be a serious mistake to promote populations of Ae. albopictus. Another point is that we must not become so focused on one pathogen that we forget that the vector mosquito may also transmit other diseases. For example, Ae. albopictus is also a competent and proven vector for other pathogens, ranging from dirofilariasis to West Nile Fever virus and many more. In my opinion, promoting Ae. albopictus as a competitor would be unwise in any situation, including Florida but also other areas with more temperate climates where Ae. aegypti might be less well established. I've added links below to some recent blogs I have written on related subjects. I hope you and other readers find them informative, and I welcome any feedback.
Best wishes,
Bruce
https://www.researchgate.net/deref/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fpulse%2Fzika-dengue-yellow-fever-west-nile-viral-encephalitis-david-bruce%3Ftrk%3Dpulse_spock-articles
https://www.researchgate.net/deref/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fpulse%2Fchikungunya-zika-emergence-predicted-years-ago-theres-conn%3Ftrk%3Dpulse_spock-articles
Bruce Conn, I looked at your blog and it was good! It is wise to understand all the science involving a new disease outbreak. Last year I taught a class in which we had an "Ebola Watchboard" where we followed, every week, all the developments occurring with the Ebola outbreak, from epidemic control measures, to the spread of the disease, to why it was difficult to determine a case fatality rate, to vaccine developments; everything. It was fun to follow the disease in near-real-time and have the students apply what they learned in class to their understanding of that disease.
In the case of the aedes mosquitos and Zika, I think the genetic control of the mosquito vector has great promise. It will be interesting to see the disease rates before and after the mosquito trials in Florida and Brazil. What you say in your blog is right, we're dealing with populations within populations within populations, in the sense of total ecological health. It's important to be aware of the non-human mammal vectors in the continuous mosquito-vertebrate transmission cycle of Zika and other diseases. People have forgotten about Yellow Fever and Malaria in the United States, but they were endemic once.
Replacing a dangerous species for another may be a case of Sorcerer's Apprenticce, more dangerous than introducing rabbits in Australia. I recommend to read my recent review on Zika virus and Stegomyia mosquitoes.and to check older reviews on albopictus role in the transmission of diseases. Additionaly, albopictus, even having very aggressive ("raper" of aegypti females) males and ferocious larvae, is not so well adapted to cities (until now).
In Asian countries Aedes albopictus has already established in cities at the expense of Aedes aegypti. My suggestion would be to search for a more competent non-vector species to drive out both Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti. I am working on such a species in India. It is too early to reveal details.
Dear Aline Edith Mekeu Noutcha,
I agree with all the comments above. I think that we need innovations in Ae.aegypti control. I hope the Australian technique project with mosquitoes infected by the bacterium Wolbachia succeed. Mosquitoes become infected but do not become infective. There are projects in development in many countries, including Brazil
I agree with all the previous comments. I wish to add that emerging of arboviruses' diseases such as dengue, chikungunya and zika in urban area in Central Africa coincides with invasion of central Africa in this region. It was demonstrated in the lab that Ae. albopictus is able to transmit around 22 arboviruses. Thus, taking into account the great ecologic plasticity of Ae. albopictus, it will not benefit to human to attempt to replace Ae. aegypti by Ae. albopictus...
Besides being very dangerous to try to replace Aedes aegypti by Ae. albopictus, due to the potential of the second for the transmission of many arboviruses, they are not equal species, and the second species will not breed in all the places the first is bred, mostly in and around houses. It is well adapted to intermediate environment between houses and preserved places, not so efficiently adapted to houses as Ae. aegypti.
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