Winged Threat on the Offensive: A Literature Review Due to the First Identification of <i>Aedes japonicus</i> in Poland
Marcin Gierek,
Gabriela Ochała-Gierek,
Andrzej Józef Woźnica,
Grzegorz Zaleśny,
Alicja Jarosz,
Paweł Niemiec
Affiliations
Marcin Gierek
Center for Burns Treatment, 41-100 Siemianowice Śląskie, Poland
Gabriela Ochała-Gierek
Gierek Clinic, ul. Zielona 2, 43-450 Ustroń, Poland
Andrzej Józef Woźnica
Institute of Environmental Biology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Kożuchowska St. 5B i 7A, 51-631 Wrocław, Poland
Grzegorz Zaleśny
Institute of Environmental Biology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Kożuchowska St. 5B i 7A, 51-631 Wrocław, Poland
Alicja Jarosz
Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, School of Health Sciences, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, ul. Medykow 18, 40-752 Katowice, Poland
Paweł Niemiec
Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, School of Health Sciences, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, ul. Medykow 18, 40-752 Katowice, Poland
Genetic studies preceded by the observation of an unknown mosquito species in Mikołów (Poland) confirmed that it belongs to a new invasive species in Polish fauna, Aedes japonicus (Theobald, 1901), a known vector for numerous infectious diseases. Ae. japonicus is expanding its geographical presence, raising concerns about potential disease transmission given its vector competence for chikungunya virus, dengue virus, West Nile virus, and Zika virus. This first genetically confirmed identification of Ae. japonicus in Poland initiates a comprehensive review of the literature on Ae. japonicus, its biology and ecology, and the viral infections transmitted by this species. This paper also presents the circumstances of the observation of Ae. japonicus in Poland and a methodology for identifying this species.
