Global Perspectives on the Role of Invasive Mosquito Species and Emerging Vector-Borne Diseases

A Special Issue of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease (ISSN 2414-6366) belonging to the section "Vector-Borne Diseases".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2027 | Viewed by 5439

Editors


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Guest Editor
Laboratory for Medical and Veterinary Entomology/Centre of Excellence: One Health—Climate Change and Vector-Borne Diseases (CEOH), Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 8, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Interests: vectors; vector-borne diseases; mosquitoes; invasive species

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Guest Editor
European Center of Excellence for Vector Control, Rentokil Initial, Ronda Auguste y Louis Lumière, 23, Nave 10, 46980 Paterna, Spain
Interests: vector control; mosquitoes; arboviruses; medical entomology

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Guest Editor
Institute of Veterinary Medicine of Serbia, Virology Department, Janisa Janulisa 14, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: animal viral diseases; molecular diagnostics; epidemiology
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The massive global burden caused by mosquito-borne diseases represents an increasing threat to public and animal health. Rising local transmissions mainly occur due to the successful distribution of invasive mosquito species into regions previously unaffected—facilitated by global travel and trade and global warming. Invasive mosquito species (IMS) exert a significant and growing impact on ecosystems, public health, and economics. They demonstrate highly aggressive behavior, causing nuisance and representing the efficient vectors of pathogens responsible for serious diseases. Once introduced, IMS outcompete native mosquitoes, leading to a cascade through ecosystems, affecting predators relying on indigenous mosquitoes. A threat to biodiversity may lead to the homogenization of biotic communities through the proliferation of cosmopolitan species. Habitat loss leads to an increased risk of species extinction.

Regardless of significant progress in the control strategies, emerging challenges driven by globalization and climate change emphasize the need for further research and adaptable strategies. Strengthening surveillance and investigating the factors influencing vector abundance and distribution are strongly recommended, as these efforts are essential for predicting disease outbreaks and the development of effective measures. The main goal of this Special Issue is to address the above-given concerns through comprehensive studies related to IMS and mosquito-borne diseases. To further explore the scope and boundaries of this Special Issue, we invite you to contribute manuscripts on the following topics:

  • Biology and ecology of IMS;
  • Monitoring and surveillance of IMS;
  • Effects of climate change on IMS;
  • Emerging mosquito-borne diseases;
  • Influence of microbiota and symbionts on transmission dynamics;
  • Epidemiological modeling of mosquito-borne diseases;
  • Socioeconomic impacts of IMS and related diseases;
  • Diagnostics for pathogen detection in vectors/hosts;
  • Modelling geographic expansion under future climate scenarios;
  • Novel mosquito control methods;
  • Integrated vector management approaches for IMS;
  • Insecticide resistance;
  • Community-based and policy-driven control programs;
  • Citizen science;
  • Human behavior and exposure risk in areas with IMS;
  • Public awareness and education campaigns;
  • One Health perspectives.

Dr. Mihaela Kavran
Dr. Rubén Bueno-Marí
Dr. Vesna Milicevic
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • vectors
  • vector-borne diseases
  • mosquitoes
  • invasive species
  • aedes albopictus
  • monitoring
  • mosquito control
  • One Health approach
  • surveillance
  • vector management

