Incompatible Aedes aegypti male releases as an intervention to reduce mosquito population : A field trial in Puerto Rico
Data files
Jan 13, 2025 version files 2.92 MB
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README.md
4.68 KB
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Wolbachia_Ponce_SuppTable_AGO_Adult_Data.xlsx
2.68 MB
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Wolbachia_Ponce_SuppTable_Longevity_Assays.xlsx
11.82 KB
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Wolbachia_Ponce_SuppTable_MRR_TrapData.xlsx
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Wolbachia_Ponce_SuppTable_Ovitrap_Data.xlsx
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Abstract
Mosquito-transmitted viruses such as dengue are a global and growing public health challenge. Without widely available vaccines, mosquito control is the primary tool for fighting the spread of these viruses. New mosquito control technologies are needed to complement existing methods. A field trial was conducted in collaboration with the Communities Organized to Prevent Arboviruses project in Ponce, Puerto Rico, to measure entomological and epidemiological effects of reducing Aedes aegypti populations using Wolbachia incompatible insect technique. We packed and shipped Wolbachia-males from California and released them into 19 treatment clusters from September 2020 to December 2020. The preliminary evaluation revealed sub-optimal Wolbachia-male densities and impact on the wild-type population. In 2021, we shifted to a phased release strategy starting in four clusters, reducing the mosquito population by 51% (CI 31–71%). We describe the investigation into male quality and other factors that may have limited the impact of Wolbachia-male releases. Laboratory assays showed a small but significant impact of the packing and shipping process on male fitness. However, mark-release-recapture assessments suggest that male daily survival rates in the field may have been significantly impacted. We compared induced-sterility levels and suppression of the wild population and found patterns consistent with mosquito population compensation in response to our intervention. Analysis of epidemiological impact was not possible due to very low viral transmission rates during the intervention period. Our entomological impact data provide evidence that Wolbachia incompatible-male releases reduced Ae. aegypti populations, although efficacy will be maximized when releases are part of an integrated control program. With improvement of shipping vessels and shipped male fitness, packing and shipping male mosquitoes could provide a key solution for expanding access to this technology in Puerto Rico. Our project underscores the challenges involved in large and complex field assessments of the effectiveness of novel vector control methods.
README: Incompatible Aedes aegypti male releases as an intervention to reduce mosquito population: A field trial in Puerto Rico
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.kh18932gv
Description of the data and file structure
Wolbachia_Ponce_SuppTable_AGO_Adult_Data.xlsx
Adult male and female counts from AGO collections in treatment and control clusters. AGO collections lasted 7 days. Collections from traps found to be malfunctioning were excluded for that week. NA entries indicate that the trap was not collected on that date or the collection was deemed invalid due to trap malfunction other factors that compromise collection integrity.
File includes multiple sheets:
- Trap_Locations: Each row corresponds to a single trap indicating trap ID and GPS coordinates.
- AGO_Adult Male Counts: Rows correspond to individual AGO traps with Trap IDs indicated as row names. Columns correspond to collection dates with dates indicated in column names. Cell entries indicate adult male Aedes aegypti counts normalized to 7-day collections.
- AGO_Adult Female Counts: Rows correspond to individual AGO traps with Trap IDs indicated as row names. Columns correspond to collection dates with dates indicated in column names. Cell entries indicate adult female Aedes aegypti counts normalized to 7-day collections.
Wolbachia_Ponce_SuppTable_Ovitrap_Data.xlsx
Eggs were collected using standard methods. Eggs were flooded under insectary conditions and larvae counted for hatch rate calculations. NA entries indicate that the trap was not collected on that date or the collection was deemed invalid due to trap malfunction other factors that compromise collection integrity.
File includes multiple sheets:
- Trap_Locations: Each row corresponds to a single trap indicating trap ID and GPS coordinates.
- Egg Counts: Rows correspond to individual ovitraps with Trap IDs indicated as row names. Columns correspond to collection dates with dates indicated in column names. Cell entries indicate the number of viable Aedes aegypti eggs from each collection.
- Larval Counts: Rows correspond to individual ovitraps with Trap IDs indicated as row names. Columns correspond to collection dates with dates indicated in column names. Cell entries indicate the number of Aedes aegypti larvae after eggs from each collection were flooded.
Wolbachia_Ponce_SuppTable_MRR_TrapData.xlsx
Two Mark-Release-Recapture experiments were conducted where Wolbachia male* Aedes aegypti were released from a single point, collected using BG Sentinel 2 traps, and tested for *Wolbachia for anlaysis. NA entries indicate that the trap was not collected on that date or the collection was deemed invalid due to trap malfunction other factors that compromise collection integrity.
File includes multiple sheets:
- Trap_Locations: Each row corresponds to a single trap indicating trap ID and GPS coordinates.
- First Replicate: Trap collection data after first MRR release. Rows correspond to individual ovitraps with Trap IDs indicated as row names. Columns correspond to collection dates with dates indicated in column names. Cell entries indicate the number of adult Aedes aegypti males from each collection.
- Second Replicate: Trap collection data after second MRR release. Rows correspond to individual ovitraps with Trap IDs indicated as row names. Columns correspond to collection dates with dates indicated in column names. Cell entries indicate the number of adult Aedes aegypti males from each collection.
Wolbachia_Ponce_SuppTable_Longevity_Assays.xlsx
Average lifespan for shipped and held back samples of* Wolbachia* male* Aedes aegypti* measured in insectary cages.
Files and variables
File: Wolbachia_Ponce_SuppTable_Longevity_Assays.xlsx
Description: Average life span for shipped and held back samples of* Wolbachia* male* Aedes aegypti*.
Variables
- Ship status, longevity in days, duration of transit in hours
File: Wolbachia_Ponce_SuppTable_MRR_TrapData.xlsx
Description: Wolbachia-positive male mosquito counts for two MRR experiments
Variables
- Male counts, trap, collection date, replicate
File: Wolbachia_Ponce_SuppTable_Ovitrap_Data.xlsx
Description: Egg and Larval counts from ovitrap collections in treatment and control clusters.
Variables
- Egg counts, larval counts, trap, collection date
File: Wolbachia_Ponce_SuppTable_AGO_Adult_Data.xlsx
Description:
Variables
- Adult male count, Adult female count, trap, collection date
Methods
Adult Aedes aegypti mosquitoes were collected weekly using Autocidal Gravid Traps in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Aedes aegypti eggs were collected using standard methods involving small black cups, seed germination paper, and fermented hay infusion. Life span or longevity was measured for samples of male mosquitoes in insectary cages with water source. Mark-Release-Recapture data were collected using BG-Sentinel traps for mulitple days followin a point release of Wolbachia male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.