From invasion to infection: The worldwide expansion and arboviral transmission potential of Aedes albopictus.
6 affiliations
- 1Department of Medical Entomology and Zoology, ICMR - National Institute of Virology, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
- 2Department of Epidemiology, ICMR - National Institute of Translational Virology and AIDS Research, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
- 3Department of Hepatitis, ICMR - National Institute of Virology, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
- 4Department of One Health, National Institute for One Health, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India.
- 5Department of Veterinary Virology, ICAR-National Research Centre on Pig, Guwahati, Assam, India.
- 6Department of Zoology, Lachoo Memorial College of Science and Technology, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.
Abstract
The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, has emerged as a globally invasive vector of major public health concern. This review synthesises current evidence on its invasion biology, vector competence, ecological plasticity, and expanding epidemiological significance, with particular emphasis on arboviral transmission dynamics. A comprehensive review of experimental, field-based, and modelling studies was conducted to identify determinants of vector competence and transmission risk, including Wolbachia-mediated viral interference, temperature-driven changes in extrinsic incubation period, vertical transmission, insecticide resistance, insect-specific flaviviruses, and climate-associated range expansion. Ae. albopictus is less competent than Ae. aegypti for arbovirus transmission, temperature profoundly influences larval development, adult survival, biting frequency, external incubation period, and viral dissemination, thereby linking climate change to increased epidemic potential rather than mere geographic spread. Vertical transmission mainly sustains inter-epidemic persistence, while geographic variability in insecticide resistance influences transmission dynamics. The expanding distribution, ecological plasticity, and evolving insecticide resistance of Aedes albopictus underscore its growing role in global arboviral emergence. Climate change is projected not only to widen its geographic range into temperate regions but also to enhance transmission potential, increasing epidemic risk. With climate change, Ae. albopictus represents a growing global threat for arboviral disease emergence, demanding urgent policy action to strengthen early-warning surveillance, anticipate vector expansion, and implement innovative, sustainable control interventions before large-scale outbreaks occur.
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BibTeX
@article{kumar2026from,
title = {{From invasion to infection: The worldwide expansion and arboviral transmission potential of Aedes albopictus.}},
author = {Surendra Kumar and Pallipurath R Sreelakshmi and Souvik Mitra and Samyak Moon and Shalini Singh and Prajwal Gaikwad and Shrinivasa Basavaraj and Vishal Rai and Anakkathil Balan Sudeep and Abhishek Rajpurohit and Rathinam Balasubramanian},
journal = {The Indian journal of medical research},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.25259/ijmr_3517_2025},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42851228},
note = {CC BY-NC-SA},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - From invasion to infection: The worldwide expansion and arboviral transmission potential of Aedes albopictus.
AU - Surendra Kumar
AU - Pallipurath R Sreelakshmi
AU - Souvik Mitra
AU - Samyak Moon
AU - Shalini Singh
AU - Prajwal Gaikwad
AU - Shrinivasa Basavaraj
AU - Vishal Rai
AU - Anakkathil Balan Sudeep
AU - Abhishek Rajpurohit
AU - Rathinam Balasubramanian
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/01
JO - The Indian journal of medical research
DO - 10.25259/ijmr_3517_2025
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42851228
AB - The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, has emerged as a globally invasive vector of major public health concern. This review synthesises current evidence on its invasion biology, vector competence, ecological plasticity, and expanding epidemiological significance, with particular emphasis on arboviral transmission dynamics. A comprehensive review of experimental, field-based, and modelling studies was conducted to identify determinants of vector competence and transmission risk, including Wolbachia-mediated viral interference, temperature-driven changes in extrinsic incubation period, vertical transmission, insecticide resistance, insect-specific flaviviruses, and climate-associated range expansion. Ae. albopictus is less competent than Ae. aegypti for arbovirus transmission, temperature profoundly influences larval development, adult survival, biting frequency, external incubation period, and viral dissemination, thereby linking climate change to increased epidemic potential rather than mere geographic spread. Vertical transmission mainly sustains inter-epidemic persistence, while geographic variability in insecticide resistance influences transmission dynamics. The expanding distribution, ecological plasticity, and evolving insecticide resistance of Aedes albopictus underscore its growing role in global arboviral emergence. Climate change is projected not only to widen its geographic range into temperate regions but also to enhance transmission potential, increasing epidemic risk. With climate change, Ae. albopictus represents a growing global threat for arboviral disease emergence, demanding urgent policy action to strengthen early-warning surveillance, anticipate vector expansion, and implement innovative, sustainable control interventions before large-scale outbreaks occur.
SN - 0971-5916
ER -