Consolidation of Aedes albopictus Surveillance Program in the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia, Spain

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Due to the Spanish legal framework, the national program for vector-borne diseases results from the agreement between national and regional governments, and it is the basis for the development of the regional programs, which should include the regional entomological surveillance program. Aedes albopictus was recorded for the first time in the Region of Murcia, in 2011. It gave rise to a new epidemiological scenario due to the presence of a competent vector of several arboviruses, which resulted in autochthonous cases of dengue in 2018. METHODS: 40 out of 45 municipalities participated in the regional entomological surveillance program, and 266 sampling points were established, with two ovitraps at each site as pseudo-replications. The study period was from April 16th to November 26th, with bi-weekly sample collections: 16 regional samplings were carried out. RESULTS: Regional participation was high, and data loss was low (1.26%). Ae. albopictus was detected in 4.9% of samples and 89.4% of points, located in 39 of the 40 municipalities. The intensity of the presence of Ae. albopictus was estimated by a positivity index, that is, the percentage of positive samples over time. The vector phenology was obtained at a regional level, using the number of eggs as estimation of population density and the positivity values of points and municipalities. Every two weeks, real-time results were provided to the municipalities, which could use them as a vector management tool. CONCLUSION: The regional entomological surveillance program for Ae. albopictus in the Region of Murcia was consolidated in 2019, with standardized and comparable methods. Almost all the municipalities of the region have observed the presence of Ae. albopictus, although intensity and spatial and temporal cover vary among them.