Exploring Emerging Challenges: Survey on Phlebotomine Sand Flies and at the Northern Endemic Border in Europe.

Although Switzerland is currently not endemic for canine leishmaniosis (CanL), imported cases of this emerging zoonosis are regularly detected. Also, phlebotomine sand flies, vectors of the causative agent , are present in the southern part of the country, in Canton Ticino, and endemic foci of CanL have been recently described in neighboring Italian municipalities. In 2022 and 2023, we evaluated the distribution of phlebotomine sand flies and the presence of antibodies against in domestic dogs and cats in Ticino and Mesolcina (Canton of Grisons).

Random mutations induced by a sub-sterilizing dose of gamma ray on Aedes albopictus male pupae and transmission to progeny.

The application of the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) to mosquito control is based on the systematic release of large numbers of adult males that have been previously sterilized by irradiation. Ionizing radiation doses inducing full sterility also cause somatic damages that reduce the capacity of the treated males to compete with wild males. The optimal dose inducing high levels of male sterility and minimal impact on competitiveness can be assessed by establishing a dose-response curve.

Optical recognition of the eggs of four Aedine mosquito species (Aedes albopictus, Aedes geniculatus, Aedes japonicus, and Aedes koreicus).

The continuous expansion of exotic Aedine mosquito species potential vectors of pathogens into new areas is a public health concern. In continental Europe, the surveillance of these mosquitoes is hindered by the simultaneous presence of three main invasive species (i.e.

Estimating the Impact of Consecutive Blood Meals on Vector Competence of for Chikungunya Virus.

The continuous expansion of in Europe and the increases in autochthonous arboviruses transmissions in the region urge a better understanding of the virus transmission dynamic. Recent work described enhanced chikungunya virus (CHIKV) dissemination in mosquitoes exposed to a virus-free blood meal three days after their infection with CHIKV. Our study investigated the impact of a second blood meal on the vector competence of from southern Switzerland infected with CHIKV.

The effects of microclimatic winter conditions in urban areas on the risk of establishment for Aedes albopictus.

The tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, has adjusted well to urban environments by adopting artificial water containers as oviposition sites. Its spread in temperate regions is favoured by the deposition of cold-tolerant diapausing eggs that survive winter temperatures to a certain degree. The probability of establishment in new geographical areas is estimated using predictive models usually based on meteorological data measured at coarse resolution.