Volume 12, Issue 3 (Autumn 2025)
J Prevent Med 2025, 12(3): 235-240 |
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Poudat A, Zareei F. Factors influencing establishment of dengue fever vectors in urban areas: Implications for Aedes aegypti in southern Iran. J Prevent Med 2025; 12 (3) :235-240
URL: http://jpm.hums.ac.ir/article-1-852-en.html
URL: http://jpm.hums.ac.ir/article-1-852-en.html
1- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Hormozgan Health Institute, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran & Department of Biology and Control of Disease Vectors, School of Health, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
2- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Hormozgan Health Institute, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
2- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Hormozgan Health Institute, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
Abstract: (1562 Views)
Dengue fever, primarily transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, remains a growing threat in urban areas. Urbanization, climatic conditions, socioeconomic factors, and human behavior interact to create favorable conditions for vector establishment. The incidence of dengue has increased markedly over the past decades, particularly in urban and peri-urban environments. The success of Aedes mosquitoes in cities is not solely due to their biology but results from a network of environmental, climatic, infrastructural, and socioeconomic factors that support their life cycle. Understanding these determinants is essential for designing effective vector control strategies and public health interventions.
Climatic factors, including temperature and humidity, directly influence larval development, adult survival, and the extrinsic incubation period of the dengue virus. Urban structure, water and waste management, population density, and human behavior determine the number and type of breeding sites. Empirical studies and predictive modeling indicate that the interaction of these factors enhances the establishment and persistence of Aedes aegypti populations in southern Iranian cities [1,2].
The recent detection and apparent establishment of Aedes aegypti in southern Iran emphasize the need to understand the factors that facilitate the colonization of dengue vectors in urban environments. Reports from Hormozgan province indicate recent introductions of Ae. aegypti, likely linked to maritime trade and cross-border movements [3,4]. Furthermore, confirmed autochthonous dengue cases in Bandar-Lengeh in 2024 highlight that vector presence now carries immediate public-health implications [5,6].
Urban establishment of Aedes mosquitoes is multifactorial. Climatic factors, particularly mean and minimum temperatures and relative humidity, directly influence mosquito survival, larval development, and the virus extrinsic incubation period (EIP). Optimal temperatures (≈20–32°C) accelerate population growth and viral replication, although extreme heat can suppress survival in localized urban heat islands [7,8]. Ecological niche models project that southern coastal Iran exhibits climatic suitability for Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus, supporting the plausibility of their establishment [7].
Urban morphology and human behaviors create and maintain breeding habitats. Impermeable surfaces, inadequate drainage, and the prevalence of artificial containers (buckets, flower pots, discarded plastics, tires) provide productive larval habitats in cities [9]. International trade routes, including used tire imports and container shipping, are known pathways for invasive Aedes introductions and are particularly relevant to Iranian ports [8]. Local entomological surveillance confirms that ports and transport networks are primary introduction points [3,8].
The biology of Ae. aegypti facilitates urban persistence. This species exhibits strong anthropophily, lays desiccation-resistant eggs in artificial containers, and demonstrates skip-oviposition, distributing eggs across multiple sites to ensure population survival despite partial control interventions [1,9]. Where Ae. albopictus coexists, species interactions and microhabitat selection influence which species dominate. Typically, Ae. albopictus occupies greener peri-urban areas, while Ae. aegypti thrives in densely built domestic environments [9,10].
Socioeconomic determinants further modulate vector establishment. Irregular water supply, inadequate waste management, and high population density increase container abundance and human–vector contact, raising both entomological indices and epidemic risk [1,10]. Surveillance and public-health interventions that fail to address these social factors may underestimate urban dengue risk, even in climatically suitable areas [7].
For southern Iran, several priorities emerge: (i) strengthen port and used-tire surveillance and inspection at high-risk entry points; (ii) expand entomological monitoring in coastal urban centers and transport corridors to detect and map vector foci promptly [3,8]; (iii) integrate climatic and land-use indicators into early-warning systems for pre-emptive interventions [7,11]; (iv) implement community-based campaigns addressing water storage, solid waste management, and container removal; and (v) tailor vector control strategies to species ecology, targeting domiciliary habitats for Ae. aegypti and peri-domestic environments for Ae. albopictus [1,9].
