Update of the spatiotemporal distribution of Aedes albopictus in Ecuador

Introduction: Aedes albopictus has spread to 85 countries due to its ability to adapt to new climatic conditions. In Ecuador, it was first identified in Guayaquil in 2017 and since then it has expanded into new geographical areas. Its importance for public health has been linked to its vector capacity to transmit arboviruses. Objective: To characterize Ae. albopictus breeding sites that have contributed to its dispersal into geographical regions of Ecuador without prior records. Material and methods: Entomological sampling was conducted in 18 provinces between 2018 and 2024. We collected larvae from various types of water-holding containers. We generated spatiotemporal distribution maps of Ae. albopictus and performed statistical analyses to identify significant differences in the number of mosquitoes between different breeding sites. Results: Between 2018 and 2024, the presence of Ae. albopictus was recorded in 311 localities in the provinces of Manabí, Guayas, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Orellana, Imbabura, and Sucumbíos. Cans, tires, and plastic tanks were identified as effective breeding sites, while natural containers, such as bamboo internodes, puddles, and bromelia axils, were less frequent. Spearman’s correlation showed a significant positive relationship (p value < 5.0 × 10-4) between the frequency of breeding sites and the number of individuals. Conclusions: Entomological surveillance activities contributed to establish Ae. albopictus distribution in urban areas of six provinces in Ecuador. A positive correlation was identified between the number of mosquitoes and the frequency of breeding sites, such as tires, tanks, and other water-holding plastic containers.