Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39905537›Full record

ArticleParasites & vectors2025

On the tracks of an uninvited guest, the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus in Cyprus.

Riccardo Piccinno, Giulia Fiorenza, Marlen Ines Vasquez, Jeremy Bouyer, Gregoris Notarides, Ludvik Marcus Gomulski, Soteris Meletiou, Mustafa Akiner, Antonios Michaelakis, Federico Forneris and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Parasites & vectors, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Riccardo PiccinnoDepartment of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Giulia FiorenzaDepartment of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Marlen Ines VasquezDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus.
Jeremy BouyerInsect Pest Control Subprogramme, Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna, Austria.
Gregoris NotaridesDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus.
Ludvik Marcus GomulskiDepartment of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Soteris MeletiouDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus.
Mustafa AkinerRecep Tayyip Erdogan University, Fener Rize, Turkey.
Antonios MichaelakisLaboratory of Insects & Parasites of Medical Importance, Benaki Phytopathological Institute, Athens, Greece.
Federico FornerisDepartment of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Giovanni MagaInstitute of Molecular Genetics of the National Research Council (IGM-CNR), Pavia, Italy.
Giuliano GasperiDepartment of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy. giuliano.gasperi@unipv.it.
Anna Rodolfa MalacridaDepartment of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy. annarodolfa.malacrida@unipv.it.

Funding

Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche PRR.AP024.001International Atomic Energy Agency D44005Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca 2022TLZRXTNextGenerationEU PE00000007
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAedes albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito, which is listed among the world's 100 most dangerous invasive species, is the main vector of chikungunya, dengue and Zika viruses. This mosquito species has rapidly dispersed and invaded much of the globe assisted by its life history traits and high propagule pressure driven by human activities. Aedes albopictus is currently widespread across mainland Europe and the Mediterranean region, including the islands. Cyprus remained free of Ae. albopictus until October 2022, when specimens were recorded for the first time in Limassol district, including the port area. Understanding the processes associated with the introduction, expansion and establishment of this vector in Cyprus is of primary importance to mitigate its dispersal on the island, and to implement control methods to prevent disease outbreaks. A genetic analysis of these invasive specimens collected in Limassol district and in areas from the Central Mediterranean was performed to obtain a genetic portrait of the demographic history of the invasive mosquitoes on Cyprus.

methodsWe applied highly polymorphic simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers to the Ae. albopictus mosquitoes collected in Cyprus and to specimens from Italy, France, Switzerland, the Balkans, Greece and Turkey to construct an SSR individual genotype dataset that would enable the invasion pattern of Ae. albopictus in Cyprus to be traced. Bayesian clustering analyses using STRUCTURE and BayesAss version 3 were employed to derive information on the degree of ancestry among Cypriot and Mediterranean mosquitoes and on recent mosquito movements both within Cyprus and between Cyprus and the Central Mediterranean areas.

resultsThe Cypriot mosquitoes appear to be highly polymorphic with no signs of genetic drift due to recent founder effects. An ongoing mosquito dispersal within the Limassol district was detected, suggesting the presence of established, hidden adventive populations. These mosquitoes share a high degree of ancestry with those in the Balkans and parts of northern Italy that border the Adriatic Sea.

conclusionsConsidering the trade connections of Limassol port, Cyprus with the Balkans and the Adriatic Italian region, we hypothesise that these areas may be involved in the incursion of Ae. albopictus into Cyprus. As the Balkan and Italian mosquitoes display high competence for CHIKV, questions arise about possible arbovirus outbreaks in Cyprus and highlight the need to implement surveillance and control measures.

Indexed as

AedesMosquito VectorsAnimal DistributionAnimalsCyprusGenetic VariationIntroduced SpeciesMicrosatellite RepeatsAedes albopictusAsian tiger mosquitoCyprusInvasiveVector

Identifiers

PMID39905537
PMCPMC11796127

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.