Genetic structure of Aedes aegypti in the city of Córdoba (Argentina), a recently reinfested area.
To understand the transmission of a vector-borne disease, knowledge of the magnitude of dispersal among vector populations is essential because of its influence on pathogen transfer. The principal vector of dengue, the most common arboviral disease in the world, is the mosquito Aedes aegypti (L.). This tropical and subtropical species is native to Africa but has dispersed worldwide since the XV century. In Argentina, the species was declared eradicated in 1963, but has reinfested the country in recent years. In the present work, we used RAPD-PCR markers to assess the levels of genetic variability and differentiation among populations of Ae. aegypti (the vector of dengue and yellow fever) in Córdoba, the second largest city in Argentina. We detected similar levels of genetic variability (He between 0.351-0.404) across samples and significant genetic differentiation between most population pairs within the city (F ST between 0.0013-0.0253). Genetic distances indicate that there are three distinct groups, formed predominantly by populations that are connected by, or near, main roads. This suggests that, in addition to other factors such as availability of oviposition sites or step-by-step migration, passive transport plays an important role in gene flow within the city.
Julio
Norma B
NB
Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Cátedra de Genética de Poblaciones y Evolución, Córdoba 5000 , Argentina.
Chiappero
Marina B
MB
Rossi
Hernán J
HJ
Rondan Dueñas
Juan C
JC
Gardenal
Cristina N
CN
D000330:Aedes / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D001118:Argentina; D005819:Genetic Markers; D040342:Genetic Structures / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019105:Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique
D005819:Genetic Markers