title: Spatial genetic structure of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in mainland Southeast Asia.
abstract: Aedes aegypti mosquitoes originated in Africa and are thought to have spread recently to Southeast Asia, where they are the major vector of dengue. Thirteen microsatellite loci were used to determine the genetic population structure of A. aegypti at a hierarchy of spatial scales encompassing 36 sites in Myanmar, Cambodia and Thailand, and two sites in Sri Lanka and Nigeria. Low, but significant, genetic structuring was found at all spatial scales (from 5 to >2000 km) and significant F IS values indicated genetic structuring even within 500 m. Spatially dependent genetic-clustering methods revealed that although spatial distance plays a role in shaping larger-scale population structure, it is not the only factor. Genetic heterogeneity in major port cities and genetic similarity of distant locations connected by major roads, suggest that human transportation routes have resulted in passive long-distance migration of A. aegypti. The restricted dispersal on a small spatial scale will make localized control efforts and sterile insect technology effective for dengue control. Conversely, preventing the establishment of insecticide resistance genes or spreading refractory genes in a genetic modification strategy would be challenging. These effects on vector control will depend on the relative strength of the opposing effects of passive dispersal.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester Manchester, UK ; Medical Entomology Research Division, Department of Medical Research (Lower Myanmar) Yangon, Myanmar.
authors.forename: Thaung
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hlaing
authors.affiliation: Medical Entomology Research Division, Department of Medical Research (Lower Myanmar) Yangon, Myanmar.
authors.forename: Willoughby
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tun-Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Pradya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Somboon
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Malaria, Parasitology and Entomology Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
authors.forename: Duong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Socheat
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Malaria, Parasitology and Entomology Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
authors.forename: To
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Setha
authors.affiliation: Medical Entomology Research Division, Department of Medical Research (Lower Myanmar) Yangon, Myanmar.
authors.forename: Sein
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Min
authors.affiliation: Medical Entomology Research Division, Department of Medical Research (Lower Myanmar) Yangon, Myanmar.
authors.forename: Sein
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thaung
authors.affiliation: Entomology Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Okorie
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Anyaele
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura Nugegoda, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Babaranda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: De Silva
authors.affiliation: WHO - Western Pacific Regional Office Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
authors.forename: Moh Seng
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Regional Malaria Research Centre, Indian Council of Medical Research Dibrugarh, Assam, India.
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prakash
authors.affiliation: Natural History Museum London, UK.
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Linton
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Walton
keywords: dengue; landscape genetics; passive dispersal