Long-Term Trends in Mosquito Vector Populations and their Impact on Yellow Fever Outbreaks in Atlantic Forest Fragments of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil (2016-2021).

Among all living beings, mosquitoes account for the highest number of human fatalities. Our study aimed to determine mosquito egg abundance fluctuation from 2015 to 2020, in order to observe which years had the highest mosquito vector densities and whether they coincided with yellow fever virus outbreaks in both human and nonhuman primates. The study area included Atlantic Forest fragments in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Studies from the Diptera Laboratory at FIOCRUZ were selected and compared along a timeline period of the field collections. The highest peak in egg abundance from the analyzed studies was observed from 2016 to 2017 and from 2015 to 2016. The lowest egg abundance was during the collection periods from 2018 to 2019 and 2019 to 2020. The species with the highest abundance throughout all the periods of the studies analyzed was Haemagogus leucocelaenus, representing 87% of all epidemiological species identified. The species with the lowest abundance was Hg. Janthinomys, representing only 1%. Monitoring the population of mosquitoes is imperative for disease surveillance, as the rise in specimens of various vector species directly impacts the occurrence of yellow fever cases in both nonhuman primates and human populations.

Bamboo (Poales, Poaceae): An Important Maintainer of Immature Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in a Biodiversity Hotspot in the City of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Although tropical forests are home to most of the global diversity, they suffer from the most significant knowledge gaps concerning their fauna. Despite its high biodiversity, Brazil is facing an alarming destruction of habitats, with species becoming extinct before they can be discovered or described via science. Therefore, there is an urgent need to expand wildlife inventories, including entomofauna surveys. The present study aimed to analyze the bionomic aspects and the influence of abiotic factors on mosquito fauna whose immature phases develop in two bamboo species, Guadua tagoara and Bambusa vulgaris, in Tijuca National Park, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Immatures were collected in 10 artificially drilled bamboo plants, in five stalk internodes per plant, at two sampling points, from March 2022 to March 2023, during 23 collections. A total of 1845 immatures were obtained, 72.14% at sampling point 1 and 27.86% at sampling point 2. Of this, 1162 individuals reached adulthood, belonging to the following species: Culex iridescens, Culex neglectus, Haemagogus leucocelaenus, Orthopodomyia albicosta, Sabethes identicus, Sabethes melanonymphe, Sabethes purpureus, Toxorhynchites bambusicola, Toxorhynchites sp., Trichoprosopon compressum, Trichoprosopon pallidiventer, Wyeomyia arthrostigma, Wyeomyia codiocampa, Wyeomyia lutzi, Wyeomyia oblita, Wyeomyia personata, Wyeomyia serrata, and Wyeomyia sp. The Tijuca National Park is a tourist spot and receives a large number of visitors. Thus, humans can become an accessible food source for mosquitoes in this area, making the species survey critical since important arbovirus vectors have been recorded in Rio de Janeiro.

Faunistic Analysis of Calliphoridae and Mesembrinellidae (Diptera: Oestroidea) at Different Stages of Bovine Liver Decomposition in the State of Rio de Janeiro.

Performing quantitative sampling and determining faunistic analyses of dipterans is of fundamental importance in the analysis of ecological behavior, such as population dynamics and diversity, among other factors, for exotic and native species of necrophagous dipterans, so it is important to observe the type of bait used in traps to capture these dipteran species. This work aims to study structural parameters and faunistic indices of the diversity of Calliphoridae and Mesembrinellidae species as well as the abundance and diversity of species attracted to liver in two stages of decomposition: fresh liver and liver at 48 h of putrefaction. A total of 2826 dipterans were collected during the period from May 2021 to February 2022. We observed that liver in decomposition for 48 h was more attractive in the forest and rural environments, while fresh liver showed greater attractiveness in the urban environment; however, no statistical difference was evidenced between the attractiveness in the different environments. The Mesembrinellidae family and the species Lucilia eximia (Wiedemann, 1819) were collected mostly from deteriorated liver, while Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius, 1775) showed no preference for any liver decomposition stage. The Wilcoxon test indicated that there is a significant difference between the preferences for putrefied bait in Mesembrinellidae, while in Calliphoridae, there was no preference for type of bait. The faunistic analysis showed that richness in the forest area was always higher when compared to the urban and rural areas. Laneela nigripes (Guimarães, 1977) and Mesembrinella bellardiana (Aldrich, 1922) were abundant and exclusive in the preserved environment, showing themselves to be good environmental bioindicators.

