Influence of Host and Environmental Factors on the Distribution of the Japanese Encephalitis Vector Culex tritaeniorhynchus in China

Boyang Liu, Xiang Gao, Jun Ma, Zhihui Jiao, Jianhua Xiao and Hongbin Wang
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Boyang Liu: Department of Veterinary Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Xiang Gao: Department of Veterinary Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Jun Ma: Department of Veterinary Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Zhihui Jiao: Department of Veterinary Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Jianhua Xiao: Department of Veterinary Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Hongbin Wang: Department of Veterinary Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 9, 1-15

Abstract: Culex tritaeniorhynchus is an important vector that transmits a variety of human and animal diseases. Japanese encephalitis (JE), an endemic disease in the Asia-Pacific region, is primarily transmitted by Cx. tritaeniorhynchus . Insufficient monitoring of vector mosquitoes has led to a poor understanding of the distribution of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus in China. To delineate the habitat of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus and any host and environmental factors that affect its distribution, we used a maximum entropy modeling method to predict its distribution in China. Our models provided high resolution predictions on the potential distribution of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus . The predicted suitable habitats of the JE vector were correlated with areas of high JE incidence in parts of China. Factors driving the distribution of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus in China were also revealed by our models. Furthermore, human population density and the maximum NDVI were the most important predictors in our models. Bioclimate factors and elevation also significantly impacted the distribution of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus . Our findings may serve as a reference for vector and disease control.

Keywords: Culex tritaeniorhynchus; Japanese encephalitis; host; environmental factors; maximum entropy model; mosquito-borne zoonosis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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