Mitogenome Diversity and Phylogenetic Insights of Aedes albopictus in Greece

Abstract

The invasive mosquito species Aedes albopictus, commonly known as the Asian Tiger Mosquito, is a significant global health concern due to its role as a vector for diseases such as Dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya. In Greece, Ae. albopictus was first detected in 2005, with subsequent widespread establishment across the country. This study investigates the genetic diversity and phylogeography of Greek Ae. albopictus populations by analyzing mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene sequences. A total of 488 female individuals were analyzed, revealing six haplotypes in samples collected from 2016 to 2018 using the LCO 1490 and HCO 2198 primer pair, including instances of identical haplotypes across years, while only one haplotype was consistently detected across all 2019 to 2022 samples using the UBC6 and UBC9 primer pair. These findings underscore the importance of molecular tools in understanding invasion dynamics and informing targeted surveillance and control measures. Further research is needed to assess additional worldwide populations and expand phylogeographic comparisons to elucidate global dispersal patterns.