Monitoring of population density of the Japanese encephalitis vector, Culex tritaeniorhynchus (Diptera: Culicidae) in South Korea in 2018

Yang Sung-Chan, Kim Hyunwoo, Lee Wook-Gyo, Cho Shin-Hyeong
Division of Vector and Parasitic Diseases, Center for Laboratory Control of Infectious Disease, KCDC

To monitor the Japanese encephalitis (JE) vector mosquito population in Korea, black light traps were installed to collect mosquitoes at the cowsheds of 10 sites (Busan, Gyeonggi, Gangwon, Chungbuk, Chungnam, Jeonbuk, Jeonnam, Gyeongbuk, Gyeongnam, Jeju), and collected them twice a week during April-October, 2018. The number of collected mosquitoes was calculated as its daily occurrence (mosquitoes/trap/night). A total of 425,167 mosquitoes including 14 species belonging 6 genera was collected during the period. The analysis demonstrated that the dominant species of total mosquito population was Aedes vexans nipponii (55.9%), followed by Anopheles spp. (37.9%) and Culex tritaeniorhynchus (3.3%). The population density of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus was highest in Chungbuk area (Trap Index: 1,606) and lowest in Chungnam area (Trap Index: 2). In 2018, Cx. tritaeniorhynchus was first collected on 1st April at Gyeongnam area, which led to the warning of precautions against JE. The detailed data is available at the web page of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (http://www.kdca.go.kr) to help in the prevention and control of JE.

Keywords: Japanese encephalitis, Culex tritaeniorhynchus, Disease vector, Mosquito