Multiple introductions, trade-associated connectivity, and mito-nuclear discordance reveal complex invasion dynamics of Aedes albopictus in Colombi

Authors

Mantilla, J. S., Calvo-Tapiero, E. S., Montilla-Lopez, K. S., Velandia-Romero, M. L., Morales, C., De Las Salas-Ali, J., Salcedo-Amortegui, C. J., Buitrago, L. S., Quintero, L., Rua, G., Castellanos, J. E.

Abstract

Background Aedes albopictus is among the worlds most invasive mosquito species and an important vector of dengue, Zika, and chikungunya viruses. Its global spread has been strongly associated with human-mediated transport and international trade, particularly through commodities such as used tires and ornamental plants. However, integrative studies combining population genetics, microbial symbiosis, and trade connectivity remain limited in Latin America, constraining understanding of invasion dynamics and dispersal processes. Methods Aedes albopictus populations from five Colombian departments sampled between 2019 and 2023 were analyzed using eight microsatellite loci and a ~1.3-kb mitochondrial COI fragment. Wolbachia infection and lineage composition (wAlbA/wAlbB) were evaluated by PCR, and arbovirus detection (DENV, CHIKV, ZIKV) was performed using multiplex RT-PCR. Nuclear and mitochondrial differentiation (FST, {Phi}ST), mito-nuclear discordance, and trade-related connectivity were evaluated in relation to geographic, national transport, and international trade variables derived from customs databases. Results Microsatellite analyses revealed admixed but structured populations consistent with multiple introductions and contemporary gene flow. Colombian populations showed nuclear genetic affinities with Asian, European, and North American populations, supporting a complex invasion history involving multiple geographically distributed lineages. In contrast, mitochondrial COI data showed evidence of regional genetic structure and heterogeneous mito-nuclear discordance among several population pairs. Notably, nuclear and mitochondrial markers captured contrasting dimensions of the invasion process: nuclear differentiation was positively associated with international trade intensity, particularly shipment frequency and used tire importation, whereas mitochondrial differentiation retained stronger regional structure and showed no detectable association with trade-related variables. Wolbachia prevalence ranged from 34% to 100% across departments and showed exploratory patterns consistent with localized mitochondrial differentiation. Natural detection of DENV and CHIKV RNA in larvae provided evidence of local arbovirus circulation. Conclusions Integrating population genetics, trade connectivity, and Wolbachia screening supports a scenario in which the Colombian invasion of Ae. albopictus has been shaped by multiple introductions, contemporary human-mediated connectivity, and partially discordant mito-nuclear histories. These findings highlight how different genomic compartments retain complementary signatures of invasion dynamics, with contemporary trade-associated connectivity primarily reflected in nuclear structure and regional lineage persistence retained in mitochondrial variation.

Preprint server: bioRxiv
The authors list and abstract were imported from bioRxiv on 20 Jun 2026.

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