Finding unveiled: Culex thalassius (Diptera: Culicidae), a new mosquito species emerges in the Cabo Verde archipelago

Adéritow Augusto Lopes Macedo Gonçalves, Luís Filipe Vieira da Silva Lopes, Davidson Daniel Sousa Monteiro, Aires Januário Fernandes da Moura, Carla Alexandra Gama Carrilho da Costa Sousa, Silvânia da Veiga Leal

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Mosquito-bornediseasescanposesignificantburdens.Inmanycountries,theyposearisktonationaleconomies and the well-being of humans and animals.To mitigate this, mosquito surveillance is crucial to assess the real and potential transmission of mosquito-borne diseases. Between 2020 and 2023, mosquito larvae were collected from both indoor and outdoor breeding sites in urban and rural areas of 4 municipalities of Santiago and Boavista Islands in Cabo Verde. Mosquitoes were identified morphologically and by polymerase chain reaction-based techniques that targeted the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I sequence. During this period, 6,825 breeding sites were assessed, and of 8,094 mosquito specimens screened, 194 specimens of Culex thalassius were identified for the first time in the country in 4 municipalities of Santiago and Boavista Islands.This new finding highlights the importance of including entomological surveillance in health systems. Although this species has only been detected on a few islands, it is important to continuously monitor it to determine its distribution, spread/dispersal, density, and potential involvement in pathogen transmission.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)791-797
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Medical Entomology
Volume61
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2024

Keywords

  • Cabo Verde
  • Culex thalassius
  • entomological surveillance
  • PCR

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