As part of a scientific mosquito monitoring program, the spread of mosquitoes with so-called “ovitraps” was examined. From May to October 2018, weekly traps were set up at 67 locations (17 in East Tyrol and 50 in North Tyrol) on which the mosquitoes lay their eggs. The locations were located on motorways and in urban and rural areas.
Eggs found in a third of the locations
The team led by Hans-Peter Führer from the Institute of Parasitology at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna genetically examined the eggs from the traps and has now published the results in the journal “PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases”. It was shown that the potentially invasive mosquito species are already widespread: eggs from non-native mosquitoes were found at 27 percent of the sites.
Immigrated from Italy
Both the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) and the Japanese bush mosquito (Aedes japonicus) have been documented on motorways and in urban areas in East and North Tyrol. The Korean bush mosquito (Aedes koreicus) was first detected in East Tyrol. The species, which was first detected in Austria, may have migrated from Italy, where it is already established, said Führer in an interview with the APA.
The detection of the three Asian mosquito species is of great importance for the population, public health and the relevant decision-makers, emphasize the scientists. “Especially the Asian tiger mosquitoes can transmit dangerous pathogens like Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika. Local mosquitoes are unable to do this, ”said Führer. In addition, the new mosquito species can appear in large quantities and also bite during the day.
Motorways are entry points
The frequent detection of invasive species along the motorways is no coincidence: “Non-native mosquito species are mainly brought in by goods transfer, but they can also be easily taken by car. Motorways are therefore the most important entry point for potentially invasive mosquito species, ”said Führer, who refers to earlier evidence of the Asian tiger mosquito along the Inntal motorway. However, new evidence is new in the urban area, for example in Innsbruck, Kufstein and Lienz.
While the Japanese bush mosquito has already established itself throughout Austria, meaning that it also hibernates here, the Asian tiger mosquito is practically only found in Tyrol along the motorway, although there are also first signs of its establishment, said Führer. The expert therefore believes that monitoring the mosquito fauna in the areas where the tiger mosquito has already been detected is “absolutely necessary to see whether it actually establishes itself here. If so, you have to take control measures, otherwise dengue or chikungunya outbreaks can occur as in France and Italy. ”
–
