Population structure of Aedes aegypti in the Dutch Caribbean

Aedes aegypti is highly invasive mosquito species prevalent in the Caribbean including Dutch Caribbean islands. Tens of dengue virus infections are reported each year in the Caribbean Netherlands. Although Saba is an isolated island, there is regular trade and tourist contact with surrounding Dutch Municipal islands, such as St. Maarten and St. Eustatius. Consequently, examining genetic differences between the mosquitoes of these islands and their overall genetic diversity of Ae. aegypti within Saba will provide critical information for examining the likelihood of use of control strategies to eliminate Ae. aegypti in Saba and possibly surrounding islands. The ultimate goal is to develop an effective control strategy to reduce and possibly eliminate Ae. aegypti populations from Saba island. To accomplish this long term goal, we first examined population structure of Ae. aegypti in the Caribbean islands. If the genome data shows genetic similarities between SABA and the neighboring islands, suggesting migration of Ae. aegypti occurs regularly between the islands, then elimination control strategies must encompass controlling the mosquitoes on all three islands simultaneously. If those on Saba island are genetically different from those on the neighboring islands, then elimination can be accomplished on Saba island first or on each of the islands independently.