Cytoplasmic incompatibility management to support Incompatible Insect Technique against Aedes albopictus

Background The transinfection of the endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia provides a method to produce functionally sterile males to be used to suppress mosquito vectors. AR w P is a w Pip Wolbachia infected Aedes albopictus which exhibits a bidirectional incompatibility pattern with wild-types. We coupled a modelistic approach with laboratory experiments to test AR w P as a control tool and evaluate the possible occurrence of population replacement following the release of AR w P females in a wild-type (S ANG ) population. Repeated male-only releases were simulated and tested in the laboratory in comparison with releases contaminated with 1% AR w P females. Model simulations also investigated how migration affects the outcome of contaminated releases. Finally, the mean level of egg fertility and the long-term evolution of populations constituted by two Wolbachia infection types were studied by testing S ANG and AR w P Ae. albopictus and performing more general model simulations. Results The model was parametrized with laboratory data and simulations were compared with results of biological trials. Small populations of AR w P males and females were theoretically and experimentally demonstrated to rapidly become extinct when released in larger S ANG populations. Male-only releases at a 5:1 ratio with respect to the wild-type males led to a complete suppression of the S ANG population in a few generations. Contaminated releases were efficient as well but led to population replacement in the long term, when the wild-type population approached eradication. Migration significantly contrasted this trend as a 5% population turnover was sufficient to avoid any risk of population replacement. At equal frequencies between AR w P and S ANG individuals, the mean egg fertility of the overall population was more than halved and suppression was self-sustaining until one of the two infection types extinguished. Conclusions In the case of bidirectional incompatibility patterns, the repeated release of incompatible males with small percentages of contaminant females could lead to population replacement in confined environments while it could be managed to target high efficiency and sustainability in wild-type suppression when systems are open to migration. This possibility is discussed based on various contexts and taking into consideration the possibility of integration with other control methods such as SIT and the use of larvicides.