Biological Response of Chrysomya putoria (Wiedemann, 1818) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Pupae After Submersion in Freshwater.

Forensic Entomology uses arthropods to aid in legal investigations. This study checked the biological response of Chrysomya putoria pupae to submersion in fresh water for up to 6 d, evaluating the critical submersion time, survival rate, and development time of the flies. Adults were collected using fish baits in two typical traps. Seven hundred and twenty fourth-generation pupae with 2 d of development were used and separated into submergence intervals: 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, and 144 h. An additional 120 pupae were used as a control. Each treatment was done in triplicate, consisting of 40 pupae distributed in four tulle-sealed test tubes containing 10 pupae each. All tubes of each treatment were co-adhered in test tube racks and were submerged in mineral water in a container with constant oxygenation, except those of the control group, which were not submerged. The tubes were removed from the water according to their respective submersion interval, until 144 h was completed. The control group had a survival rate of 90%, while the 24-h treatment had 85% and the 48-h treatment had 35.8%. The critical submersion time for pupae was 72 h, with 100% mortality by 144 h. The average development time for the control group was 3.2 d, while the 24- and 48-h treatments developed in 4.3 and 6.3 d, respectively. The longer the individuals were submerged, the lower the survival rate was, while the development time increased. The data obtained in this study have potential in applications to estimate the interval of submersion of a cadaver.

Geographical information system (GIS) modeling territory receptivity to strengthen entomological surveillance: Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) case study in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Extra-Amazonian malaria mortality is 60 times higher than the Amazon malaria mortality. Imported cases correspond to approximately 90% of extra-Amazonian cases. Imported malaria could be a major problem if it occurs in areas with receptivity, because it can favor the occurrence of outbreaks or reintroductions of malaria in those areas. This study aimed to model territorial receptivity for malaria to serve as an entomological surveillance tool in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Geomorphology, rainfall, temperature, and vegetation layers were used in the AHP process for the receptivity stratification of Rio de Janeiro State territory. RESULTS: The model predicted five receptivity classes: very low, low, medium, high and very high. The 'very high' class is the most important in the receptivity model, corresponding to areas with optimal environmental and climatological conditions to provide suitable larval habitats for Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) vectors. This receptivity class covered 497.14 km2 or 1.18% of the state's area. The 'high' class covered the largest area, 17,557.98 km2, or 41.62% of the area of Rio de Janeiro State. CONCLUSIONS: We used freely available databases for modeling the distribution of receptive areas for malaria transmission in the State of Rio de Janeiro. This was a new and low-cost approach to support entomological surveillance efforts. Health workers in 'very high' and 'high' receptivity areas should be prepared to diagnose all febrile individuals and determine the cause of the fever, including malaria. Each malaria case must be treated and epidemiological studies must be conducted to prevent the reintroduction of the disease.