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Introgression shapes genetic variation associated with humid environments in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes from Saudi Arabia

Mashlawi, Abadi M.1; Balcazar, Dario234; Abuelmaali, Sara A.56; Albeshr, Mohammed Fahad7; Sallam, Mohamed F.8; Al-Mekhlafi, Hesham M.910; Walton, Catherine11; Gloria-Soria, Andrea3

Published Sep 24, 2026 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.fj6q57469

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Abstract

Aedes aegypti, a major vector of arboviral diseases such as dengue and Zika, exhibits significant genetic diversity influenced by geographic and environmental factors. It exists as two subspecies with distinct ecology, behaviour, viral transmission capacities, and geographical distributions: the dark forest-dwelling Aedes aegypti formosus (Aaf) from sub-Saharan Africa and the paler domestic form Aedes aegypti aegypti (Aaa). The latter spread from West Africa via global trade routes to the rest of the tropics and subtropics. Unlike the sylvatic Aaf, the Aaa mosquito has developed behaviours such as entering homes and exhibiting a strong preference for human scents and blood. In Saudi Arabia, where Ae. aegypti populations span diverse ecological regions, understanding the genetic structure and adaptive potential of this species is critical for vector management. In this context, our study investigates the role of genetic introgression from African Aaf into Saudi Arabian populations. This dataset supports an investigation of population structure, African ancestry, and potential local adaptation in Ae. aegypti from Saudi Arabia. The dataset contains genotypes for 242 unrelated mosquitoes from Saudi Arabia and comparative populations in Africa and Asia. It comprises 21,267 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a compressed Variant Call Format (VCF) file, accompanied by a sample information table that links individuals to their sampling locations and population assignments. These data can be reused to examine genetic diversity, population structure, ancestry, and differentiation across the sampled regions.