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A bacterium against the tiger: preliminary evidence of fertility reduction after release of Aedes albopictus males with manipulated Wolbachia infection in an Italian urban area
Author(s) -
Caputo Beniamino,
Moretti Riccardo,
Manica Mattia,
Serini Paola,
Lampazzi Elena,
Bonanni Marco,
Fabbri Giulia,
Pichler Verena,
Torre Alessandra,
Calvitti Maurizio
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
pest management science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.296
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1526-4998
pISSN - 1526-498X
DOI - 10.1002/ps.5643
Subject(s) - aedes albopictus , biology , cytoplasmic incompatibility , wolbachia , sterile insect technique , context (archaeology) , population , sex ratio , mosquito control , culex pipiens , veterinary medicine , ecology , toxicology , botany , larva , pest analysis , host (biology) , demography , aedes aegypti , immunology , medicine , sociology , paleontology , malaria
BACKGROUND Novel tools are needed to reduce the nuisance and risk of exotic arbovirus transmission associated with the colonization of temperate regions by Aedes albopictus . The incompatible insect technique (IIT) is a population suppression approach based on cytoplasmic incompatibility between males with manipulated endosymbionts and wild females. Here, we present the results of the first field experiment in Europe to assess the capacity of an Ae. albopictus line (AR w P) deprived of its natural endosymbiont Wolbachia and transinfected with a Wolbachia strain from the mosquito Culex pipiens , to sterilize wild females. RESULTS We released ∼ 4500 AR w P males weekly for 6 weeks in a green area within urban Rome (Italy) and carried out egg ( N = 13 442), female ( N = 128) and male ( N = 352) collections. Egg ( N = 13 783) and female ( N = 48) collections were also carried out at two untreated control sites. The percentage of viable eggs during release was, on average, significantly lower in treated sites than in control sites, with the greatest difference (16%) seen after the fourth release. The AR w P to wild male ratio in the release spots between day 3 after the first AR w P male release and day 7 after the last release was, on average, 7:10. Released males survived up to 2 weeks. Approximately 30% of females collected in the release spots showed 100% sterility and 20% showed strongly reduced fertility compared with control sites. CONCLUSIONS Results support the potential of IIT as a tool contributing to Ae. albopictus control in the urban context, and stress the need for larger field trials to evaluate the cost‐efficacy of the approach in suppressing wild populations. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry