Posted by Vector and Vector-borne Disease Committee
December 7, 2022
S Lozano [nkq3@cdc.gov] et al. PLoS NTD Nov 14, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0010907
Abstract [condensed]. We evaluated the effect of releases of Wolbachia infected Ae. aegypti males on populations of wild Ae. aegypti in the metropolitan area of Houston, TX. Releases were conducted by the company MosquitoMate, Inc. To estimate mosquito population reduction, we used a mosquito abundance Bayesian hierarchical estimator that accounted for inefficient trapping. In this experiment we found a reduction of 93% after six weeks of continual releases. A similar result was reported by Verily Life Sciences, 96%, in releases made in Fresno, CA.
Note: This and similar evaluations continue to indicate that genetic methods can show a reduction in Ae. aegypti populations, although none have resulted in extinction.