Andre Wilke

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Verified

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• Ph.D.
• Assistant Professor at Indiana University Bloomington

Extra-Amazonian malaria has been reported to be endemic in Brazil since the end of the 19th century. Currently, only a few cases are reported annually. However, recent findings of unexpected Plasmodium infections with uncertain transmission cycles in the Extra-Amazonian region could pose a threat to the malaria elimination agenda in Brazil.

Global increases in temperatures and urbanization are impacting the epidemiology of mosquito-borne diseases. Urbanization processes create suitable habitats for vector mosquitoes in which there are a reduced number of predators, and human hosts are widely available. We hypothesize that mosquito vector species, especially Aedes aegypti, are locally...

Abstract Fragmentation of natural environments as a result of human interference has been associated with a decrease in species richness and increase in abundance of a few species that have adapted to these environments. The Brazilian Atlantic Forest, which has been undergoing an intense process of fragmentation and deforestation caused by human-ma...

Urbanization processes are increasing globally. Anthropogenic alterations in the environment have profound effects on biodiversity. Decreased biodiversity due to biotic homogenization processes as a consequence of urbanization often result in increased levels of mosquito vector species and vector-borne pathogen transmission. Understanding how anthr...

Mathematical models have been widely used to study the population dynamics of mosquitoes as well as to test and validate the effectiveness of arbovirus outbreak responses and mosquito control strategies. The objective of this study is to assess the diel activity of mosquitoes in Miami-Dade, Florida, and Brownsville, Texas, the most affected areas d...

Rapid urbanization and migration in Latin America have intensified exposure to insect-borne diseases. Malaria, Chagas disease, yellow fever, and leishmaniasis have historically afflicted the region, while dengue, chikungunya, and Zika have been described and expanded more recently. The increased presence of synanthropic vector species and spread in...

Aedes-borne diseases represent a major public health threat and mosquito control operations represent a key line of defense. Improving the real-time awareness of mosquito control authorities by providing reliable forecasts of the relative abundance of mosquito vectors could greatly enhance control efforts. To this aim, we developed an analytical to...

Background Mosquito-borne pathogens are transmitted through bites of female mosquito vectors that are actively seeking hosts for a blood meal and hosts, when either of them is infectious. Different mosquito species have different preferences for the time of the day/night when they actively seek blood meals. In the United States, the encounters betw...

The southern US has a large presence of mosquito vector species for dengue virus (DENV) and experiences thousands of DENV importations every year, which have led to several local outbreaks. Adulticide spraying targeting active mosquitoes is one of the most common insecticide strategies used as a response to an outbreak. The aim of this study is to...

Background Malaria outbreaks have sporadically occurred in the United States, with Anopheles quadrimaculatus serving as the primary vector in the eastern region. Anopheles crucians, while considered a competent vector, has not been directly implicated in human transmission. Considering the locally acquired Plasmodium vivax cases in Sarasota County,...

Background Estimates of the spatiotemporal distribution of different mosquito vector species and the associated risk of transmission of arboviruses are key to design adequate policies for preventing local outbreaks and reducing the number of human infections in endemic areas. In this study, we quantified the abundance of Aedes albopictus and Aedes...

Aedes-borne diseases represent a major public health threat and mosquito control operations represent a key line of defense. Improving the real-time awareness of mosquito control authorities by providing reliable forecasts of the relative abundance of mosquito vectors could greatly enhance control efforts. To this aim, we developed an analytical to...

The southern US is vulnerable to importations of dengue. Understanding the effectiveness of mosquito control interventions to be employed in response to a dengue outbreak, such as adulticide spraying, are critical for mitigating the risks posed by the dengue virus (DENV). By leveraging a unique dataset of diel activity patterns of Ae. aegypti in Mi...

The southern US has a large presence of mosquito vector species for dengue virus (DENV) and experiences thousands of DENV importations every year, which have led to several local outbreaks. Adulticide spraying targeting active mosquitoes is one of the most common insecticide strategies used as a response to an outbreak. The aim of this study is to...

Cities across the USA are implementing urban policies to mitigate unwanted effects of urbanization. These policies may inadvertently promote the proliferation of mosquito vectors. Limited evidence exists regarding how urban policies impact arbovirus transmission risk. Models can evaluate public health interventions aimed at reducing arbovirus-relat...

