K. Huber et al., Aedes aegypti in Vietnam: Ecology, genetic structure, vectorial competenceand resistance to insecticides., ANN SOC ENT, 36(2), 2000, pp. 109-120
-Aedes aegypti is the principal epidemic vector of dengue viruses, responsi
ble for a viral infection that has become a major public health concern in
Asia. In Vietnam, dengue haemorrhagic fever was detected in the 1950s and b
ecomes today one of the first causes of hospitalization and death among chi
ldren in most Asian countries. In South-East Asia, urban centers expanded r
apidly in an uncontrolled and unplanned way. The Ae. aegypti populations an
d dengue viruses thrived in these new ecological and demographic settings.
The result of these changes was a greatly extended geographic distribution,
increased densities of Ae. aegypti and the maintenance of the four dengue
serotypes in most urban centers of South-East Asia. The result of these cha
nges was the dramatic increase of dengue transmission. To assess the role o
f the vector in the changing pattern of the disease in South-East Asia, we
studied the ecology of Ae. aegypti, the genetic differentiation, the variab
ility in competence as a vector for dengue 2 virus and the resistance to in
secticides.