Population genetics of dengue vector <i>Aedes aegypti</i> (Diptera: Culicidae) from northeastern region Brazil

The Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) is the principal vector of dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever viruses, worldwide. The rate of infected people notifications, have risen in recent years in of Brazil, especially dengue, reinforces the need for the genetic monitoring of these populations, to provide insights into the population dynamics of this vector. So, a population study has been conducted using sequences of 2 mitochondrial genes in Ae. aegypti 22 populations from northeastern Brazil. The analyses identified 33 and 28 haplotypes of ND4 and COI, respectively, with high levels of genetic diversity (ND4; Hd = 0.644, COI; Hd = 0.646) and the existence of two genetic clusters (k = 2). F ST values and AMOVA indicated that most of the genetic variation is intra-population (ND4-56.17%, F ST = 0. 43834; COI-60.76%, F ST = 0.39242). The genetic distances between the locations ranged from moderate (ND4 = 0.095 and COI = 0.106; P < 0.05) to high (ND4 = 1.00 and COI = 0.951; P < 0.05). In contrast, the genetic structure observed cannot be explained by the isolation-by-distance model (ND4-r = 0.0151, P = 0.114; COI-r = 0.0005, P = 0.415). The phylogenetic analysis identified that some of the obtained haplotypes grouped themselves with haplotypes from West African and East African samples, the mosquito's bionomics were fundamental to the adaptation and expansion of the species worldwide. This information extends the knowledge about the effects of ecological relationships in the genetic diversity of Ae. aegypti in Brazil, being a key factor understanding its adaptability, vector competence and resistance, essential information for planning public policies and to control the of arboviruses.