Origin of aedes aegypti in Clark County, Nevada

Abstract

Aedes aegypti is the primary vector for serious diseases, including those caused by chikungunya, dengue, and Zika viruses. In 2017, the Southern Nevada Health District first detected this invasive species in Clark County, NV, including in the city of Las Vegas. We analyzed Ae. aegypti from the city of North Las Vegas to determine the likely source of the invasion. We genotyped a sample of Ae. aegypti at 12 highly variable microsatellites and analyzed the data in reference to published data from 25 sites in the southern USA. We found that the Ae. aegypti in Las Vegas most likely invaded from southern California. Knowing the source of new invasions may provide information about the invading population (e.g., previous insecticide exposure) and can help prevent future invasions from the region.