Asian bush mosquito is spreading

Dangerous Asian mosquito is spreading faster in Germany than previously thought

19/11/2012

Scientists of the Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) in Müncheberg report a rapid spread of the Asian bush mosquito in Germany. The Asian mosquito is dangerous to humans because it transmits the West Nile virus. The latest results from a study showed that the spread is progressing faster than previously thought.

The Asian bush mosquito called „Hulecoeteomyia japonica“ spreads faster in the German federal territory, as researchers had previously suspected. According to the experts of the Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research, the largest populations occur in the federal states of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia. Only a few years ago mosquito populations could only occasionally be found in southern Baden-Württemberg, in the northern part of Switzerland and in some Belgian areas.

Citizens sent bush mosquitoes
The researchers were drawn to the Asian mosquito species by expert information from the population. Some citizens had sent the exotic insects to the Leibniz Center by mail. Subsequently, the scientists explored the designated areas and found that the mosquitoes had increased in no time. “We were able to detect numerous mosquitoes in flower vases, watering cans and other open water tanks”, explained biologist Doreen Werne.

In the course of the research work, the experts were able to limit an area of ​​around 2000 square kilometers. In this area, the mosquito is particularly heaped up. It is also striking that the Asian bush mosquito in the region between Koblenz and Cologne „displaced the domestic mosquito species“.

Asian bush mosquito is considered a West Nile fever transmitter
Dangerous is the mosquito not because of the emission of the poison but because of the transmission of the dangerous and particularly aggressive West Nile virus. For this reason, the health authorities in Germany are extremely worried. Although the experts have so far been unable to detect transmission of the infectious disease, the risk of transmission is increasing as populations grow. The most important prerequisite for the transmission of West Nile viruses is the previous ingestion of infected blood.

A major cause of the spread is likely to be the progressive climate change. Due to the favorable temperatures, more and more non-native mosquito species settle in Germany. For the scientists, it is becoming increasingly difficult to have all the migrated mosquito species in view. More and more insects are settling in Central Europe, which are actually used to tropical temperatures.

Even more immigrant mosquitoes
At the present time special mosquito traps are being installed throughout Germany in order to better study immigrant biting insects. The top priority for the researchers is to investigate whether the mosquitoes carry dangerous pathogens. The scientists urge the population to actively help with this. Anyone who is interested in insects and therefore also has a clue about the matter, can „Send mosquitoes that you like to the institute“. That way the experts could „to inspect more than 100,000 mosquitoes more closely“. The scientists were able to detect pathogens of the Sindbis, Batai and Usutu viruses in bush mosquitoes. In addition, even the malaria mosquito (Anopheles plumbeus) has been studied, which seems to spread more often on land in Germany.

When the West Nile virus is transmitted, 80 percent of those infected experience no symptoms. In other cases, patients experience symptoms similar to seasonal flu. According to this, fever, body aches, headache and / or chills may appear first. In the further course, an inflammation of the brain, an inflammation of the meninges or an acute flaccid paralysis can be triggered. The initial symptoms develop after an incubation period of 3 to 15 days. Particularly at risk are children, the elderly and the chronically ill. (Sb)

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