Los Angeles County, California, is one of the areas most affected by arboviruses in the continental United States, reporting the second highest number of West Nile human cases in the nation and one of the highest numbers of imported dengue cases. Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti are primary vectors of West Nile and dengue viruses, respectiv...

Malaria outbreaks have sporadically occurred in the United States, with Anopheles quadrimaculatus serving as the primary vector in the eastern region. Anopheles crucians , while considered a competent vector, have not been directly implicated in human transmission. Considering the locally acquired Plasmodium vivax cases in Sarasota County, Florida...

Culex quinquefasciatus is a cosmopolitan species distributed throughout tropical and subtropical areas of the world. The species is of great epidemiological importance as it is responsible for vectoring the causative agent of lymphatic filariasis and several arboviruses, including West Nile virus. Wing geometric morphometrics has been widely used t...

Purpose of Review Mosquito-borne diseases are a serious concern in Europe since the proliferation of invasive mosquito species increases the risk of epidemics. Aedes spp. (Diptera: Culicidae) are among the most dangerous mosquito vectors in Europe. Among Aedes spp., less attention has been paid to the North American invasive species, Aedes atropalp...

Mosquito-borne diseases are a major global public health concern and mosquito surveillance systems are essential for the implementation of effective mosquito control strategies. The objective of our study is to determine the spatiotemporal distribution of vector mosquito species in Maricopa County, AZ from 2011 to 2021, and to identify the hotspot...

Aedes aegypti is one of the most dominant mosquito species in the urban areas of Miami-Dade County, Florida, and is responsible for the local arbovirus transmissions. Since August 2016, mosquito traps have been placed throughout the county to improve surveillance and guide mosquito control and arbovirus outbreak response. In this paper, we develop...

There are limited data on why the 2016 Zika outbreak in Miami-Dade County, Florida was confined to certain neighborhoods. In this research, Aedes aegypti, the primary vector of Zika virus, are studied to examine neighborhood-level differences in their population dynamics and underlying processes. Weekly mosquito data were acquired from the Miami-Da...

Florida and Texas continue to be afflicted by mosquito-borne disease outbreaks such as dengue and West Nile virus disease and were the most affected states by the Zika outbreak of 2016-2017. Mathematical models have been widely used to study the population dynamics of mosquitoes as well as to test and validate the effectiveness of arbovirus outbrea...

Mosquito-borne diseases are a major global public health concern and mosquito surveillance systems are essential for the implementation of effective mosquito control strategies. The objective of our study is to determine the spatiotemporal distribution of vector mosquito species in Maricopa County, AZ from 2011 to 2021, and to identify the hotspot...

Background Simultaneous dengue virus (DENV) and West Nile virus (WNV) outbreaks in Florida, USA, in 2020 resulted in 71 dengue virus serotype 1 and 86 WNV human cases. We hypothesized that we would find a number of DENV-1 positive mosquito pools, and that the distribution of these arbovirus-positive mosquito pools would be associated with those nei...

Invasive mosquito vector species have been inadvertently transported to new areas by humans for decades. Strong evidence supports that monitoring maritime, terrestrial, and aerial points of entry is an essential part of the effort to curb the invasion and establishment of invasive vector mosquito species. Miami-Dade County, Florida is an important...

The diel biting activity of Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (L) populations was extensively investigated in the early 1900s to gain more information on the biology of Ae. aegypti, and this information was used to devise effective approaches to controlling populations of this species and protect the human population from widespread arbovirus outbreaks. Ho...

There are limited data on why the 2016 Zika outbreak in Miami-Dade County, Florida was confined to certain neighborhoods. In this research, Aedes aegypti , the primary vector of Zika virus, are studied to examine neighborhood-level differences in their population dynamics and underlying processes. Weekly mosquito data were acquired from the Miami-D...

Background Vector-borne diseases are a major burden to public health. Controlling mosquitoes is considered the most effective way to prevent vector-borne disease transmission. Mosquito surveillance is a core component of integrated vector management, as surveillance programs are often the cornerstone for the development of mosquito control operatio...

