title: Genetic Diversity and Phylogeny of Aedes aegypti, the Main Arbovirus Vector in the Pacific.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Pacific region is an area unique in the world, composed of thousands of islands with differing climates and environments. The spreading and establishment of the mosquito Aedes aegypti in these islands might be linked to human migration. Ae. aegypti is the major vector of arboviruses (dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses) in the region. The intense circulation of these viruses in the Pacific during the last decade led to an increase of vector control measures by local health authorities. The aim of this study is to analyze the genetic relationships among Ae. aegypti populations in this region.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We studied the genetic variability and population genetics of 270 Ae. aegypti, sampled from 9 locations in New Caledonia, Fiji, Tonga and French Polynesia by analyzing nine microsatellites and two mitochondrial DNA regions (CO1 and ND4). Microsatellite markers revealed heterogeneity in the genetic structure between the western, central and eastern Pacific island countries. The microsatellite markers indicate a statistically moderate differentiation (FST = 0.136; P < = 0.001) in relation to island isolation. A high degree of mixed ancestry can be observed in the most important towns (e.g. Noumea, Suva and Papeete) compared with the most isolated islands (e.g. Ouvea and Vaitahu). Phylogenetic analysis indicated that most of samples are related to Asian and American specimens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest a link between human migrations in the Pacific region and the origin of Ae. aegypti populations. The genetic pattern observed might be linked to the island isolation and to the different environmental conditions or ecosystems.
authors.affiliation: URE-Dengue et autres Arboviroses, Institut Pasteur de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Réseau International Institut Pasteur, Noumea, New Caledonia.
authors.forename: Elodie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Calvez
authors.affiliation: URE-Entomologie Médicale, Institut Pasteur de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Réseau International Institut Pasteur, Noumea, New Caledonia.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guillaumot
authors.affiliation: UMR 9220, ENTROPIE, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Noumea, New Caledonia.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Millet
authors.affiliation: Pôle des Maladies Infectieuses et Emergentes, Institut Louis Malardé, Papeete, Tahiti.
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marie
authors.affiliation: Pôle des Maladies Infectieuses et Emergentes, Institut Louis Malardé, Papeete, Tahiti.
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bossin
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Suva, Fiji.
authors.forename: Vineshwaran
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rama
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Nuku'alofa, Kingdom of Tonga.
authors.forename: Akata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Faamoe
authors.affiliation: URE-Entomologie Médicale, Institut Pasteur de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Réseau International Institut Pasteur, Noumea, New Caledonia.
authors.forename: Sosiasi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kilama
authors.affiliation: URE-Epidémiologie des Maladies Infectieuses, Institut Pasteur de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Réseau International Institut Pasteur, Noumea, New Caledonia.
authors.forename: Magali
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Teurlai
authors.affiliation: UMR IRD 224-CNRS 5290-UM1-UM2, MIVEGEC, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Noumea, New Caledonia.
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mathieu-Daudé
authors.affiliation: URE-Dengue et autres Arboviroses, Institut Pasteur de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Réseau International Institut Pasteur, Noumea, New Caledonia.
authors.forename: Myrielle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dupont-Rouzeyrol
mesh_terms: D000330:Aedes / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology*; D000818:Animals; D001103:Arboviruses / Q000502:physiology*; D004247:DNA; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation; D007303:Insect Vectors; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D010139:Pacific Islands; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D004247:DNA