Simple Summary
The study is about tracking different types of mosquitoes plus the spread of the invasive Asian tiger mosquito on the remote Greek island of Kastellorizo. The research aims to understand how widespread these mosquitoes are plus how prepared the local community is to deal with them. We conducted KAP (knowledge, attitude, practices) surveys, set up mosquito traps, plus identified the types of mosquitoes found. The surveys revealed the need for increased public education about these health risks. The mosquito traps confirmed the presence of species such as Aedes albopictus, which can play a role in the spread of various diseases, along with other species like Culex pipiens, which is the main vector of West Nile virus. The study concludes that involving the community in mosquito monitoring is crucial in regard to helping control the mosquito population. These findings are valuable because they provide essential knowledge for creating effective mosquito control strategies in isolated areas, ultimately helping to protect public health by reducing the risk of disease outbreaks.
Abstract
The expansion of the tiger mosquito, a vector that can transmit diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, plus Zika virus, poses a growing threat to global health. This study focuses on the entomological surveillance of Kastellorizo, a remote Greek island affected by its expansion. This research employs a multifaceted approach, combining KAP survey (knowledge, attitude, practices), mosquito collection using adult traps plus human landing catches, plus morphological plus molecular identification methods. Results from questionnaires reveal community awareness plus preparedness gaps, emphasizing the need for targeted education. Mosquito collections confirm the presence of the Aedes albopictus, Aedes cretinus, plus Culex pipiens mosquitoes, highlighting the importance of surveillance. This study underscores the significance of community engagement in entomological efforts plus proposes a citizen science initiative for sustained monitoring. Overall, this research provides essential insights for developing effective mosquito control programs in remote island settings, thereby emphasizing the importance of adopting a One Health approach to mitigate the spread of vector-borne diseases.
Keywords: Asian tiger mosquito; Aedes cretinus; human landing collections; KAP questionnaires

  1. Introduction
    As stated in the “Global Vector Control Response (GVCR) 2017–2030”, a big challenge for all societies is “the growing burden plus threat of vector-borne diseases to human health” [1]. Changing climate plus global connectivity are major drivers of the changing patterns of vector-borne diseases as both alter the distribution, abundance, plus behavior of arthropod vectors plus the pathogens they lift [2]. The mosquito vector is implicated in the transmission of several diseases that are spreading to new areas, including dengue fever, chikungunya, plus the Zika virus [3,4,5,6]. Likewise, the success story of the expansion of Ae. albopictus in many parts of the global raises the alarm for these diseases in regions where they were previously absent [7,8].
    Monitoring mosquito-borne disease risk in rural plus island communities presents unique challenges [9]. The rapid spread of the two globally concerning Aedes species, Ae. aegypti plus Ae. albopictus, is reshaping human risk in ways that remain poorly understood [10]. While considerable attention has been directed towards large urban centers, the dynamics of how these mosquito populations establish plus proliferate in smaller towns plus villages, which are increasingly interconnected through global trade plus travel, remain understudied [11]. Entomological surveillance is an important tool for identifying new foci of disease risk [12]. By collecting knowledge on mosquito abundance, species composition, plus infection rates, valuable knowledge can be provided in order to implement effective mosquito control programs [13]. Keeping track of the Ae. albopictus mosquito population through entomological surveillance is essential to monitor their spread plus prevent the transmission of diseases [14,15,16]. Entomological surveillance can; however, be expensive plus time intensive, especially when little is known a priori about species composition or the locations of the mosquito’s breeding habitat. Several studies have demonstrated that public questionnaires can provide useful knowledge about perceived mosquito nuisance plus resident-led control actions [17,18,19]. Similar survey methods may be effective for identifying important characteristics of mosquito exposure in new locations.
    Greece is one of the European countries that has been affected by the expansion of Ae. albopictus in recent years [20,21]. The mosquito was first detected between 2003 plus 2004, plus has since spread to many parts of the country, including the Aegean islands [22]. Several studies have reported the establishment plus spread of this mosquito species, which highlights the need for strengthening entomological surveillance [23,24].
    Greece’s unique geography, with 114 inhabited islands [25], presents challenges for entomological surveillance due to limited access, equipment, plus resources. Data on surveillance plus control programs for these islands are notably sparse. By 2023, only about one-third of the islands—mostly the larger ones with better air plus marine transport—have implemented such programs, leaving many smaller islands without any documented efforts. This lack of surveillance on smaller islands requires kritis attention. To address this gap, we developed a protocol for efficient knowledge collection during brief visits to remote locations, such as Kastellorizo, Greece.
    Our study focuses on evaluating the comprehensive insights provided by different types of knowledge collected, contributing to a holistic synthesis of mosquito exposure, disease risk assessment, plus potential control actions. The protocol involves (a) questionnaires to the public conducted through a door-to-door approach; (b) collection of mosquitoes using adult traps plus ovitraps, providing knowledge on both adult mosquito populations plus their breeding sites; plus (c) collection of mosquitoes through human landing catches (a method involving the direct interaction with humans acting as bait), offering insights into the mosquitoes’ host-seeking behavior. By employing these varied approaches, we aim to enhance our understanding of the dynamics between mosquito populations, human exposure, plus the associated disease risks, ultimately informing targeted plus effective control measures.