Leishmaniasis transmitted by sandflies is an important vector-borne disease. In Chad, information on sandflies is outdated, and so this study was designed to update the sandfly fauna. Sandflies were collected in five health districts representing two geoclimatic zones using sticky traps and pyrethrum sprays in indoor and peridomestic habitats betwe...

Urbanization impacts the commu- nity composition, abundance, and richness of mosquitoes. As urbani- zation processes increase globally, it is important to better understand the biodiversity loss caused by anthropogenic changes and asso- ciated impacts on vector-borne diseases. Mosquito surveillance and control are key for reducing the risk of mosqu...

The diel biting activity of Aedes ( Stegomyia ) aegypti (L) populations was extensively investigated in the early 1900s to gain more information on the biology of Ae. aegypti , and this information was used to devise effective approaches to controlling populations of this species and protect the human population from widespread arbovirus outbreaks....

Simultaneous dengue virus (DENV) and West Nile virus (WNV) outbreaks in Florida, USA, in 2020 resulted in 71 dengue virus serotype 1 and 86 WNV human cases. Our outbreak response leveraged a molecular diagnostic screen of mosquito populations for DENV and WNV in Miami-Dade County to quickly employ targeted mosquito abatement efforts. We detected DE...

The physicochemical parameters of water, such as pH, salinity, conductivity, and total dissolved solids, can influence mosquito larval development, survival, and abundance. Therefore, it is important to elucidate how these factors influence mosquito occurrence. We hypothesized that the occurrence and community composition of immature mosquito speci...

Introduction: Leishmaniasis transmitted by sandflies is an important vector-borne disease. In Chad, information on sandflies is outdated, and so this study was designed to update the sandfly fauna. Methods: Sandflies were collected in five health districts representing two geoclimatic zones using sticky traps and pyrethrum sprays in indoor and peri...

Apiaceae is a family encompassing medicinal and aromatic plants. They produce essential oils (EOs) inside oil canals, known as ducts and vittae, which occur in their vegetative and reproductive organs. Given the high EO yields and the availability of raw material from cultivations widespread all over the world, Apiaceae are exploitable for differen...

Species from the Culex coronator complex are Neotropical species and potential vectors of Saint Louis and West Nile viruses. Culex coronator was first described in Trinidad and Tobago in the early twentieth century and since then it has invaded and has been reported established in most countries of the Americas. Species from the Culex coronator com...

The transformation of natural environments into urban areas has been on the rise since the industrial revolution in the late 1800s. Currently, urbanization is a global phenomenon intended to accommodate the natural growth of the human population as well as to the increasing levels of migration from rural to urban areas. Urbanization processes are r...

The Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1894) is a highly invasive species widely distributed on the Spanish Mediterranean coast and the Balearic archipelago. Most studies involving this species in Spain have been focused on surveillance and control methods. However, micro-evolutionary studies for Ae. albopictus in Spain have been traditi...

Geographic profiling, a mathematical model originally developed in criminology, is increasingly being used in ecology and epidemiology. Geographic profiling boasts a wide range of applications, such as finding source populations of invasive species or breeding sites of vectors of infectious disease. The model provides a cost‐effective approach for...

A significant increase in dengue transmission has been reported in the United States even though cases are much fewer than in endemic areas in the Americas. In this context, Florida has been disproportionally afflicted by locally trans- mitted cases of dengue virus. In our opinion, there is a need to understand why Florida is at a higher risk of de...

Arthropoda is the animal phylum that includes the largest number of animal species on Earth. Several arthropods are of medical and veterinary significance in terrestrial ecosystems, some of them playing a crucial role in the transmission of pathogens, which may infect and eventually cause diseases in a wide range of vertebrates, including humans, p...

This review provided a systematic overview of the questionnaire-related dengue studies conducted in Malaysia and evaluated their reliability and validity used in the questionnaires. An extensive literature search was conducted using various electronic databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Medline, and ScienceDirect. Systematic reviews and meta-analy...

Current management and control of Aedes aegypti populations in urban areas are based on the spraying of insecticides. Here, we evaluated the effectiveness of spraying larvicide (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) using a truck-mounted Buffalo Turbine and adulticide (Deltamethrin) using a Grizzly ULV Sprayer in an urban area with high densities of...

This book is a collection of 77 expert opinions arranged in three sections. Section 1 on "Climate" sets the scene, including predictions of future climate change, how climate change affects ecosystems, and how to model projections of the spatial distribution of ticks and tick-borne infections under different climate change scenarios. Section 2 on "...

