Use of Aedes aegypti oviposition surveillance and Geographic Information System for planning anti-vectorial measures

ABAN MOREYRA, DN; CASTILLO, PM; ESCALADA, A; MANGUDO, C; GLEISER, RM; NASSER, JR; GIL, JF

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE

AMER SOC TROP MED & HYGIENE

Año: 2022

0002-9637

Arboviruses transmitted by Ae. aegypti pose a threat to global public health. Since there are no vaccines or drugs available, the prevention of these diseases in Argentina is based on integrated vector control. In this work, the spatio-temporal dynamics of the vector distribution was analyzed by monitoring oviposition. This information allowed the planning of anti-vector interventions and evaluating their effect on the relative abundance of mosquito populations in San Ramón de la Nueva Orán. Observed data was compared with the eggs expected throught a statistical model based on meteorological variables. The oviposition substrate preference of mosquito females was also evaluated and the possible relationship between the relative abundance of the vector and sociodemographic and environmental variables (NDVI: Normalized difference vegetation index and NDWI: Normalized difference water index) was explored. A total of 4193 eggs of Ae. aegypti were collected, detecting spatial clusters in all the months where the presence of the mosquito was reported. The observed number of eggs was significantly lower than the expected egg abundance. A significant correlation of oviposition activity was found with 3 sociodemographic variables, while no significant correlation was found with mean or median values of the environmental variables studied. This monitoring strategy made it possible to address the interventions and evaluate them, proposing it as a good complementary tool for the control of Ae. aegypti in northern Argentina.