[An evaluation of municipal actions in the control of dengue vectors in the region of São José do Rio Prêto, São Paulo, 1989 to 1995]. / Avaliação de ações municipais de combate a vetores da dengue na região de São José do Rio Prêto, São Paulo, 1989 a 1995.

The aim of this study was to determine the coverage of municipal activities in terms of the control of Aedes aegypti and/or Aedes albopictus by routine house-to-house visits and by emergency activity, carried out between 1989 and 1995 in the area of São José do Rio Prêto, São Paulo State, and to evaluate the cross-correlation between them and the Breteau index (BI). For towns with up to 50,000 real estate properties, the joint coverage by routine and emergency activities was mostly appropriate and the routine activities showed a negative cross-correlation with the BI. For the county seat (more than 50,000 real estate properties), the coverage provided by the above activities was not correlated with the BI. In general, the coverage was inversely proportional to town size. Emergency activities did not show a correlation with the BI in any town size range, proving to be ineffective.

[Geographical distribution of dengue and socioeconomic factors in an urban locality in southeastern Brazil]. / Distribuição espacial da dengue e determinantes socioeconômicos em localidade urbana no Sudeste do Brasil.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of dengue (serum type I) in the city of S. José do Rio Preto during an epidemic which occurred in the first semester of 1995 is analyzed in terms of geographical areas defined by socioeconomic variables. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The epidemiological method of analysis is the "ecological study" type. To calculate the coefficient of incidence of dengue, all cases both confirmed and reported between January and July, 1995 are considered. The environmental units are defined according to socioeconomic variables based on the IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics) Census of 1991, through cluster analysis. The linear correlation coefficient between coefficient of incidence and environmental variables is also calculated. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Three distinct environmental units are identified and described on the basis of both economic and educational level. The coefficient of incidence of dengue varied in accordance with the environmental unit: in the unit of low standard the coefficient was 2.7 times greater than that of the unit of highest standard, showing that in these units the determining factors of dengue have a differentiating effect. The roles of some of the determining factors such as population density, basic sanitary services and vector density are discussed. The importance of this study for the control of dengue is also emphasized.

[Description of the colonization of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: culicidae) in the region of Saõ José do Rio Preto, SP, 1991-1994]. / Descrição da colonização de Aedes albopictus (Diptera: culicidae) na região de São José do Rio Preto, SP, 1991-1994.

This study aims to describe and analyze the colonization of Aedes albopictus whose presence was detected in 1991 in the area of Sào José do Rio. Preto already colonized by the Aedes aegypti. Year and month of occurrence, counties, composition and location of larval samples, kinds of containers, average number of larvae an Breteau Index bare been analyzed from the information obtained in measurements of larval density by Superintendência de Controle de Endemias (SUCEN). The presence of Aedes albopictus was ascertained in 34 towns up to December 1994. The colonization of the area by the mosquito is still reduced showing some differences in relation to Aedes aegypti such as greater ratio outdoors, occupying container in different proportions. The average number of Aedes albopictus larvae has had influence of larvae of another species. It has showed a seasonal behavior similar to Aedes aegypti and it has moved from east to west direction.

[Alberprosenia malheiroi Serra, Atzingen & Serra, 1987 (Hemiptera, Reduviidae). Redescription and bionomics]. / Alberprosenia malheiroi Serra, Atzingen & Serra, 1987 (Hemiptera, Reduviidae). Redescrição e bionomia.

Alberprosenia malheiroi n. sp. first became known through an informal publication of a paper submitted a Congress, in 1980. The same diagnosis with a photograph was published in 1987, but no formal description has yet been made. The present authors describe adults and immature instars, establish a sintypical series and introduce bionomic data and data on the rearing of this species in insectary. The most evident differences between A. malheiroi n. sp. and A. goyovargasi, the former generic species, are the general colour pattern which is completely black; the interocular area, wider than an eye in dorsal view; the acute apex in collar tubercules and the significantly larger size, almost double that of the latter specie. The eggs are small attach themselves to the substratum in groups of either 3 or 4, are elipsoid with no lateral flattening, having a convex and prominent operculum, without conspicuous structures. Nymphs have the typical tribal and generic characteristics in each stage, the anteocular region being shorter than the postocular one. Pilosity appears in the second instar and becomes more evident with instar development. A. malheiroi n. sp. was captured in a forest, in wild (palm-tree) ecotopes associated with bats or birds, in the State of Para, Brazil. Trypanosoma cruzi was not found in any specimens. These triatomines were reared in +/- 25 degrees C and +/- 60% RH, the insects are quick and fly without difficulty. They fed well on pigeons and bats but not on rats, mice or hamsters. The eggs incubation period was thirteen days on average, and the evolution time of the nymphal period was a hundred and thirty two days on average.