Aedes aegypti (L.) is the main vector of dengue virus and more recently chikungunya virus in Latin America. However, the Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1894) is expanding its global range and increasing its role in transmission of these diseases. In this report, we suggest that Ae. albopictus was introduced to the Department of Managua, Nicaragua, in 2010 via two independent routes and demonstrate its dissemination and establishment in urban neighborhoods by 2012. The coexistence of two competent vector species could alter the epidemiology of dengue and chikungunya as well as indicate the need for new strategies aimed at vector control.
Aedes aegypti (L.) es el vector principal del virus de dengue y mas recientemente del virus chikungunya an América Latina. Sin embargo, el mosquito tigre asiático Aedes albopictus está ampliando su rango global, y su rol en la transmisión de estas enfermedades está aumentando. En este informe, se describe la introducción de Aedes albopictus en el Departamento de Managua, Nicaragua, en 2010 via dos rutas independientes y se documenta su diseminación y establecimiento en los barrios urbanos en 2012. La co-existencia de dos especies de vectores competentes podría alterar la epidemiología de dengue y chikungunya y sugiere la necesidad de nuevas estrategias de control del vector.
Keywords: Aedes albopictus; Nicaragua; dengue; dissemination; introduction.
© The Authors 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.