Impulsive Release Strategies for Wolbachia-Infected Mosquitoes under Temperature-Induced Infection Loss

TL;DR

This paper models the dynamics of Wolbachia-infected mosquito releases under temperature stress, providing insights into optimal strategies for sustainable population control considering environmental factors.

Contribution

It introduces a novel impulsive differential equation model that incorporates temperature-induced infection loss and compares different Wolbachia strains for effective release strategies.

Findings

Temperature stress affects Wolbachia persistence in mosquitoes.

Impulsive interventions can stabilize Wolbachia infection.

Strain differences influence long-term success.

Abstract

The release of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes is a promising strategy for controlling Aedes aegypti populations, but exposure to high temperatures can induce temporary infection loss and compromise long-term persistence. In this work, we propose a population-dynamics model based on impulsive differential equations to describe the interaction between wild and infected mosquitoes, incorporating cytoplasmic incompatibility, periodic release interventions, and temperature-driven infection loss. Analytical threshold conditions are derived to characterize the existence and stability of periodic solutions associated with successful Wolbachia establishment. Numerical simulations illustrate the theoretical results and enable a comparative analysis of the wMelPop, wMel, and wAlbB strains, highlighting how differences in thermal tolerance and fitness costs influence persistence after the release phase. The results emphasize the importance of accounting for environmental stress and impulsive interventions when designing effective and robust Wolbachia release strategies.