First Report of Rubber Collection Bowls & Plastic and Bamboo Water Containers as the Major Breeding Source of Ae. albopictus with the Indigenous Transmission of Dengue and Chikungunya in Rural Forested Malaria-Endemic Villages of Dhalai District, Tripura, India: The Importance of Molecular Identification

Background: With the reports of indigenous cases dengue and chikungunya in forest-covered rural tribal malaria-endemic villages Dhalai District, Tripura, India, an exploratory study was undertaken to identify vector breeding sites. Methods: From June 2021 August 2022, mosquito larvae were collected from both natural artificial sources villages, house premises, their nearby forested areas outside houses. Other than morphological characterisation, Aedes species confirmed by polymerase chain reaction targeting nuclear (ITS2) mitochondrial genes (COI) followed bidirectional Sanger sequencing. Results: albopictus abundantly found this area containers, whereas Ae. aegypti absent. Among molecularly species, rubber collection bowls be a source reported for first time. Plastic indigenously made bamboo–polythene containers storing supply water harvesting rainwater with shortage other major sources, which calls specific control strategies. Natural like ponds on Tectona grandis leaves Colocasia axil also harbour breeding, along commonly bamboo stumps tree holes. No as inside Mixed observed many necessitating molecular identification. We report six haplotypes study, among two are However, not area. Additionally, bowls, ponds, showed presence Culex quinquefasciatus vishnui, known JE vectors area, well. Different Anopheles spp. found, corroborating hotbed several vector-borne diseases. Conclusions: This time, large storage sources. Also, characterisation elucidating limitations identification highlighting importance studies designing appropriate The co-breeding malaria time reporting these