Genetic structure of Aedes aegypti in the city of Córdoba (Argentina), a recently reinfested area

To understand the transmission of a vector-borne disease, knowledge of the magnitude of dispersal among vector populations is essential because of its influence on pathogen transfer. The principal vector of dengue, the most common arboviral disease in the world, is the mosquito Aedes aegypti (L.). This tropical and subtropical species is native to Africa but has dispersed worldwide since the XV century. In Argentina, the species was declared eradicated in 1963, but has reinfested the country in recent years. In the present work, we used RAPD-PCR markers to assess the levels of genetic variability and differentiation among populations of Ae. aegypti (the vector of dengue and yellow fever) in Córdoba, the second largest city in Argentina. We detected similar levels of genetic variability (He between 0.351-0.404) across samples and significant genetic differentiation between most population pairs within the city (F ST between 0.0013-0.0253). Genetic distances indicate that there are three distinct groups, formed predominantly by populations that are connected by, or near, main roads. This suggests that, in addition to other factors such as availability of oviposition sites or step-by-step migration, passive transport plays an important role in gene flow within the city.

Estimation of genetic divergence and gene flow between Culex pipiens and Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Argentina

Allele frequencies at seven polymorphic loci controlling the synthesis of enzymes were analysed in six populations of Culex pipiens L. and Cx. quinquefasciatus Say. Sampling sites were situated along a north-south line of about 2,000 km in Argentina. The predominant alleles at Mdh, Gpdh and Gpi loci presented similar frequencies in all the samples. Frequencies at the Pgm locus were similar for populations pairs sharing the same geographic area. The loci Cat and Hk-1 presented significant geographic variation. The latter showed a marked latitudinal cline, with a frequency for allele b ranging from 0,99 in the northernmost point to 0.04 in the southernmost one, a pattern that may be explained by natural selection (Fst=0.46;p<0.0001) on heat sensitive alleles. The average value of Fst(0.088) and Nm (61.12) indicated a high gene flow between adjacent populations. A high correlation was found between genetic and geographic distance (r=0.83;p<0.001). The highest genetic identity (In=0.988) corresponded to the geographically closest samples from the central area. In one of these localities Cx. quinquefasciatus was predominant and hybrid individuals were detected, while in the other, almost all the specimens were identified as Cx. pipiens. To verify the fertility between Cx. pipiens and Cx. quinquefasciatus from the northern- and southernmost populations, experimental crosses were performed. Viable egg rafts were obtained from reciprocal crosses. Hatching ranged from 76.5 to 100 per cent. The hybrid progenies were fertile through two subsequent generations.

Geographic patterns of allele frequencies in Calomys musculinus reservoir-host of junin virus

Con el propósito de obtener información sobre el grado de contacto entre poblaciones de C. musculinus, se analizaron las frecuencias alélicas en tres loci polimórficos en muestras de seis diferentes localidades de la provincia de Córdoba ubicadas en el área endémica de fiebre hemorrágica argentina (FHA) y en regiones marginales, libres de virus Junín. Dichas localidades están situadas sobre una línea sur-noreste (250km de longitud) y otra sur-noreste (50km) que siguen el sentido en el cual progresó la endemia desde su aparición en Córdoba, hace más de veinte años. En el locus Aat-1 la frecuencia del alelo b osciló entre 0,95 y 0,99 en las diferentes localidades analizadas. En cinco de las seis muestras, las frecuencias génicas fueron muy similares en el locus Es-4 y en el Es-6. En la sexta localidad, los alelos a de ambos loci presentaron menor frecuencia. Esta población mostraba una característica particular: era la única con predominio de individuos de peso mayor a 16g, los cuales corresponderían a ejemplares adultos y viejos. Si se comparan las frecuencias alélicas de las diferentes muestras agrupando los ejemplares con menos de 16g (¿jóvenes?) y los adultos más los viejos, se observa una notable homogeneidad geográfica. Algunas características ecológicas conocidas para C. musculinus, tales como su gran capacidad de adaptación a ambientes inestables, su alta actividad ambulatoria y la ausencia de barreras naturales en el área estudiada, apoyarían la presunción de que existe un importante flujo génico entre poblaciones contiguas. Por otro lado, la observación de que los alelos a en los loci Es-4 y Es-6 se presentan con mayor frecuencia entre los individuos de menor peso, sugiere que los portadores del alelo b deben poseer mayor tasa de supervivencia, lo cual estaría determinado por fuerzas selectivas similares en toda el área analizada. La FHA se ha expandido lenta pero sostenidamente desde la aparición de los primeros casos humanos. Tal progresión es consecuencia de la transmisión del virus de Calomys infectados de la zona endémica a los de las zonas marginales. La ...