Molecular Insights into Aedes aegypti (L.) Populations and Vector Surveillance in the Urban Areas of Jeddah and Jizan, Saudi Arabia

Shatha I. Alqurashi^1*Saad Murya Alqahtani²Khalid M. S. Alghamdi³Somia Eissa Sharawi³Habeeb Mansorur Al-Solami⁴Abdullah G. Alghamdi³Hanan S. Alyahya³Hayat S. Al-Rashidi⁵Jazem A. Mahyoub³

• ¹Department of Biological science, College of Science, Jeddah University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
• ²Department of Biology, College of Science, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
• ³Department of Biology Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
• ⁴Department of Biology Sciences, Faculty of Sciences,, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
• ⁵Department of Biology, College of Science, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia

Introduction: The Aedes aegypti constitutes the primary vector for dengue fever, yellow fever, chikungunya, Zika, West Nile, and encephalitis viruses, all of which have impacted One Health (human, animal, and environmental health) significantly. It has been distributed widely in urban settings in Saudi Arabia, particularly in cities like Jeddah and Jizan, a situation that underscores the urgent need for innovative and sustainable vector control strategies. Molecular tools, such as DNA barcoding using mitochondrial markers, have become essential for identifying mosquito species accurately and understanding their role in disease transmission. Such knowledge is vital for informing effective, climate-resilient public health interventions. Methods: This research focuses on identifying Aedes species in various regions of Saudi Arabia using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing techniques, in order to evaluate the molecular diversity of these dengue vectors in Jeddah and Jizan. The study utilizes the cytochrome one oxidase (COI) gene as a molecular marker for phylogenetic analysis to compare the populations of Aedes species. Results: The findings reveal the presence of significant genetic variation among mosquito populations. In the Jeddah region, the Ae. aegypti types MN299016.1 and KU495081.1 match completely (100%) the respective populations found in Argentina and Australia, with 93.1% (27/29) and 6.9% (2/29) respectively (Table 1 and Figure 3). Meanwhile, the samples from the Jizan region are 100% and 99.6% similar to the Ae. aegypti types MN298998.1, MK300226.1, PP892777.1, and MF043259.1 found in Canada, Kenya, India, and England. Conclusion: This study underscores the necessity of using molecular techniques in vector surveillance to mitigate the spread of Zoonotic and vector borne diseases in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, these efforts align with the objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030 by promoting environmentally responsive vector surveillance in Jeddah and Jizan, thereby supporting integrated approaches to public health and ecological sustainability.