COMPARING THE EFFICIENCY OF WOLBACHIA DRIVEN AEDES MOSQUITO SUPPRESSION STRATEGIES

Abstract

<i>Wolbachia</i> is an endosymbiotic bacterium which manipulates host reproduction by cytoplasmic incompatibility, and restrains the transmission of dengue virus in <i>Aedes</i> mosquitoes. A novel strategy for dengue control involves releasing <i>Wolbachia</i> infected males into nature to suppress wild <i>Aedes</i> mosquito population. We develop a model of delay differential equations, integrating larval density-dependent competition and diapausing eggs, to compare the efficiency of different suppression strategies. The global asymptotical stability of the complete suppression state identifies the releasing amount threshold ascertaining suppression. Based on the experimental data for <i>Aedes albopictus</i> population in Guangzhou, our simulations show that the mosquito density in the highest peak season can be reduced by more than $ 95\% $ when the number of released males is above the releasing threshold. The best time to initiate the suppression is in early March, lasting until the end of June, followed by the parallel releasing policy from July to November. However, the egg bank has neglectable effects on the control of dengue vector in Guangzhou.