Assessing the Spatial Dynamics of Aedes Mosquitoes in Eldorado, Misiones

Area of Science:

• Environmental science
• Medical entomology
• Spatial ecology

Background:

• Effective arboviral disease surveillance and control rely on understanding mosquito vector distribution.
• Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are key vectors of arboviruses, necessitating detailed distribution mapping.

Purpose of the Study:

• To model the potential spatial and seasonal distribution of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in Eldorado city, Misiones, Argentina.
• To identify key environmental predictors influencing mosquito habitat suitability in a subtropical urban setting.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the MaxEnt modeling algorithm with satellite-derived environmental data and occurrence records (2016-2018).
• Incorporated land-cover, vegetation/water indices, land surface temperature, and distance-based urbanization metrics.
• Developed species-specific and season-specific models, evaluated using internal cross-validation.

Main Results:

• Environmentally suitable habitats for both mosquito species were primarily identified in urban and suburban areas.
• Seasonal variations in suitable habitat extent were observed, with urban-related predictors consistently important.
• Vegetation-related variables showed particular relevance for Aedes albopictus suitability.

Conclusions:

• Urban landscape structure significantly influences mosquito habitat suitability in subtropical cities.
• The developed modeling framework offers a transferable tool for vector surveillance and spatial prioritization.
• Findings underscore the need for integrating modeling outputs with entomological data for effective control strategies.