Citywide Integrated Aedes aegypti Mosquito Surveillance as Early Warning System for Arbovirus Transmission, Brazil

Emerg Infect Dis. 2022 Apr;28(4):701-706. doi: 10.3201/eid2804.211547.

Abstract

Arbovirus epidemiology lacks efficient and timely surveillance systems with accurate outbreak alert signals. We devised a citywide integrated surveillance system combining entomologic, epidemiologic, and entomo-virologic data gathered during 2017-2020 in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil. We installed 3,476 adult mosquito traps across the city and inspected traps every 2 months. We compared 5 entomologic indices: traditional house and Breteau indices for larval surveys and trap positivity, adult density, and mosquitoes per inhabitant indices for adult trapping. We screened for dengue, Zika, and chikungunya viruses in live adult Aedes aegypti mosquitoes collected from traps. Indices based on adult mosquito sampling had higher outbreak predictive values than larval indices, and we were able to build choropleth maps of infestation levels <36 h after each round of trap inspection. Locating naturally infected vectors provides a timely support tool for local public health managers to prioritize areas for intervention response to prevent virus outbreaks.

Keywords: Aedes aegypti; Brazil; Zika; arbovirus; chikungunya; dengue; disease transmission; entomologic surveillance; epidemiology; mosquitoes; vector control; vector-borne infections; vectorial capacity; viruses; zoonoses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aedes*
  • Animals
  • Arboviruses*
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Mosquito Vectors
  • Zika Virus Infection* / epidemiology
  • Zika Virus Infection* / prevention & control
  • Zika Virus*