Tree holes as larval habitats for Aedes aegypti in public areas in Aguaray, Salta province, Argentina

MANGUDO, C.; APARICIO, J.P.; GLEISER, R.M.

JOURNAL OF VECTOR ECOLOGY

SOC VECTOR ECOLOGY

Año: 2011 vol. 36 p. 227 - 230

1081-1710

Aedes aegypti, the main vector of dengue virus, is a domestic mosquito usually breeding in artificial containers. Natural water holding cavities such as tree holes where larvae may develop have been mostly overlooked in South America, in spite of dengue occurrence. Knowing whether Ae. aegypti may use these potential larval habitats in a region is important in the vector control framework, and from an epidemiological point of view, because invasive mosquitoes species may alter the local mosquito fauna and pathogen transmission cycles. We report findings of immature stages of Aedes aegypti in water filled tree holes in Aguaray, Salta province. This locality of northwest Argentina is located on a principal terrestrial transport and commercial route connecting northwest Argentina with Bolivia, the main route of introduction of dengue to northwest Argentina, and where large dengue outbreaks have been recently recorded.