Aedes albopictus and Aedes scapularis are vectors of several arboviruses, including the dengue, chikungunya, and Rocio virus infection. While Ae. albopictus is a highly invasive species native to Asia and has been dispersed by humans to most parts of the world, Ae. scapularis is native to Brazil and is widely distributed in the southeast of the cou...

The combined effect of global warming and insecticide exposure on the spread of mosquito-borne diseases is poorly studied. In our opinion, more resources should be diverted to this topic to further research efforts and deal with this increasing threat. It is particularly important to determine how Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex vector species cope wit...

Culex is the largest subgenus within the genus Culex that includes important vectors of diseases. The correct identification of mosquitoes is critical for effective control strategies. Wing geometric morphometrics (WGM) has been used to identify mosquito species alongside traditional identification methods. Here, WGM was used for eleven Culex speci...

Aedes aegypti is the main vector of dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever viruses. Controlling populations of vector mosquito species in urban environments is a major challenge and being able to determine what aquatic habitats should be prioritized for controlling Ae. aegypti populations is key to the development of more effective mosquito co...

Culicidae comprises more than 3,500 species, some of which are responsible for the spread of various human diseases, causing millions of deaths worldwide. Correct identification of these species is essential for the development of surveillance and control strategies. The most common method of mosquito identification is based on specific traits of t...

The creation of urban farms in complex urban built environments may create suitable local conditions for vector mosquitoes. Urban farms have been implicated in the proliferation of mosquitoes in Africa, but there is a dearth in the knowledge of their role in the proliferation of mosquitoes elsewhere. In this study, we surveyed two urban farms in Mi...

Definable habitats at the neighborhood level provide a wide range of favorable habitats with optimal conditions and environmental resources for mosquito survival. Problematic habitats for controlling mosquitoes in urban environments such as tire shops, bromeliad patches, and construction sites must be taken into consideration in the development of...

Kerteszia is a neotropical subgenus of Anopheles composed of 12 species. The species in this subgenus are strongly associated with humid forests rich in epiphytic bromeliads. Forest fragmentation and anthropogenic changes can therefore have a negative impact on the abundance and survival of these mosquito species. Within this subgenus, four species...

Mosquito vector species (Diptera: Culicidae) are responsible for the transmission ofmany pathogens and parasites to humans and animals. Current predictions indicate that more than halfofthe human population on the planet is at risk ofvector-borne infections. Most ofthe mosquito vectors responsible for transmitting diseases are invasive species. Inv...

Aedes fluviatilis (Lutz 1904) is a highly anthropophilic mosquito found in the New World from Argentina to Mexico. Environmental changes, such as those resulting from urbanization, may lead to population structure in mosquitoes. As exogenous factors may be acting on and influencing Ae. fluviatilis population dynamics, this study sought to assess po...

Aedes albopictus is an invasive mosquito species that has spread globally and can transmit several arboviruses, including dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever. The species was first reported in Brazil in 1986 and since then has been found in 24 of the 27 Brazilian states, often in peri-urban environments close to highly urbanized areas. To date, po...

Vector-borne diseases are a heavy burden to human-kind. Global warming and urbanization have a significant impact on vector-borne disease transmission, resulting in more severe outbreaks, and outbreaks in formerly non-endemic areas. Miami-Dade County, Florida was the most affected area in the continental United States during the 2016 Zika virus out...

Arthropod vectors are responsible for the transmission of many infectious diseases. Currently, more than three billion people living in endemic areas are exposed to vector-borne pathogens. Substantial differences in the biology of arthropod vectors make it extremely challenging to predict the incidence of vector-borne diseases in the future. Howeve...

Population displacement and other forced movement patterns following natural disasters, armed conflicts or due to socioeconomic reasons contribute to the global emergence of Aedes-borne viral disease epidemics. In parti- cular, dengue epidemiology is critically affected by situations of displacement and forced movement patterns, particularly within...

The construction industry employs millions of workers in the USA. However, little is known about how environmental disturbances caused by the construction industry impacts vector mosquito ecology and behavior, and whether it is responsible for increasing the abundance of mosquitoes. There is a major scientific gap on how to assess the occupational...