In conclusion, urban establishment of dengue vectors results from the interplay of climatic suitability, urban structure, vector biology, and socioeconomic practices. Southern Iran presents a combination of conducive climatic conditions, ports facilitating vector entry, domestic container habitats, and recent entomological detections that make integrated surveillance and control essential to prevent Ae. aegypti entrenchment and reduce dengue outbreak risk.
Climatic factors, including temperature and humidity, directly influence larval development, adult survival, and the extrinsic incubation period of the dengue virus. Urban structure, water and waste management, population density, and human behavior determine the number and type of breeding sites. Empirical studies and predictive modeling indicate that the interaction of these factors enhances the establishment and persistence of Aedes aegypti populations in southern Iranian cities [1,2].
The recent detection and apparent establishment of Aedes aegypti in southern Iran emphasize the need to understand the factors that facilitate the colonization of dengue vectors in urban environments. Reports from Hormozgan province indicate recent introductions of Ae. aegypti, likely linked to maritime trade and cross-border movements [3,4]. Furthermore, confirmed autochthonous dengue cases in Bandar-Lengeh in 2024 highlight that vector presence now carries immediate public-health implications [5,6].
Urban establishment of Aedes mosquitoes is multifactorial. Climatic factors, particularly mean and minimum temperatures and relative humidity, directly influence mosquito survival, larval development, and the virus extrinsic incubation period (EIP). Optimal temperatures (≈20–32°C) accelerate population growth and viral replication, although extreme heat can suppress survival in localized urban heat islands [7,8]. Ecological niche models project that southern coastal Iran exhibits climatic suitability for Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus, supporting the plausibility of their establishment [7].
Urban morphology and human behaviors create and maintain breeding habitats. Impermeable surfaces, inadequate drainage, and the prevalence of artificial containers (buckets, flower pots, discarded plastics, tires) provide productive larval habitats in cities [9]. International trade routes, including used tire imports and container shipping, are known pathways for invasive Aedes introductions and are particularly relevant to Iranian ports [8]. Local entomological surveillance confirms that ports and transport networks are primary introduction points [3,8].
The biology of Ae. aegypti facilitates urban persistence. This species exhibits strong anthropophily, lays desiccation-resistant eggs in artificial containers, and demonstrates skip-oviposition, distributing eggs across multiple sites to ensure population survival despite partial control interventions [1,9]. Where Ae. albopictus coexists, species interactions and microhabitat selection influence which species dominate. Typically, Ae. albopictus occupies greener peri-urban areas, while Ae. aegypti thrives in densely built domestic environments [9,10].
Socioeconomic determinants further modulate vector establishment. Irregular water supply, inadequate waste management, and high population density increase container abundance and human–vector contact, raising both entomological indices and epidemic risk [1,10]. Surveillance and public-health interventions that fail to address these social factors may underestimate urban dengue risk, even in climatically suitable areas [7].
For southern Iran, several priorities emerge: (i) strengthen port and used-tire surveillance and inspection at high-risk entry points; (ii) expand entomological monitoring in coastal urban centers and transport corridors to detect and map vector foci promptly [3,8]; (iii) integrate climatic and land-use indicators into early-warning systems for pre-emptive interventions [7,11]; (iv) implement community-based campaigns addressing water storage, solid waste management, and container removal; and (v) tailor vector control strategies to species ecology, targeting domiciliary habitats for Ae. aegypti and peri-domestic environments for Ae. albopictus [1,9].
In conclusion, urban establishment of dengue vectors results from the interplay of climatic suitability, urban structure, vector biology, and socioeconomic practices. Southern Iran presents a combination of conducive climatic conditions, ports facilitating vector entry, domestic container habitats, and recent entomological detections that make integrated surveillance and control essential to prevent Ae. aegypti entrenchment and reduce dengue outbreak risk.
Type of Study: Orginal |
Subject:
Medical Entomology
Received: 2025/10/15 | Accepted: 2025/12/14 | Published: 2025/12/21
Received: 2025/10/15 | Accepted: 2025/12/14 | Published: 2025/12/21
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