Dataset Information

Linking oviposition site choice to offspring fitness in Aedes aegypti: consequences for targeted larval control of dengue vectors.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Current Aedes aegypti larval control methods are often insufficient for preventing dengue epidemics. To improve control efficiency and cost-effectiveness, some advocate eliminating or treating only highly productive containers. The population-level outcome of this strategy, however, will depend on details of Ae. aegypti oviposition behavior.

Methodology/principal findings

We simultaneously monitored female oviposition and juvenile development in 80 experimental containers located across 20 houses in Iquitos, Peru, to test the hypothesis that Ae. aegypti oviposit preferentially in sites with the greatest potential for maximizing offspring fitness. Females consistently laid more eggs in large vs. small containers (??=?9.18, p<0.001), and in unmanaged vs. manually filled containers (??=?5.33, p<0.001). Using microsatellites to track the development of immature Ae. aegypti, we found a negative correlation between oviposition preference and pupation probability (??=?-3.37, p<0.001). Body size of emerging adults was also negatively associated with the preferred oviposition site characteristics of large size (females: ??=?-0.19, p<0.001; males: ??=?-0.11, p?=?0.002) and non-management (females: ??=?-0.17, p<0.001; males: ??=?-0.11, p<0.001). Inside a semi-field enclosure, we simulated a container elimination campaign targeting the most productive oviposition sites. Compared to the two post-intervention trials, egg batches were more clumped during the first pre-intervention trial (??=?-0.17, P<0.001), but not the second (??=?0.01, p?=?0.900). Overall, when preferred containers were unavailable, the probability that any given container received eggs increased (??=?1.36, p<0.001).

Conclusions/significance

Ae. aegypti oviposition site choice can contribute to population regulation by limiting the production and size of adults. Targeted larval control strategies may unintentionally lead to dispersion of eggs among suitable, but previously unoccupied or under-utilized containers. We recommend integrating targeted larval control measures with other strategies that leverage selective oviposition behavior, such as luring ovipositing females to gravid traps or egg sinks.

SUBMITTER: Wong J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3341338 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Linking oviposition site choice to offspring fitness in Aedes aegypti: consequences for targeted larval control of dengue vectors.

Wong Jacklyn J Morrison Amy C AC Stoddard Steven T ST Astete Helvio H Chu Yui Yin YY Baseer Imaan I Scott Thomas W TW

PLoS neglected tropical diseases 20120501 5

<h4>Background</h4>Current Aedes aegypti larval control methods are often insufficient for preventing dengue epidemics. To improve control efficiency and cost-effectiveness, some advocate eliminating or treating only highly productive containers. The population-level outcome of this strategy, however, will depend on details of Ae. aegypti oviposition behavior.<h4>Methodology/principal findings</h4>We simultaneously monitored female oviposition and juvenile development in 80 experimental containe ...[more]

PMID: 22563512

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Project description:Adaptations to anthropogenic domestic habitats contribute to the success of the mosquito Aedes aegypti as a major global vector of several arboviral diseases. The species inhabited African forests before expanding into domestic habitats and spreading to other continents. Despite a well-studied evolutionary history, how this species initially moved into human settlements in Africa remains unclear. During this initial habitat transition, African Ae. aegypti switched their larval sites from natural water containers like tree holes to artificial containers like clay pots. Little is known about how these natural versus artificial containers differ in their characteristics. Filling this knowledge gap could provide valuable information for studying the evolution of Ae. aegypti associated with larval habitat changes. As an initial effort, in this study, we characterized the microenvironments of Ae. aegypti larval sites in forest and domestic habitats in two African localities: La Lopé, Gabon, and Rabai, Kenya. Specifically, we measured the physical characteristics, microbial density, bacterial composition, and volatile chemical profiles of multiple larval sites. In both localities, comparisons between natural containers in the forests and artificial containers in the villages revealed significantly different microenvironments. We next examined whether the between-habitat differences in larval site microenvironments lead to differences in oviposition, a key behavior affecting larval distribution. Forest Ae. aegypti readily accepted the artificial containers we placed in the forests. Laboratory choice experiments also did not find distinct oviposition preferences between forest and village Ae. aegypti colonies. These results suggested that African Ae. aegypti are likely generalists in their larval site choices. This flexibility to accept various containers with a wide range of physical, microbial, and chemical conditions might allow Ae. aegypti to use human-stored water as fallback larval sites during dry seasons, which is hypothesized to have initiated the domestic evolution of Ae. aegypti.

Dataset Information

Linking oviposition site choice to offspring fitness in Aedes aegypti: consequences for targeted larval control of dengue vectors.

Background

Methodology/principal findings

Conclusions/significance

Publications

Linking oviposition site choice to offspring fitness in Aedes aegypti: consequences for targeted larval control of dengue vectors.

Similar Datasets

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