Spatial Distribution and Long-term Persistence of Wolbachia-infected Aedes aegypti in the Mentari Court, Malaysia

Description

The mosquito Aedes aegypti is the primary vector of dengue virus to humans. Wolbachia bacteria can prevent dengue virus transmission following transfer into this species. Ae. aegypti of both sexes carrying Wolbachia strain wAlbB were released in Mentari Court, Malaysia, since October 2017 for 20 weeks. This study aims to investigate the spatial distribution of Wolbachia-carrying mosquitoes in a high-rise residential site, and examine the nature of the composition of the mosquito population across the site. There are numerous findings; firstly, Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes showed a high infection frequency four years after release. Secondly, there were some minor effects of floor and block on Wolbachia frequency. Thirdly, there was no evidence that the Aedes albopictus has in-creased across the area. While the invasion of Wolbachia will vary from location to location, this study filled a knowledge gap on the invasion of such a strain in a high-rise residential area. This study can assist in planning field release strategies and the development of models that can forecast local success.

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