Initial Evidence of Aedes Albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) Domiciliation in Havana City, Cuba 1995-2018.

Background . Various arboviruses are transmitted to humans by mosquitoes, particularly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, two invasive and frequently sympatric species. The objective of this study was to evaluate the behavior of Ae. albopictus with regards to houses and association with other mosquitoes in Havana province. Methods. All deposits containing water in the houses and vacant lots of urban and peri urban municipalities of the province Havana were sampled during two periods: the first 1995 – 1999 and the second 2010-2018. Results. Patterns in the presence of Ae . albopictus in the study area were observed: the persistent absence of Ae. albopictus in one municipality; in two municipalities, starting from an absence in the first period to a rapid dispersion in the following period; and a sustained decrease in the dispersion of Ae. albopictus in two other municipalities. The association of Ae. albopictus with other mosquitoes smaller in the peripheral municipalities, although being the ones with the greatest presence of Ae. albopictus . However overall, we found an increase in this association when comparing the period 2010-2018 with the first period since its introduction in Havana. Inside the houses, Ae albopictus was present in 8% (2016) to 21.5% (2013) with an average of 15%, which evidences an initial domiciliation of the species. Conclusions . The results obtained in this work show an initiation of domiciliation of Ae albopictus in the urban area of Havana province. This is important to alert the National Control Program to strengthen the entomological monitoring of Ae. albopictus , and not only Ae. aegypti . The follow up of this domiciliation is important to guide control efforts, knowing its role as a vector of different arboviruses.