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Maintaining Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes Infected with Wolbachia
Published on: August 14, 2017
Complex wolbachia infection dynamics in mosquitoes with imperfect maternal transmission
Bo Zheng1, Wenliang Guo1, Linchao Hu2
1College of Mathematics and Information Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
Abstract:
Dengue, malaria, and Zika are dangerous diseases primarily transmitted by Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, and Anopheles stephensi. In the last few years, a new disease control method, besides pesticide spraying to kill mosquitoes, has been developed by releasing mosquitoes carrying bacterium Wolbachia into the natural areas to infect the wild population of mosquitoes and block disease transmission. The bacterium is transmitted by infected mothers and the maternal transmission was assumed to be perfect in virtually all previous models. However, recent experiments on Aedes aegypti and Anopheles stephensi showed that the transmission can be imperfect. In this work, we develop a model to describe how the imperfect maternal transmission affects the dynamics of Wolbachia spread. We establish two useful identities and employ them to find sufficient and necessary conditions under which the system exhibits monomorphic, bistable, and polymorphic dynamics. These analytical results may help find a plausible explanation for the recent observation that the Wolbachia strain ωMelPop failed to establish in the natural populations in Australia and Vietnam.
Insights
Imperfect maternal transmission of Wolbachia bacteria in mosquitoes can hinder disease control efforts. This study models how imperfect transmission affects Wolbachia spread, offering insights into failed establishment in natural populations.
Area of Science:
- Vector-borne disease control
- Microbial ecology
- Mathematical modeling
Background:
- Dengue, malaria, and Zika are transmitted by mosquitoes like Aedes aegypti.
- Releasing Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes is a novel disease control strategy.
- Maternal transmission of Wolbachia was previously assumed to be perfect.
Purpose of the Study:
- To model the impact of imperfect maternal Wolbachia transmission on bacterial spread.
- To analyze the dynamics of Wolbachia establishment in mosquito populations.
- To explain the failure of Wolbachia strains to establish in certain regions.
Main Methods:
- Developed a mathematical model incorporating imperfect maternal transmission.
- Established analytical identities to study system dynamics.
- Determined conditions for monomorphic, bistable, and polymorphic dynamics.
Main Results:
- Imperfect maternal transmission significantly alters Wolbachia spread dynamics.
- Identified conditions governing the stability of Wolbachia infection.
- The model provides a framework for understanding establishment failures.
Conclusions:
- Imperfect maternal transmission is a critical factor in Wolbachia-based vector control.
- Analytical results may explain failed Wolbachia establishment in Australia and Vietnam.
- Further research should incorporate transmission fidelity into disease control models.
