Emery Metelo

Le terme ’’arbovirus’’ est une contraction abrégée de ‘’ arthropod – borne - virus’’ signifiant littéralement un virus engendré ou transmis à un vertébré par un vecteur arthropode en l’occurrence un moustique femelle hématophage du genre Aedes aegypti et albopictus. Et un vecteur désigne un organisme biologique actif, généralement un arthropode capable d’acquérir et de transférer un parasite pathogène d’un hôte infecté vers un hôte naïf. Le gîte larvaire est un réservoir naturel ou artificiel, temporel ou permanent susceptible de contenir une masse d’eau assez longtemps et est propice au développement des larves des moustiques issus de l’éclosion. Enfin, l’arbovirose est une affection causée par un arbovirus. Actuellement, la lutte anti vectorielle reste cruciale pour la prévention des arbovirus, sans thérapie spécifique ni vaccin à large spectre. Son efficacité passe par la maîtrise de la spatialisation urbaine des vecteurs et des mécanismes de leurs proliférations en gîtes larvaires artificiels. Le but de cette étude est de déterminer les facteurs environnementaux associés à la persistance des Aedes spp, vecteurs d’arbovirus en gîtes larvaires prolifiques à Mont Ngafula. Les prospections des gîtes larvaires ont été réalisées dans 4 quartiers du site d’étude, en période pluviale et sèche au cours de l’année 2024.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Aedes mosquitoes are vectors of medically important arboviruses, mediating the transmission of yellow fever, dengue, and chikungunya. However, systematic surveillance of these species remains limited, preventing the rapid detection of changes in distribution, abundance, and behaviour. Here, we present a geo-referenced dataset of 6,577 entomological occurrence records collected in 2024 throughout urban and peri-urban areas of Kinshasa city, DRC, using Larval dipping, Human landing catches, Prokopack aspirator, and BG-Sentinel traps. Our records include Aedes albopictus (n = 2,694), Aedes aegypti (n = 1,939), Aedes vittatus (n = 2), and Aedes spp. (n = 1,942), annotated with species, sex, life stage, reproductive status, and spatial coordinates. Our dataset is published as a Darwin Core archive in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility. This dataset, the most detailed spatial record of Aedes mosquitoes in Kinshasa to date, provides a robust foundation for entomological research and data-driven arbovirus vector control in DRC.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Aedes mosquitoes are principal vectors of medically important arboviruses, with major implications for yellow fever, chikungunya and dengue. However, systematic surveillance of these species remains limited, constrained by competing public health priorities such as malaria and other neglected tropical diseases. This gap in surveillance prevents the rapid detection of changes in the distribution, abundance and behaviour, particularly in rapidly urbanizing environments where breeding habitats are proliferating and ecological conditions are favourable for the establishment of these vectors. To address this gap, spatially explicit, small-scale data on Aedes populations in urban and peri-urban areas are needed to accurately assess transmission risk and develop targeted, evidence-based vector control strategies. Here, we present a geo-referenced dataset of 6,577 entomological occurrence records collected in 20224 throughout urban and peri-urban areas of Kinshasa city, DRC, using Larval dipping, Human landing catches, Prokopack aspirator, and BG-Sentinel traps. Records include Aedes albopictus (n = 2,694), Aedes aegypti (n = 1939), Aedes vittatus (n = 2), and Aedes spp. (n = 1,942), each annotated with species, sex, life stage, reproductive status, and spatial coordinates. The dataset is published as a Darwin Core archive in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), and represents the most detailed, spatially explicit record of Aedes mosquito occurrence in Kinshasa to data, providing a robust foundation for entomological and modelling research to support data driven arbovirus vector control strategies in DRC. Subject Areas: Ecology, Biodiversity, Vector Biology

Understanding the distribution of Anopheles species is essential for planning and implementing malaria control programmes. This study assessed the composition and distribution of cryptic species of the main malaria vector, the Anopheles gambiae complex, in different districts of Kinshasa. Anopheles were sampled using CDC light traps in the four Kinshasa districts between July 2021 and June 2022, and then morphologically identified. Equal proportions of Anopheles gambiae s.l. per site were subjected to polymerase chain reaction to identify the cryptic species of the Anopheles gambiae complex. Anopheles gambiae complex specimens were identified throughout Kinshasa. The average density significantly differed inside and outside households. Two species of this complex circulate in Kinshasa: Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles coluzzii. In all the study sites, Anopheles gambiae was the most widespread species. Our results provide an important basis for future studies on the ecology and dynamics of cryptic species of the Anopheles gambiae complex in Kinshasa.

Arbovirus epidemics (chikungunya, dengue, West Nile fever, yellow fever and zika) are a growing threat in African areas where Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) and Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1895) are present. The lack of comprehensive sampling of these two vectors limits our understanding of their propagation dynamics in areas at risk of arboviruses. Here, we collected 6,943 observations (both larval and human capture) of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus between 2020 and 2022. The study was carried out in the Vallee de la Funa, a post-epidemic zone in the city of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Our results provide important information for future basic and advanced studies on the ecology and phenology of these vectors, as well as on vector dynamics after a post-epidemic period. The data from this study are published in the public domain as the Darwin Core Archive in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Understanding the distribution of Anopheles species in a region is an important task in the planning and implementation of malaria control programmes. This study was proposed to evaluate the composition and distribution of cryptic species of the main malaria vector, Anopheles gambiae complex, circulating in different districts of Kinshasa. To study the distribution of members of the An . gambiae complex, Anopheles were sampled by CDC light trap and larva collection across the four districts of Kinshasa city between July 2021 and June 2022. After morphological identification, an equal proportion of Anopheles gambiae s.l. sampled per site were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for identification of cryptic An . gambiae complex species. The Anopheles gambiae complex was widely identified in all sites across the city of Kinshasa, with a significant difference in mean density, captured by CDC light, inside and outside households in Kinshasa (p=0.002). Two species of this complex circulate in Kinshasa: Anopheles gambiae (82.1%) and Anopheles coluzzii (17.9%). In all study sites, Anopheles gambiae was the most prevalent species. Anopheles coluzzii was very prevalent in Tshangu district. No hybrids ( Anopheles coluzzii / Anopheles gambiae ) were identified. Two cryptic species of the Anopheles gambiae complex circulate in Kinshasa. Anopheles gambiae s.s., present in all districts and Anopheles coluzzii , with a limited distribution. Studies on the ecology of the larval sites are essential to better understand the factors influencing the distribution of members of the An. gambiae complex in this megalopolis.

Arbovirus epidemics ( e . g . Chikungunya, dengue, West Nile, Yellow Fever, and Zika), are a growing threat in Africa in areas where Aedes ( Ae .) aegypti and A. albopictus are present. The lack of complete sampling of these two vectors limits our ability to understand their propagation dynamics in areas at risk from arboviruses. Here, we describe for the first time the geographical distribution of two arbovirus vectors ( Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus ) in a chikungunya post-epidemic zone in the provincial city of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo between 2020 and 2022. In total 6,943 observations were reported using larval capture and human capture on landing methods. These data are published in the public domain as a Darwin Core archive in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility. The results of this study potentially provide important information for further basic and advanced studies on the ecology and phenology of these vectors, as well as on vector dynamics after an epidemic period. Subject Areas: Ecology, Biodiversity, Taxonomy Data description: