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Analysis of the population structure of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquitoes in different urban strata in the city of São Paulo, using wing geometric morphometry and microsatellite markers

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Author(s):
Ramon Wilk da Silva
Total Authors: 1
Document type: Master's Dissertation
Press: São Paulo.
Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Saúde Pública (FSP/CIR)
Defense date:
Examining board members:
Mauro Toledo Marrelli; Fabio de Almeida; Tamara Nunes de Lima Camara; André Luis da Costa da Silva
Advisor: Mauro Toledo Marrelli
Abstract

Aedes aegypti is recognized as the main vector of Dengue, in addition to transmit other arboviruses of medical importance, as the agents of Yellow Fever, Chikungunya and Zika. The ecology of this vector is closely associated with the human, being probably the only kind of mosquito to be able to complete all their life cycle inside the human habitations, with their population dynamics strongly related to processes arising from urbanization. Like other cities, the city of São Paulo suffers from environmental stress due to the high population density and unplanned urbanization, which contributes to the proliferation of Ae. aegypti mosquitoes and consequently the increase in the number of cases of dengue fever. Although vaccines such as Yellow Fever and Dengue have already been developed, the latter, more recently, and not yet used on a large scale, vector control remains the main strategy for the disruption of epidemiological patterns of arboviral diseases caused by their pathogens. Structure of the population, is generally the result of combinations resulting from historical and contemporary processes involving certain species, such as their ability to disperse, copulation pattern, physical and environmental barriers and demographic trends, and to determine the different roles of these processes in structuring the population becomes very useful for the medical importance of vector control. A good example is the spread of insecticide resistance, due to gene flow between populations. Therefore, a better understanding of the population structure of Ae. Aegypti is crucial to support and develop new strategies for control programs. Thus, in order to elucidate its pattern of structuring this study utilized wing geometric morphometric and microsatellite markers, for investigation of 11 Ae. aegypti populations collected in areas with different degrees of urbanization, located in the municipality of São Paulo. The results suggest a pattern of structuring according to the urbanization gradient in which the specimens were collected. The distances of Mahalanobis obtained by wing geometric morphometry, statistically significant in 54 of the 55 tests performed, with populations showing a clear trend of segregation in the Canonical Variables analysis and Neighbor-Joining, both for the populations grouped in the form of their urban strata as per their respective collection locations, while the reclassification of test specimens reached relative degree of recognition accuracy. Microsatellites indicated a low genetic structure (Fst = 0.057), with 93 per cent of their statistically significant values. However, in accordance with the gradient of urbanization of the strata, with moderate gene flow, heterozygosity and evidence of population expansion, especially in the areas with the highest degree of urbanization. The intensification of the processes resulting from urbanization Implies in the reduction of the green spaces found in the cities, in order to contribute to the increase of the temperature and thus the proliferation of the Ae. Aegypti. In addition, the loss of these spaces involves biotic homogenization process, a phenomenon that acts as an adjuvant ecological plasticity of the vector, in order to benefit it. Hypothesis, corroborated by its population expansion, displayed mainly in anthropic environments. The structure observed in populations of Ae. aegypti in this study indicates that the urbanization processes play an important role in their conformation, and factors such as moderate gene flow and deficit of heterozygosity can be reflected in their epidemiological patterns (AU)

FAPESP's process: 15/01172-5 - Analysis of the population structure of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) of parks in the city of São Paulo, using microsatellites and wing morphometry
Grantee:Ramon Wilk da Silva
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master