Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, VOLUME 119 | 2024
Research Articles
First concrete documentation for presence of Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus in Bolivia: dispelling previous anecdotes
1Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Unité Mixte de Recherche Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs: Ecologie, Génétique, Evolution et Contrôle, Montpellier, France
2Universidad Mayor de San Simón, Facultad de Medicina Dr Aurelio Meleán, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas e Investigación Social, Cochabamba, Bolivia
3Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Unité Mixte de Recherche Interactions Hôtes-Vecteurs-Parasites-Environnement dans les Maladies Tropicales Négligées dues aux Trypanosomatidés, Montpellier, France
4Universidad Mayor de San Simón, Facultad de Ciencias y Tecnología, Carrera de Biología, Laboratorio de Entomología Medica, Cochabamba, Bolivia
DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760240063
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND The presence of Aedes albopictus in Bolivia has been a subject of controversy, with a lack of concrete documentation.
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to provide evidence of Ae. albopictus presence in Bolivia.
METHODS Larval habitats were sampled in Rosario del Yata and San Agustín, Guayaramerín Municipality, Beni Department, northern Bolivia. Collected mosquito larvae were reared to the L4 and adult stages for morphological identification, with some specimens sequenced for confirmation.
FINDINGS Aedes albopictus was identified in multiple larval habitats within peridomestic areas, such as buckets, canisters, and cut plastic bottles used as flower vases in both localities, confirming its establishment in the area. This represents the first concrete documentation of the species in Bolivia. The collections (larvae and adults) have been deposited in the Medical Entomology Laboratory of the Universidad Mayor de San Simón in Cochabamba, Bolivia, and the Laboratory of Entomology of the Instituto Nacional de Laboratorios de Salud of the Ministry of Health in La Paz, Bolivia.
MAIN CONCLUSION Given its role as a vector for arboviruses such as dengue and Chikungunya, Ae. albopictus should be incorporated into the Bolivian National Programme of Vector Control for monitoring.
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+ Corresponding author: Frederic.lardeux@ird.fr 
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7230-7616
Received 20 March 2024
Accepted 02 August 2024
HOW TO CITE
Lardeux F, Boussès P, Tejerina-Lardeux R, Berger A, Barnabé C, Garcia L. First concrete documentation for presence of Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus in Bolivia: dispelling previous anecdotes. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2024; 119: e240063.
