Posted by Vector and Vector-borne Disease Committee
August 30, 2022
Thomas C Moore, Heidi E Brown
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
Journal of Medical Entomology, Volume 59, Issue 4, July 2022, Pages 1164–1170, https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjac070
Abstract [shortened]: To generate a more robust estimate of Ae. aegypti flight distance, we conducted a meta-data analysis with the aims 1) to provide a flight distance measurement and 2) investigate how mosquito flight range can be affected by study design and climatic factors. Published studies were retrieved from public databases and reviewed for mean distance traveled (MDT) or maximum distance traveled measurements of Ae. aegypti. Linear regression was used to assess potential relationships between Ae. aegypti flight distance and factors pertaining to climate, degrees of urbanization, and study design. MDT estimates were pooled from 27 experiments to calculate a weighted MDT of 105.69 m. This study addresses the average flight distance of Ae. aegypti with the intention of informing vector control programs in Ae. aegypti prevalent regions of the world.
Comment: This review incorporates published data to provide a global estimate of flight range, a parameter critical in understanding potential virus transmission patterns and establishing protocols for containment around imported cases. Although this information was focused on females, male dispersal data establishes possible infiltration rates into areas treated with the releases of genetically altered males for control.