An overview of mosquitoes and emerging arboviral infections in the Zagreb area, Croatia

Authors

  • Ana Klobucar Andrija Stampar Teaching Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia
  • Nikola Benic Andrija Stampar Teaching Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia
  • Darko Krajcar Andrija Stampar Teaching Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia
  • Mirjana Lana Kosanovic-Licina Andrija Stampar Teaching Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia
  • Vanja Tesic Andrija Stampar Teaching Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia
  • Enrih Merdic Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
  • Ivana Vrucina Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
  • Vladimir Savic Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
  • Ljubo Barbic Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
  • Vladimir Stevanovic Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
  • Iva Pem-Novosel Croatian National Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia
  • Tatjana Vilibic-Cavlek Croatian National Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.7988

Keywords:

mosquito species, vectors, arboviruses, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Mosquito control in the Zagreb area has been conducted for many years, whereas the fauna has only been investigated in the last 20 years. So far 30 mosquito species have been detected in the city area. Culex pipiens form molestus is the dominant mosquito species in indoor breeding sites. In forested areas and areas exposed to flooding, the active period is early spring and the dominant species are Ochlerotatus sticticus, Ochlerotatus cantans, Ochlerotatus geniculatus and Aedes vexans. The eudominant mosquito species found in the artificial breeding sites are Culex pipiens and the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus. Invasive Ae. albopictus, present in the Zagreb area since 2004, has expanded to a larger area of the city during the last three years. The recent emergence of the human West Nile virus and Usutu virus neuroinvasive disease in Zagreb and its surroundings highlighted the role of mosquitoes as vectors of emerging arboviruses.

The paper focuses on mosquito species and arboviral infections detected in humans and animals in the Zagreb area, Croatia.

Author Biographies

Ana Klobucar, Andrija Stampar Teaching Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia

Department of Epidemiology

Nikola Benic, Andrija Stampar Teaching Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia

Department of Epidemiology

Darko Krajcar, Andrija Stampar Teaching Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia

Department of Epidemiology

Mirjana Lana Kosanovic-Licina, Andrija Stampar Teaching Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia

Department of Epidemiology

Vanja Tesic, Andrija Stampar Teaching Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia

Department of Epidemiology

Enrih Merdic, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia

Department of Biology

Ivana Vrucina, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia

Department of Biology

Vladimir Savic, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia

Poultry Center

Ljubo Barbic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases with Clinic

Vladimir Stevanovic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases with Clinic

Iva Pem-Novosel, Croatian National Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia

Department of Epidemiology

Tatjana Vilibic-Cavlek, Croatian National Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia

Department of Virology, and School of Medicine University of Zagreb.

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Published

2016-12-30

How to Cite

1.
Klobucar A, Benic N, Krajcar D, Kosanovic-Licina ML, Tesic V, Merdic E, Vrucina I, Savic V, Barbic L, Stevanovic V, Pem-Novosel I, Vilibic-Cavlek T (2016) An overview of mosquitoes and emerging arboviral infections in the Zagreb area, Croatia. J Infect Dev Ctries 10:1286–1293. doi: 10.3855/jidc.7988

Issue

Section

Regional Reviews