Review of ten-years presence of Aedes albopictus in Spain 2004-2014: known distribution and public health concerns

Abstract

Ten years have gone by since the Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus was recorded for the first time in Spain. In this paper, all relevant published information about this vector in Spain for the period 2004-2014 is reviewed. The known distribution for 2014 is provided, including all historical records (published and unpublished data) and the results from samplings of the last year. The consequences on public health about the presence of the Asian tiger mosquito in Spain are also highlighted. Further, legal aspects and control plans related to the management and diseases transmitted by this invasive vector species are also discussed.

Fig. 1

Known distribution of Aedes albopictus in Spain in 2014. Red: recorded in municipality; Green: not recorded; Gray: not studied. The arrows mark small positives isolates municipalities

Fig. 2

Evolution and amount of positive recorded municipalities for Aedes albopictus per year in Spain 2004–2014. Line: Cumulative records

Fig. 3

Evolution and total amount of positive recorded municipalities for Aedes albopictus per year in Spain. a Catalonia 2004–2014; the record in Lleida (Maials, 2008) is not included due to it is considered as an sporadic record. b Valencian Community 2005–2014

Fig. 4

Historical record of positive municipalities by years (2004–2014). a General. b Detail in Catalonia. The arrows mark small isolated positives municipalities. Green color means negatives in 2014. Gray color means that these areas were never studied

Fig. 5

Pseudo phenology of Aedes albopictus as eggs/ovitrap along the time (weeks of year). Catalonia: Data from the Generalitat de Catalunya; mean number of eggs/ovitrap from positive municipalities in the same week of the year (2005–2014). Baix Llobregat: Data from the Consell del Baix Llobregat (2006–2014); mean number of eggs/ovitrap in the same week of the year. Cartagena: number of eggs/ovitrap from positive localities in 2014, in the municipality of Cartagena (Region of Murcia). Majorca: number of eggs/ovitrap from positive localities in 2014, in the island of Majorca (Balearic Islands)