Global genetic diversity of Aedes aegypti

Mosquitoes, especially Aedes aegypti, are becoming important models for studying invasion biology. We characterized genetic variation at 12 microsatellite loci in 79 populations of Ae. aegypti from 30 countries in six continents, and used them to infer historical and modern patterns of invasion. Our results support the two subspecies Ae. aegypti formosus and Ae. aegypti aegypti as genetically distinct units. Ae. aegypti aegypti populations outside Africa are derived from ancestral African populations and are monophyletic. The two subspecies co-occur in both East Africa (Kenya) and West Africa (Senegal). In rural/forest settings (Rabai District of Kenya), the two subspecies remain genetically distinct, whereas in urban settings, they introgress freely. Populations outside Africa are highly genetically structured likely due to a combination of recent founder effects, discrete discontinuous habitats and low migration rates. Ancestral populations in sub-Saharan Africa are less genetically structured, as are the populations in Asia. Introduction of Ae. aegypti to the New World coinciding with trans-Atlantic shipping in the 16th to 18th centuries was followed by its introduction to Asia in the late 19th century from the New World or from now extinct populations in the Mediterranean Basin. Aedes mascarensis is a genetically distinct sister species to Ae. aegypti s.l. This study provides a reference database of genetic diversity that can be used to determine the likely origin of new introductions that occur regularly for this invasive species. The genetic uniqueness of many populations and regions has important implications for attempts to control Ae. aegypti, especially for the methods using genetic modification of populations.Fil: Gloria Soria, Andrea. University of Yale; Estados UnidosFil: Ayala, Diego. Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville; Gabón. Institut de Recherche pour le Développement; FranciaFil: Bheecarry, Ambicadutt. Ministry of Health and Quality of Life; MauritaniaFil: Calderon Arguedas, Olger. Universidad de Costa Rica; Costa RicaFil: Chadee, Dave D.. University of the West Indies. Department of Life Sciences; Trinidad y TobagoFil: Chiappero, Marina Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal; ArgentinaFil: Coetzee, Maureen. University of the Witwatersrand; SudáfricaFil: Elahee, Khouaildi Bin. Ministry of Health and Quality of Life; MauritaniaFil: Fernandez Salas, Ildefonso. Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública. Centro Regional de Investigación en Salud Pública; MéxicoFil: Kamal, Hany A.. Pest Control Projects; Arabia SauditaFil: Kamgang, Basile. Oganisation de Coordination pour la lute contre les Endemies en Afrique Centrale. Research Unit Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine; CamerúnFil: Khater, Emad I. M.. King Saud University; Arabia SauditaFil: Kramer, Laura D.. State University of New York; Estados UnidosFil: Kramer, Vicki. Vector Borne Disease Section. California Department of Public Health; Estados UnidosFil: Lopez Solis, Alma. Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública. Centro Regional de Investigación en Salud Pública; MéxicoFil: Lutomiah, Joel. Kenya Medical Research Institute. Center for Virus Research. Arbovirus/Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Laboratory; KeniaFil: Martins, Ademir. Fundación Oswaldo Cruz; BrasilFil: Micieli, Maria Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Paupy, Christophe. Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville; Gabón. Institut de Recherche pour le Développement; FranciaFil: Ponlawat, Alongkot. Institut de Recherche pour le Développement; Francia. Universidade Nova de Lisboa; PortugalFil: Rahola, Nil. Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville; GabónFil: Rasheed, Syed Basit. University of Florida; Estados UnidosFil: Richardson, Joshua B.. University of Yale; Estados UnidosFil: Saleh, Amag A.. King Saud University; Arabia SauditaFil: Sanchez Casas, Rosa Maria. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias de la Salud; MéxicoFil: Seixas, Gonçalo. Universidade Nova de Lisboa; PortugalFil: Sousa, Carla A.. Universidade Nova de Lisboa; PortugalFil: Tabachnick, Walter J.. University of Florida; Estados UnidosFil: Troyo, Adriana. Universidad de Costa Rica; Costa RicaFil: Powell, Jeffrey R.. University of Yale; Estados Unido