DOI: 10.5061/dryad.kh18932gv
title: Incompatible Aedes aegypti male releases as an intervention to reduce mosquito population : A field trial in Puerto Rico

description: Mosquito-transmitted viruses such as dengue are a global and growing
 public health challenge.  Without widely available vaccines,
 mosquito control is the primary tool for fighting the spread of these
 viruses. New mosquito control technologies are needed to complement
 existing methods.  A field trial was conducted in collaboration
 with the Communities Organized to Prevent Arboviruses project in Ponce,
 Puerto Rico, to measure entomological and epidemiological effects of
 reducing Aedes aegypti populations using Wolbachia incompatible insect
 technique.  We packed and shipped Wolbachia-males from California
 and released them into 19 treatment clusters from September 2020 to
 December 2020. The preliminary evaluation revealed sub-optimal
 Wolbachia-male densities and impact on the wild-type population. In 2021,
 we shifted to a phased release strategy starting in four clusters,
 reducing the mosquito population by 51% (CI 31–71%).  We describe
 the investigation into male quality and other factors that may have
 limited the impact of Wolbachia-male releases.  Laboratory assays
 showed a small but significant impact of the packing and shipping process
 on male fitness. However, mark-release-recapture assessments suggest that
 male daily survival rates in the field may have been significantly
 impacted.  We compared induced-sterility levels and suppression
 of the wild population and found patterns consistent with mosquito
 population compensation in response to our intervention.
  Analysis of epidemiological impact was not possible due to very
 low viral transmission rates during the intervention period.  Our
 entomological impact data provide evidence that Wolbachia
 incompatible-male releases reduced Ae. aegypti populations, although
 efficacy will be maximized when releases are part of an integrated control
 program.  With  improvement of shipping vessels and
 shipped male fitness, packing and shipping male mosquitoes could provide a
 key solution for expanding access to this technology in Puerto Rico. Our
 project underscores the challenges involved in large and complex field
 assessments of the effectiveness of novel vector control methods.
description: Adult <em>Aedes aegypti </em>mosquitoes were
 collected weekly using Autocidal Gravid Traps in Ponce, Puerto
 Rico.  <em>Aedes aegypti </em>eggs were collected using
 standard methods involving small black cups, seed germination paper, and
 fermented hay infusion.  Life span or longevity was measured for samples
 of male mosquitoes in insectary cages with water source. 
 Mark-Release-Recapture data were collected using BG-Sentinel traps for
 mulitple days followin a point release
 of <em>Wolbachia </em>male <em>Aedes
 aegypti </em>mosquitoes.
description: # Incompatible Aedes aegypti male releases as an intervention to reduce
 mosquito population: A field trial in Puerto Rico
 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.kh18932gv](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.kh18932gv) ## Description of the data and file structure **Wolbachia_Ponce_SuppTable_AGO_Adult_Data.xlsx** Adult male and female counts from AGO collections in treatment and control clusters.  AGO collections lasted 7 days.  Collections from traps found to be malfunctioning were excluded for that week.  NA entries indicate that the trap was not collected on that date or the collection was deemed invalid due to trap malfunction other factors that compromise collection integrity.  File includes multiple sheets: 1. Trap_Locations: Each row corresponds to a single trap indicating trap ID and GPS coordinates.  2. AGO_Adult Male Counts: Rows correspond to individual AGO traps with Trap IDs indicated as row names.  Columns correspond to collection dates with dates indicated in column names. Cell entries indicate adult male *Aedes aegypti* counts normalized to 7-day collections.  3. AGO_Adult Female Counts: Rows correspond to individual AGO traps with Trap IDs indicated as row names.  Columns correspond to collection dates with dates indicated in column names. Cell entries indicate adult female *Aedes aegypti* counts normalized to 7-day collections.  **Wolbachia_Ponce_SuppTable_Ovitrap_Data.xlsx** Eggs were collected using standard methods.   Eggs were flooded under insectary conditions and larvae counted for hatch rate calculations.   NA entries indicate that the trap was not collected on that date or the collection was deemed invalid due to trap malfunction other factors that compromise collection integrity.  File includes multiple sheets: 1. Trap_Locations: Each row corresponds to a single trap indicating trap ID and GPS coordinates.  2. Egg Counts: Rows correspond to individual ovitraps with Trap IDs indicated as row names.  Columns correspond to collection dates with dates indicated in column names. Cell entries indicate the number of viable *Aedes aegypti* eggs from each collection.  3. Larval Counts: Rows correspond to individual ovitraps with Trap IDs indicated as row names.  Columns correspond to collection dates with dates indicated in column names. Cell entries indicate the number of *Aedes aegypti* larvae after eggs from each collection were flooded. **Wolbachia_Ponce_SuppTable_MRR_TrapData.xlsx** Two Mark-Release-Recapture experiments were conducted where *Wolbachia* male* Aedes aegypti *were released from a single point, collected using BG Sentinel 2 traps, and tested for *Wolbachia* for anlaysis.  NA entries indicate that the trap was not collected on that date or the collection was deemed invalid due to trap malfunction other factors that compromise collection integrity.  File includes multiple sheets: 1. Trap_Locations: Each row corresponds to a single trap indicating trap ID and GPS coordinates.  2. First Replicate: Trap collection data after first MRR release.  Rows correspond to individual ovitraps with Trap IDs indicated as row names.  Columns correspond to collection dates with dates indicated in column names. Cell entries indicate the number of adult *Aedes aegypti* males from each collection. 3. Second Replicate: Trap collection data after second MRR release.  Rows correspond to individual ovitraps with Trap IDs indicated as row names.  Columns correspond to collection dates with dates indicated in column names. Cell entries indicate the number of adult *Aedes aegypti* males from each collection. **Wolbachia_Ponce_SuppTable_Longevity_Assays.xlsx** Average lifespan for shipped and held back samples of* Wolbachia* male* Aedes aegypti* measured in insectary cages.   ### Files and variables #### File: Wolbachia\_Ponce\_SuppTable\_Longevity\_Assays.xlsx **Description:** Average life span for shipped and held back samples of* Wolbachia* male* Aedes aegypti*. ##### Variables * Ship status, longevity in days, duration of transit in hours #### File: Wolbachia\_Ponce\_SuppTable\_MRR\_TrapData.xlsx **Description:** *Wolbachia*-positive male mosquito counts for two MRR experiments ##### Variables * Male counts, trap, collection date, replicate #### File: Wolbachia\_Ponce\_SuppTable\_Ovitrap\_Data.xlsx **Description:** Egg and Larval counts from ovitrap collections in treatment and control clusters. ##### Variables * Egg counts, larval counts, trap, collection date #### File: Wolbachia\_Ponce\_SuppTable\_AGO\_Adult\_Data.xlsx **Description:**  ##### Variables * Adult male count, Adult female count, trap, collection date