Modelling the spatial risk of malaria through probability distribution of Anopheles maculipennis s.l. and imported cases.

Malaria remains one of the most important infectious diseases globally due to its high incidence and mortality rates. The influx of infected cases from endemic to non-endemic malaria regions like Europe has resulted in a public health concern over sporadic local outbreaks. This is facilitated by the continued presence of competent Anopheles vectors in non-endemic countries.We modelled the potential distribution of the main malaria vector across Spain using the ensemble of eight modelling techniques based on environmental parameters and the Anopheles maculipennis s.l. presence/absence data collected from 2000 to 2020. We then combined this map with the number of imported malaria cases in each municipality to detect the geographic hot spots with a higher risk of local malaria transmission.The malaria vector occurred preferentially in irrigated lands characterized by warm climate conditions and moderate annual precipitation. Some areas surrounding irrigated lands in northern Spain (e.g. Zaragoza, Logroño), mainland areas (e.g. Madrid, Toledo) and in the South (e.g. Huelva), presented a significant likelihood of A. maculipennis s.l. occurrence, with a large overlap with the presence of imported cases of malaria.While the risk of malaria re-emergence in Spain is low, it is not evenly distributed throughout the country. The four recorded local cases of mosquito-borne transmission occurred in areas with a high overlap of imported cases and mosquito presence. Integrating mosquito distribution with human incidence cases provides an effective tool for the quantification of large-scale geographic variation in transmission risk and pinpointing priority areas for targeted surveillance and prevention.

[First record of Aedes albopictus in Galicia, obtained by citizen science through Mosquito Alert]. / Primera cita de Aedes albopictus para Galicia, obtenida mediante ciencia ciudadana por Mosquito Alert.

The first detection of the tiger mosquito, Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse, 1894), in the autonomous community of Galicia (Spain) is reported. The finding has been possible thanks to the collaboration between citizens, the citizen science application Mosquito Alert and the Rede Galega de Vixilancia de Vectores (ReGaViVec). At the beginning of August 2023, a same person submitted through the app several reports consistent with the tiger mosquito in the municipality of Moaña, in Pontevedra. The ReGaViVec entomological team confirmed the species and conducted vector surveillance in the area by placing traps (11 ovitraps and 3 BG-Sentinel 2 with BG-Lure attractant) with a weekly collection frequency. This finding represents the most northwestern detection of the tiger mosquito in the Iberian Peninsula and shows the crucial role of citizen science in vector surveillance.

Ecology and diversity of mosquito larvae in ponds and lagoons of Northwestern Spain.

Galicia, located in the northwestern part of Spain, has a great number and variety of aquatic ecosystems where mosquitoes can breed. Despite the sanitary relevance of these insects, studies on mosquito populations in the region are still scarce. The field research was carried out in 48 sampling points (27 continental lagoons, 12 coastal lagoons and 9 temporary ponds) throughout the entire Galician territory. The samples were collected intermittently and seasonally through different water quality monitoring projects between 2001 and 2017. More than 1500 mosquito larvae belonging to 10 species of five genera (Aedes, Anopheles, Coquillettidia, Culex and Culiseta) were identified. Anopheles (Anopheles) maculipennis s.l. Meigen was the most widely distributed species in the study, being especially dominant in rural areas. In contrast, Culex (Culex) pipiens Linnaeus and Culex (Culex) theileri Theobald showed a preference for breeding in urban areas. New contributions to the knowledge about the larval ecology and distribution of these mosquito species are made throughout this study, including information about the tolerance of each species to water parameters (temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen and conductivity). Likewise, the relationship between culicid diversity and the habitat characteristics of the breeding sites (water body type, climate and level of anthropization) is discussed.

Galicia (NO España) presenta un gran número y variedad de ecosistemas acuáticos donde los mosquitos pueden criar. A pesar del interés sanitario de estos insectos, los estudios sobre las poblaciones de mosquitos en la región aún son escasos. El área de estudio se compone de 48 puntos de muestreo (27 lagunas continentales, 12 lagunas costeras y 9 charcas temporales) a lo largo de todo el territorio gallego. Las muestras fueron recogidas de forma intermitente y estacional mediante diferentes proyectos de monitoreo sobre la calidad del agua entre 2001 y 2017. Se identificaron más de 1500 larvas de mosquitos pertenecientes a diez especies y cinco géneros (Aedes, Anopheles, Coquillettidia, Culex y Culiseta). Anopheles (Anopheles) maculipennis s.l. Meigen fue la especie mejor representada en el estudio, siendo especialmente dominante en áreas rurales. Por el contrario, Culex (Culex) pipiens Linnaeus y Culex (Culex) theileri Theobald mostraron una preferencia por criar en áreas urbanas. A través del presente estudio se realizan nuevas contribuciones al conocimiento de la ecología y la distribución de diferentes especies de mosquitos, incluyéndose información sobre la tolerancia de cada una de las especies a parámetros del agua (temperatura, pH, oxígeno disuelto y conductividad). Así mismo, se discute la relación entre la diversidad de culícidos y las características de las zonas de cría (tipo de masa de agua, clima y nivel de antropización).

First records of five species of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Galicia, including the first evidence of the genus Coquillettidia in northwestern Spain.

We present the first records of Coquillettidia (Coquillettidia) buxtoni (Edwards, 1923) (n=15), Culex (Neoculex) impudicus Ficalbi, 1890 (n=12), Culex (Neoculex) territans Walker, 1856 (n=52), Culiseta (Culicella) fumipennis (Stephens, 1825) (n=535), and Culiseta (Culicella) morsitans (Theobald, 1901) (n=54) in the Autonomous Community of Galicia (NW Spain), including the first evidence of the genus Coquillettidia Dyar, 1904 in the northwest of Spain. The field research was carried out in different water ecosystems (ponds, streams, rivers, lakes, and lagoons) belonging to 39 zones throughout the entire Galician territory. The samples were collected intermittently and seasonally through different projects of water quality monitoring between 1998 and 2018. A total of 1,614 mosquito larvae have been analyzed, and 668 of them were identified as species not previously recorded in Galicia. Between 1999 and 2003, the first catches of these species were obtained and since then, more specimens have been detected in different wetlands of Galicia, mainly in spring and summer.

First records of Anopheles (Anopheles) plumbeus Stephens, 1828 and Culex (Culex) torrentium Martini, 1925 (Diptera: Culicidae) in Galicia (NW Spain).

We present the first records of Anopheles (Anopheles) plumbeus Stephens, 1828 and Culex (Culex) torrentium Martini, 1925 in the autonomous region of Galicia (NW Spain), obtained through the Rede Galega de Vixilancia de Vectores (ReGaViVec). This entomological surveillance network, which was initiated in 2017 by the Xunta de Galicia in collaboration with the University of Vigo and the University of Santiago de Compostela, aims to detect the arrival of invasive vectors as well as to improve the knowledge about mosquito populations (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Galician territory. This study shows the first findings of these species in Galicia, which have been reported in six different locations throughout the region: five in the province of Pontevedra and one in the province of Lugo. The 51 captured specimens were collected at different stages of development between July and September, 2018 and 2019 by using specialized traps arranged in favorable regions for the settlement and development of culicids.