Climate change and Neglected Tropical Diseases: studies on the influence of environmental temperature on the sex ratio of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

• Grant number: 19/14431-0
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): October 01, 2019
• Effective date (End): September 30, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Applied Ecology
• Principal researcher: Juliano José Corbi
• Grantee: Maria Eduarda Yumi Oyamaguti
• Home Institution: Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Aedes aegypti is a mosquito species that is well adapted to urban environments and is known as a vector of disease-causing arboviruses such as dengue fever, urban yellow fever, Chikungunya and Zika. Arboviruses are transmitted to humans through hematophagy performed by females, which in turn, unlike other species, can feed more than once in the same gonotrophic cycle. It is important to emphasize that there are many environmental factors that influence the life cycle of Aedes aegypti, such as temperature, that directly influence the development of the animal, since these are ectothermic organisms. Studies indicate that at high temperatures, there is a significant number of infection of females exposed to the virus. Knowing the importance of females in the epidemiological scenario, and considering the scarcity of information about the influence that temperature exerts on this species, the present work aims to analyze the effect of different temperatures on the sex ratio of Aedes aegypti mosquito. In the laboratory will be realized bioassays, using four different temperatures (18, 24, 30 and 32ºC). In the course of the experiments the sex of the mosquitoes and their respective longevity will be identified, analyzing other effects that different temperatures can cause, besides evaluating if there is any deviation in the sexual ratio. With the results, it will be possible to presume the effect of temperature on the biology of the mosquito. Thus, this study may also contribute information on the possible effects of climate change on the spread of diseases in subtropical and temperate regions. (AU)