Effects of latitude and longitude on the population structure of Culex pipiens s.l., vectors of West Nile virus in North America.
We assessed the structure and latitudinal selection that might result in sensitivities to critical day-lengths that trigger diapause between Culex pipiens populations distributed along North-South and East-West axes in eastern North America. Strong population structure between Cx. p. pipiens and Cx. p. quinquefasciatus existed. Among Cx. p. pipiens, a 100-km increase in the latitudinal change resulted in an increased square root of F(ST) by 0.002. A 100-km increase in the longitudinal change caused an increased square root of F(ST) by 0.035. A lack of latitudinal influence on the structure between Cx. p. pipiens populations suggests a uniform signal using the 12 microsatellite markers, which might increase the risk of West Nile virus (WNV) transmission toward northern areas because of longer breeding season, extend host-seeking period, and larger population size. Northern Cx. p. pipiens may have undergone additional generations before diapause is triggered, magnifying population size when WNV amplification is peaking.
Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. fraedil@yahoo.com
Frances
F
Edillo
Anthony
A
Kiszewski
Justin
J
Manjourides
Marcello
M
Pagano
Michael
M
Hutchinson
Andrew
A
Kyle
Jorge
J
Arias
David
D
Gaines
Richard
R
Lampman
Robert
R
Novak
Ivo
I
Foppa
Charles
C
Lubelcyzk
Robert
R
Smith
Abelardo
A
Moncayo
Andrew
A
Spielman
D000818:Animals; D002170:Canada; D003465:Culex / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D003710:Demography; D014644:Genetic Variation; D007303:Insect Vectors; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D014481:United States; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000635:transmission*
D004247:DNA