Human mobility in urban environments is a central part of urbanization and has determined the layout of how cities are projected, built and renovated. One of the most problematic issues of urbanization is how to properly dispose of used tires, considering the worldwide annual production of approximately 1.4 billion units every year. Despite the eff...

Vector-borne diseases are an increasing issue to public health, endangering billions of people worldwide. Controlling vector mosquitoes is widely accepted as the most effective way to prevent vector-borne disease outbreaks. Mosquito surveillance is critical for the development of control strategies under the integrated vector management framework....

Map of Miami-Dade County, Florida displaying the BG-Sentinel trap locations in relation to neighborhoods. (TIF)

Climate variation in Miami-Dade County from September to October 2018. (DOCX)

Estimated marginal means and standard errors from the Analysis of variance for mosquitoes collected by BG-Sentinel traps baited with CO2 and BG-Lure. (DOCX)

Analysis of variance for mosquitoes collected by BG-Sentinel traps baited with CO2 and BG-Lure. (DOCX)

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is one of the most important neglected infectious diseases worldwide, with more than 1.4 billion people living in endemic areas. World Health Organization launched a two-step Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) in 2000, consisting of two main pillars, interrupting the transmission and controlling mor...

Urbanization is increasing globally, and construction sites are an integral part of the urbanization process. It is unknown to what extent construction sites create favorable breeding conditions for mosquitoes. The main objectives of the present study were to identify what species of mosquitoes are present at construction sites and the respective p...

Example of rainwater accumulated on the floor serving as breeding sites for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. (A) Shallow pools of accumulated rainwater; (B) water with high contents of concrete dust and debris; and (C) immature specimens of Aedes aegypti breeding in this water collection. (TIF)

Information about the eleven surveyed construction sites in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Addresses contain only the street but not the complete address. (DOCX)

Example of Jersey plastic barrier breeding vector mosquitoes. (A) Commonly found Jersey plastic barrier used in construction sites; (B) water accumulated on depression on top of Jersey barrier; (C) immature Aedes aegypti collected breeding in the accumulated water on top of Jersey barrier; and (D) adult Aedes aegypti inside main water reservoir of...

Brochure developed by the Miami-Dade Mosquito Control division alerting for the risk of vector mosquitoes in construction sites. (TIF)

Example of a flooded elevator shaft inside a construction site. (A) Outside view of the elevator shaft; (B) rainwater accumulated on the bottom of the elevator shaft; and (C) stagnated water providing optimum conditions for the production of Culex quinquefasciatus. (TIF)

Background: Aedes aegypti is the main vector of the dengue, Zika and several other arboviruses. It is highly adapted to urbanized environments and can be found worldwide. Mosquito population control is considered the best strategy for fighting mosquito-borne diseases, making an understanding of their population dynamics vital for the development o...

Anopheles cruzii is the main vector of human and simian malaria in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. This biome, which is an important hotspot of malaria transmission, has suffered fragmentation and deforestation as a result of urban expansion. Fragmentation and deforestation occur continually in the south of the city of São Paulo, Brazil, and finding...

Culex nigripalpus Theobald (Diptera: Culicidae) is a native species of Brazil that is well adapted to urban environments and found extensively in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. As a native species, it has been present in this region since long before the foundation of the city, but over time Cx. nigripalpus populations have been affected by man-mad...

Background: A major public health concern is the emergence and geographical spread of vector-borne diseases such as Zika and yellow fever. Ornamental bromeliads retaining water in their leaf axils represent potential breeding sites for mosquitoes. As the role of ornamental bromeliads in breeding Aedes aegypti in Miami-Dade County, Florida is unkno...

Microsatellite loci specifically designed and optimized for secondary vectors and neglected species of mosquitoes are lacking. Cross-species transferability of microsatellite loci between close taxa has been used as a reliable option, being successfully done for Aedes taeniorhynchus Wiedemann (Diptera: Culicidae), Triatoma sordida Stål (Hemiptera:...

Technologies for controlling mosquito vectors based on genetic manipulation and the release of genetically modified mosquitoes (GMMs) are gaining ground. However, concrete epidemiological evidence of their effectiveness, sustainability, and impact on the environment and nontarget species is lacking; no reliable ecological evidence on the potential...