Abstract:
In February 2004, the discovery of an incursion of the dengue vector Aedes aegypti into the town of
Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory caused concern for the Northern Territory health authorities
who proceeded to implement a Commonwealth-funded eradication program. To determine the origin
of the incursion, we performed a genetic analysis on Ae. aegypti from several Queensland and overseas
localities. A comparison of DNA sequences from the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 gene indicated
that the incursion was probably from Cairns or Camooweal. This genetic marker was also useful in
identifying a separate Townsville haplotype population and another population on Thursday Island in
the Torres Strait that was genetically divergent to the mainland populations. The possible use of this
marker as a surveillance tool for identifying the origins of local and overseas incursions is discussed.