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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19 pages, 3163 KB  
Article
Longitudinal Surveillance of Invasive Mosquitoes at Points of Entry in Northeastern Italy
by Sara Manzi, Martina Micocci, Luca Tassoni, Stefano Vettore, Davide Bonetto, Simone Martini, Francesco Gradoni, Federica Toniolo, Giulia Iandiorio, Lidia Iustina Danca, Giulia Chiarello, Patrizia Visentin, Matteo Cecconello, Sara Carlin, Federica Gobbo, Matteo Mazzucato, Francesca Russo, Chiara Ziprani, Barbra Bucci, Sergio Iavicoli, Vincenzo Severino and Fabrizio Montarsiadd Show full author list remove Hide full author list
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2026, 11(9), 247; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed11090247 - 31 Aug 2026
Viewed by 204
Abstract
Aedes invasive mosquito (AIM) species are expanding worldwide, increasing the risk of arbovirus introduction and transmission. Points of Entry (PoEs), including airports and seaports, represent critical gateways for the introduction and spread of invasive vectors through international passenger and cargo traffic. This study [...] Read more.
Aedes invasive mosquito (AIM) species are expanding worldwide, increasing the risk of arbovirus introduction and transmission. Points of Entry (PoEs), including airports and seaports, represent critical gateways for the introduction and spread of invasive vectors through international passenger and cargo traffic. This study evaluated the AIM long-term dynamics at three major PoEs (Treviso Airport, Venice Airport, and Venice Port) in northeastern Italy (Veneto region) between 2018 and 2024 through an integrated entomological surveillance programme designed to collect AIMs (adults and eggs) throughout the seasonal activity (June–October). Mosquitoes were identified morphologically and, where required, by molecular analyses. Aedes albopictus was the dominant AIM throughout the study period (eggs N = 96,192, adults N = 14,231), being detected at all three study sites and showing consistent interannual and seasonal dynamics, with peak abundance during summer despite routine vector control interventions. Aedes koreicus was detected at two of the three study sites, namely Venice and Treviso airports (eggs N = 1, adults N = 3). Phylogenetic analyses based on COI indicated that these specimens belonged to a distinct European lineage, revealing genetic diversity among European populations of Ae. koreicus. No evidence of newly established AIMs was found during the surveillance period. These findings highlight the importance of long-term surveillance at PoEs for the early detection of AIMs, monitoring temporal changes in established vector populations, and supporting integrated control and surveillance strategies to reduce the risk of vector establishment and mosquito-borne disease transmission. Full article
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11 pages, 4361 KB  
Article
Malaria Vectors’ Diversity and Seasonality in Sustaining Disease Transmission in an Endemic Area of Faladie, Mali
by Fatalmoudou Tandina, Safiatou Niare Doumbo, Moussa Djimdé, Sékou Sissoko, Privat Agniwo, Amagoron Mathias Dolo, Abdrahamane S. Kamaté, Amatigue Zeguime, Salif Yirampo, Boucary Ouologuem, Aichata Dembélé, Hawa Dembélé, Mohamed Touré, Abdoulaye Kaloga, Francois Dao, Siaka Goita, Mamadou M. Tekete, Mahamadou A. Thera, Abdoulaye K. Koné, Abdoulaye A. Djimdé and Laurent Dembeleadd Show full author list remove Hide full author list
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2026, 11(8), 216; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed11080216 - 3 Aug 2026
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Abstract
The widespread circulation of the Anopheles vector is observed during the rainy season and clearly decreases during the dry season, when only a few mosquitoes are able to survive. This study aimed to identify the major species sustaining continued malaria transmission across seasons. [...] Read more.
The widespread circulation of the Anopheles vector is observed during the rainy season and clearly decreases during the dry season, when only a few mosquitoes are able to survive. This study aimed to identify the major species sustaining continued malaria transmission across seasons. This cross-sectional study was conducted in a malaria-endemic area. Mosquitoes were captured in Faladie using pyrethroid spray catches during rainy and dry seasons. The collected mosquitoes were identified using morphological keys, combined with molecular techniques such as PCR-RFLP (IGS regions) for Anopheles (An.) gambiae s.l. identification. Plasmodium spp. positivity in each mosquito was characterized by qPCR using parasite 18 S genes. A total of 1082 and 1705 mosquitoes were captured inside the same houses in the rainy and dry seasons, respectively. In the rainy season, 454 (41.9%) were Anopheles, 624 (57.7%) Culex and 4 (0.4%) Aedes. During the dry season, 65 (3.81%) mosquitoes were Anopheles, while 1,640 (96.19%) were Culex. Morphologically, the anopheline population consisted of 100% An. gambiae s.l. The Anopheles species diversity in the rainy season comprised the sister taxa, An. gambiae s.s. and An. Coluzzii, followed by an An. gambiae/An. coluzzii hybrid and An. arabiensis. However, An. coluzzii was found as the only vector across the rainy and dry seasons that sustained malaria transmission. Plasmodium falciparum infection rates were 9.7% and 1.7%, respectively, for the rainy and dry seasons. An. coluzzii species can survive both the dry and the rainy seasons and sustain malaria through cross-seasonal transmission. This highlights the importance of tackling An. coluzzii species and residual malaria transmission to eradicate the disease in endemic areas. Full article
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17 pages, 2247 KB  
Article
Retrospective Analysis and Cross-Validated Forecasting of West Nile Virus Transmission in Italy: Insights from Climate and Surveillance Data
