title: Establishment of Aedes aegypti (L.) in mountainous regions in Mexico: Increasing number of population at risk of mosquito-borne disease and future climate conditions.
abstract: The study was conducted in the central region of Veracruz Mexico, in the metropolitan area of Xalapa. It is a mountainous area where Aedes aegypti (L.) is not currently endemic. An entomological survey was done along an elevation gradient using the Ae. aegypti occurrences at different life cycle stages. Seven sites were sampled and a total of 24 mosquito species were recorded: 9 species were found in urban areas, 18 in non-urban areas with remnant vegetation, and 3 occurred in both environments. Ae. aegypti was found only in the urban areas, usually below 1200m a.s.l., but in this study was recorded for the first time at 1420m a.s.l. These occurrences, together with additional distribution data in the state of Veracruz were used to developed species distribution models using Maxlike software in R to identify the current projected suitable areas for the establishment of this vector and the human populations that might be affected by dengue transmission at higher elevations. Its emergence in previously unsuitable places appears to be driven by both habitat destruction and biodiversity loss associated with biotic homogenization. A border study using data from the edges of the vector's distribution might allow sensitive monitoring to detect any changes in this mosquito's distribution pattern, and any changes in the anthropic drivers or climate that could increase transmission risk.
authors.affiliation: Red de Ambiente y Sustentabilidad, Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Carretera Antigua a Coatepec No. 351 El Haya, C.P. 91070 Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Equihua
authors.affiliation: Red de Ambiente y Sustentabilidad, Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Carretera Antigua a Coatepec No. 351 El Haya, C.P. 91070 Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ibáñez-Bernal
authors.affiliation: Red de Ambiente y Sustentabilidad, Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Carretera Antigua a Coatepec No. 351 El Haya, C.P. 91070 Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico. Electronic address: griselda.benitez@inecol.mx.
authors.forename: Griselda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Benítez
authors.affiliation: Red de Ambiente y Sustentabilidad, Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Carretera Antigua a Coatepec No. 351 El Haya, C.P. 91070 Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico.
authors.forename: Israel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Estrada-Contreras
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Artropodología y Salud, Escuela de Biología, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Blvd. Valsequillo y Av. San Claudio Edificio 112-A, Ciudad Universitaria Col. Jardines de San Manuel, C.P. 72570 Puebla, Mexico.
authors.forename: César A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Sandoval-Ruiz
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Vigilancia Epidemiológica, Subdirección de Epidemiología, Servicios de Salud de Veracruz (SESVER). Ernesto Ortiz Medina No. 3 Col. Obrero Campesina, C.P. 91120 Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico.
authors.forename: Fredy S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Mendoza-Palmero
mesh_terms: D000330:Aedes / Q000821:virology; D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D002980:Climate; D003715:Dengue / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D003716:Dengue Virus; D017753:Ecosystem; D004772:Entomology; D004777:Environment; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000821:virology; D008800:Mexico; D011156:Population Density; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Aedes aegypti; Climate change; Dengue; Entomological survey; Mosquito-borne disease; Species distribution model