Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Dark—Highlighting the Importance of Genetically Identifying Mosquito Populations in Subterranean Environments of Central Europe
The common house mosquito, <i>Culex</i> <i>pipiens</i> s. l. is part of the morphologically hardly or non-distinguishable <i>Culex</i> <i>pipiens</i> complex. Upcoming molecular methods allowed us to identify members of mosquito populations that are ch...
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Pathogens |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/10/9/1090 |
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| author | Carina Zittra Simon Vitecek Joana Teixeira Dieter Weber Bernadette Schindelegger Francis Schaffner Alexander M. Weigand |
| author_facet | Carina Zittra Simon Vitecek Joana Teixeira Dieter Weber Bernadette Schindelegger Francis Schaffner Alexander M. Weigand |
| author_sort | Carina Zittra |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The common house mosquito, <i>Culex</i> <i>pipiens</i> s. l. is part of the morphologically hardly or non-distinguishable <i>Culex</i> <i>pipiens</i> complex. Upcoming molecular methods allowed us to identify members of mosquito populations that are characterized by differences in behavior, physiology, host and habitat preferences and thereof resulting in varying pathogen load and vector potential to deal with. In the last years, urban and surrounding periurban areas were of special interest due to the higher transmission risk of pathogens of medical and veterinary importance. Recently, surveys of underground habitats were performed to fully evaluate the spatial distribution of rare members of the <i>Cx.</i> <i>pipiens</i> complex in Europe. Subterranean environments and their contribution to mosquito-borne pathogen transmission are virtually unknown. Herein, we review the underground community structures of this species complex in Europe, add new data to Germany and provide the first reports of the <i>Cx. pipiens</i> complex and usually rarely found mosquito taxa in underground areas of Luxembourg. Furthermore, we report the first finding of <i>Culiseta glaphyroptera</i> in Luxembourg. Our results highlight the need for molecular specimen identifications to correctly and most comprehensively characterize subterranean mosquito community structures. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:19:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e4551d6f24d14e9097c93c04475e73e8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:19:45Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj.art-e4551d6f24d14e9097c93c04475e73e82023-11-22T14:41:34ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172021-08-01109109010.3390/pathogens10091090Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Dark—Highlighting the Importance of Genetically Identifying Mosquito Populations in Subterranean Environments of Central EuropeCarina Zittra0Simon Vitecek1Joana Teixeira2Dieter Weber3Bernadette Schindelegger4Francis Schaffner5Alexander M. Weigand6Unit Limnology, Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, AustriaWasserCluster Lunz—Biologische Station, 3293 Lunz am See, AustriaZoology Department, Musée National d’Histoire Naturelle de Luxembourg (MNHNL), 2160 Luxembourg, LuxembourgZoology Department, Musée National d’Histoire Naturelle de Luxembourg (MNHNL), 2160 Luxembourg, LuxembourgWasserCluster Lunz—Biologische Station, 3293 Lunz am See, AustriaFrancis Schaffner Consultancy, 4125 Riehen, SwitzerlandZoology Department, Musée National d’Histoire Naturelle de Luxembourg (MNHNL), 2160 Luxembourg, LuxembourgThe common house mosquito, <i>Culex</i> <i>pipiens</i> s. l. is part of the morphologically hardly or non-distinguishable <i>Culex</i> <i>pipiens</i> complex. Upcoming molecular methods allowed us to identify members of mosquito populations that are characterized by differences in behavior, physiology, host and habitat preferences and thereof resulting in varying pathogen load and vector potential to deal with. In the last years, urban and surrounding periurban areas were of special interest due to the higher transmission risk of pathogens of medical and veterinary importance. Recently, surveys of underground habitats were performed to fully evaluate the spatial distribution of rare members of the <i>Cx.</i> <i>pipiens</i> complex in Europe. Subterranean environments and their contribution to mosquito-borne pathogen transmission are virtually unknown. Herein, we review the underground community structures of this species complex in Europe, add new data to Germany and provide the first reports of the <i>Cx. pipiens</i> complex and usually rarely found mosquito taxa in underground areas of Luxembourg. Furthermore, we report the first finding of <i>Culiseta glaphyroptera</i> in Luxembourg. Our results highlight the need for molecular specimen identifications to correctly and most comprehensively characterize subterranean mosquito community structures.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/10/9/1090<i>Culex</i> <i>pipiens</i> s. l.<i>Culex</i> <i>torrentium</i><i>Culiseta glaphyroptera</i>cavessubterranean environmentLuxembourg |
| spellingShingle | Carina Zittra Simon Vitecek Joana Teixeira Dieter Weber Bernadette Schindelegger Francis Schaffner Alexander M. Weigand Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Dark—Highlighting the Importance of Genetically Identifying Mosquito Populations in Subterranean Environments of Central Europe Pathogens <i>Culex</i> <i>pipiens</i> s. l. <i>Culex</i> <i>torrentium</i> <i>Culiseta glaphyroptera</i> caves subterranean environment Luxembourg |
| title | Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Dark—Highlighting the Importance of Genetically Identifying Mosquito Populations in Subterranean Environments of Central Europe |
| title_full | Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Dark—Highlighting the Importance of Genetically Identifying Mosquito Populations in Subterranean Environments of Central Europe |
| title_fullStr | Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Dark—Highlighting the Importance of Genetically Identifying Mosquito Populations in Subterranean Environments of Central Europe |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Dark—Highlighting the Importance of Genetically Identifying Mosquito Populations in Subterranean Environments of Central Europe |
| title_short | Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Dark—Highlighting the Importance of Genetically Identifying Mosquito Populations in Subterranean Environments of Central Europe |
| title_sort | mosquitoes diptera culicidae in the dark highlighting the importance of genetically identifying mosquito populations in subterranean environments of central europe |
| topic | <i>Culex</i> <i>pipiens</i> s. l. <i>Culex</i> <i>torrentium</i> <i>Culiseta glaphyroptera</i> caves subterranean environment Luxembourg |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/10/9/1090 |
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