by Francesco Branda, Mohamed Mustaf Ahmed, Dong Keon Yon, Giancarlo Ceccarelli, Massimo Ciccozzi and Fabio Scarpa
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2025, 10(11), 305; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed10110305 - 27 Oct 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1777
Abstract
Background. West Nile Virus (WNV) represents a significant public health concern in Europe, with Italy—particularly its northern regions—experiencing recurrent outbreaks. Climate variables and vector dynamics are known to significantly influence transmission patterns, highlighting the need for reliable predictive models to enable timely outbreak [...] Read more.
Background. West Nile Virus (WNV) represents a significant public health concern in Europe, with Italy—particularly its northern regions—experiencing recurrent outbreaks. Climate variables and vector dynamics are known to significantly influence transmission patterns, highlighting the need for reliable predictive models to enable timely outbreak detection and response. Methods. We integrated epidemiological data on human WNV infections in Italy (2012–2024) with high-resolution climate variables (temperature, humidity, and precipitation). Using advanced feature engineering and a gradient boosting framework (XGBoost), we developed a predictive model optimized through time-series cross-validation. Results. The model achieved high predictive accuracy at the national level (R2 = 0.994, MAPE = 5.16%) and maintained robust performance across the five most affected provinces, with R2 values ranging from 0.896 to 0.996. SHAP analysis identified minimum temperature as the most influential climate predictor, while maximum temperature and rainfall demonstrated considerably weaker associations with case incidence. Conclusions. This machine learning approach provides a reliable framework for forecasting WNV outbreaks and supports evidence-based public health responses. The integration of climate and epidemiological data enhances surveillance capabilities and enables informed decision-making at regional and local levels. Full article
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4 pages, 176 KB  
Reply
Reply to Asgarian et al. Comment on “Nejati et al. Spatiotemporal Patterns and Historical Overview of Aedes Mosquitoes in Iran: A Systematic Review. Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2026, 11, 131”
by Jalil Nejati, Abedin Saghafipour and Rubén Bueno-Marí
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2026, 11(9), 239; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed11090239 - 24 Aug 2026
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Abstract
We thank Asgarian et al [...] Full article
3 pages, 178 KB  
Comment
Comment on Nejati et al. Spatiotemporal Patterns and Historical Overview of Aedes Mosquitoes in Iran: A Systematic Review. Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2026, 11, 131
by Tahereh Sadat Asgarian and Mohammad Mehdi Sedaghat
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2026, 11(8), 236; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed11080236 - 21 Aug 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 206
Abstract
In this paper, we critically review the article entitled “Spatiotemporal Patterns and Historical Overview of Aedes Mosquitoes in Iran: A Systematic Review” published in Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease (2026, 11, 131) [...] Full article
15 pages, 8098 KB  
Systematic Review
Spatiotemporal Patterns and Historical Overview of Aedes Mosquitoes in Iran: A Systematic Review
by Jalil Nejati, Abedin Saghafipour, Mahsa Sarvi and Rubén Bueno-Marí
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2026, 11(5), 131; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed11050131 - 12 May 2026
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1224
Abstract
Aedes mosquitoes are among the most important vectors of arboviral diseases such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya. Mapping their geographic and temporal patterns is essential for understanding disease risk and guiding vector control. This systematic review provides an updated synthesis of the spatial [...] Read more.
Aedes mosquitoes are among the most important vectors of arboviral diseases such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya. Mapping their geographic and temporal patterns is essential for understanding disease risk and guiding vector control. This systematic review provides an updated synthesis of the spatial and temporal distribution of Aedes species across Iran. A comprehensive search of international (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science) and national (SID, IranMedex, Magiran) databases was performed for studies published between 1980 and 2025. Eligible publications reporting the occurrence or distribution of Aedes mosquitoes were screened according to PRISMA guidelines. Data were extracted and analyzed descriptively to identify long-term spatial and temporal trends. Sixty-six studies met the inclusion criteria, covering more than 20 provinces and examining over 390,000 mosquito specimens. Aedes caspius was the dominant species nationwide, reflecting its high ecological adaptability. Invasive vectors, Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus, were recorded mainly in southern coastal provinces and, more recently, in the humid northern regions. Over time, surveys have evolved from scattered faunistic reports to systematic nationwide monitoring, revealing clear patterns of ecological expansion driven by climatic and environmental factors. Increasing reports, broader geographic distribution, and adaptability to diverse ecological settings indicate an ongoing expansion of Aedes mosquitoes in Iran. While these developments reflect successful entomological surveillance and public health efforts, enhanced preparedness and continuous monitoring are essential to manage potential Aedes-borne outbreaks effectively. Full article
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