Discarded vehicle tires and their association with mosquito vector abundance across socioenvironmental gradients in New Orleans, LA

Rebeca de Jesús Crespo ¹, Alexandros Pavlakis ², Jennifer Breaux ²

⁰Department of Environmental Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.

Journal of Medical Entomology +

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August 3, 2024

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

Discarded tires in New Orleans create mosquito breeding sites, especially in low-income areas. This study links tire piles to increased mosquito populations, raising concerns about unequal disease risk.

Area Of Science

Environmental Science
Urban Ecology
Public Health Entomology

Background

Discarded vehicle tires are known mosquito breeding habitats.
Understanding the socioenvironmental factors influencing mosquito ecology in urban areas is crucial for public health.

Purpose Of The Study

To investigate the relationship between discarded tire distribution, social factors (median income, home vacancy, population density), and urban heat islands (UHI).
To determine how these factors influence mosquito vector assemblages in New Orleans.

Main Methods

Tire piles and adult mosquitoes were surveyed across 12 sites in New Orleans from May to October 2020.
Data were analyzed alongside social indicators and UHI estimates.

Main Results

Tire abundance was inversely related to median income and human population density.
Tire abundance correlated with higher populations of Aedes albopictus in low-heat areas.
Urban heat intensity predicted the abundance of Aedes aegypti (high heat) and Culex quinquefasciatus (low heat).

Conclusions

Low-income, sparsely populated neighborhoods in New Orleans are potential hotspots for discarded tires and associated medically important mosquitoes like Aedes albopictus.
Findings suggest targeted source reduction efforts in these areas to mitigate unequal disease risk.

Keywords:

Aedes Culex landscape urban pests vector ecology