Progressive Invasion of Aedes albopictus in Northern Spain in The Period 2013–2018 and A Possible Association with The Increase in Insect Bites

Fátima Goiri, Mikel Alexander González, Joseba Goikolea, Madalen Oribe, Visitación de Castro, Sarah Delacour, Javier Lucientes, Ione Ortega-Araiztegi, Jesús Felix Barandika and Ana Luisa García-Pérez
Additional contact information
Fátima Goiri: Animal Health Department, NEIKER-Instituto Vasco de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario, Bizkaia Science and Technology Park 812L, 48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
Mikel Alexander González: Animal Health Department, NEIKER-Instituto Vasco de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario, Bizkaia Science and Technology Park 812L, 48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
Joseba Goikolea: Departamento de Salud del Gobierno Vasco, Subdirección de Salud Pública de Gipuzkoa, 20013 Donostia-San Sebastian, Gipuzkoa, Spain
Madalen Oribe: Unidad de Epidemiologia, Departamento de Salud del Gobierno Vasco, Subdirección de Salud Pública de Bizkaia, 48008 Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain
Visitación de Castro: Unidad de Epidemiologia, Departamento de Salud del Gobierno Vasco, Subdirección de Salud Pública de Bizkaia, 48008 Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain
Sarah Delacour: Animal Health Department, The AgriFood Institute of Aragon (IA2) Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
Javier Lucientes: Animal Health Department, The AgriFood Institute of Aragon (IA2) Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
Ione Ortega-Araiztegi: Animal Health Department, NEIKER-Instituto Vasco de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario, Bizkaia Science and Technology Park 812L, 48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
Jesús Felix Barandika: Animal Health Department, NEIKER-Instituto Vasco de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario, Bizkaia Science and Technology Park 812L, 48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
Ana Luisa García-Pérez: Animal Health Department, NEIKER-Instituto Vasco de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario, Bizkaia Science and Technology Park 812L, 48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 5, 1-14

Abstract: (1) Background: Aedes albopictus has rapidly expanded throughout Europe, becoming a public health concern in the Mediterranean Basin. (2) Methods: Following the detection of Ae. albopictus in the southwestern French region of Aquitaine in 2012, an entomological surveillance programme was implemented in the Basque Country (Northern Spain) in 2013. (3) Results: Ae. albopictus eggs were first detected in 2014 in a transited parking area in the northeastern sampling point, 22 km away from the nearest French site with recorded presence of tiger mosquito. At this site, eggs were found throughout the study (2014–2018). Other western and southern municipalities became positive in 2017 and 2018. Ae. albopictus adults were first captured in 2018 by aspiration of the vegetation in an area where eggs had been detected since 2015, suggesting a progressive establishment of a self-sustained population. Incidence of insect bites in humans was roughly constant over the study period except for a significant increase in 2018 in the Health County where eggs had been detected since 2014. Densities of Ae. albopictus eggs in positive areas remained at similar levels over the years. (4) Conclusion: Multiple approaches and standardized methods are necessary to successfully control this vector.

Keywords: Aedes albopictus; surveillance; ovitraps; human bites; biocides (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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