Ecobiology of Haemagogus leucocelaenus arbovirus vector in the golden lion tamarin translocation area of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Significant pathogens that have resurfaced in humans originate from transmission from animal to human populations. In the Americas, yellow fever cases in humans are usually associated with spillover from non-human primates via mosquitoes. The present study characterized the prevalence of the yellow fever vector Haemagogus leucocelaenus in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Atlantic Forest fragment chosen is an area of translocation of the golden lion tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia), where 10 ovitraps were installed to collect mosquito eggs in Fazenda Três Irmãos, at Silva Jardim city, from March 2020 to October 2022. A total of 1514 eggs were collected, of which 1153 were viable; 50% belonged to medically important mosquito species and 24% to the yellow fever vector species, Hg. leucocelaenus. The months of December 2020 (n = 252), November 2021 (n = 188), and January 2022 (n = 252) had the highest densities of this vector. Haemagogus leucocelaenus was positively correlated with temperature (r = 0.303) and humidity (r = 0.48), with eggs hatching up to the 15th immersion with higher abundance of females. Implementing mosquito monitoring for arbovirus activity can help protect both the golden lion tamarin and human populations from the threat of arbovirus transmission.

Synanthropy and ecological aspects of Calliphoridae and Mesembrinellidae (Diptera: Oestroidea) in three ecological areas in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil.

The determination of the synanthropic index is essential to evaluate the degree of association between species, such as diptera and man, based solely on their degree of preference for urban areas. This research aimed to study the synanthropic behavior of Calliphoridae and Mesembrinellidae flies in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The experiment was conducted between 2021 and 2022 in three areas, where four traps containing 300 g of fresh liver or with 48 h of putrefaction were installed, remaining exposed for 48 h; after collection the dipterans were sacrificed and taxonomically identified. A total of 2,826 dipterans were collected, represented by nine species of Calliphoridae (89.24%) and ten of Mesembrinellidae (10.76%), with the first record of Mesembrinella currani in this biome. The Kruskal-Wallis test showed that the abundance of individuals did not differ among the three analyzed environments. The Mesembrinellidae family was exclusively asynanthrope, along with two species of Calliphoridae: Hemilucilia benoisti (Séguy 1925) and Paralucilia nigrofacialis (Mello 1969) which were exclusive of the forest area, while Calliphoridae had varied synanthropy. Lucilia eximia (Wiedemann 1819) alone represented 57.18% of the total sampled, being the most abundant in all environments except the urban area where Hemilucilia segmentaria (Fabricius 1805) totaled 55.73%. No species were exclusive to the urban area, however Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel 1858) and Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann 1830) were exclusive to the rural area. The most synanthropic species were Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius 1794) and Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann 1819).

Vertical Distribution of Oviposition and Temporal Segregation of Arbovirus Vector Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in a Fragment of the Atlantic Forest, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Culicid species, which include potential vectors of yellow fever, are diverse and abundant, with species commonly co-occurring in certain sites. Studying these species can provide important insights into their vector potential and, consequently, epizootic cycles of arboviruses carried about by these vectors. Here, we evaluated the vertical distribution and temporal segregation of mosquito oviposition with emphasis on arbovirus vectors in a fragment of the Atlantic Forest in Casimiro de Abreu, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Two sampling points were selected: Fazenda Três Montes and the Reserva Natural de Propriedade Privada Morro Grande. Collections were carried out at two sites using 10 ovitraps installed on the vegetation cover at different heights (0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 m above ground level) and monitored monthly from July 2018 to December 2020. The hypotheses of temporal and vertical stratification were tested through a PERMANOVA, and the relationship of each species with the vertical distribution was evaluated individually through a correlation analysis. We collected a total of 3075 eggs, including four species of medical importance: Haemagogus leucocelaenus (n = 1513), Haemagogus janthinomys (n = 16), Aedes albopictus (n = 1097), and Aedes terrens (n = 449). We found that Hg. leucocelaenus had a positive relationship with height, exhibiting behavior that appears to benefit from higher heights. The abundance of Ae. terrens seemed to follow Hg. leucocelaenus, although we did not find a relationship with height for the former species. On the other hand, Ae. albopictus exhibited a negative relationship with height, becoming absent or outnumbered at higher strata. Our study site has already presented evidence of recent transmission of the wild yellow fever virus, supporting the need to carefully monitor the emergence of febrile diseases among residents in the surrounding areas and the local population.

Monthly abundance and diversity of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in an Atlantic Forest area of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Several mosquito species in the Atlantic Forest are yellow fever vectors; therefore, this biome can represent a potential risk to the human population. Studies on mosquitoes from predominantly sylvatic areas produce valuable data for understanding the emergence of new epidemics. In addition, they can elucidate environmental components favoring or hindering biodiversity and species distribution. Our study aimed to evaluate the monthly distribution, composition, diversity, and influence of seasonal periods (dry and rainy) on the mosquito fauna. We used CDC light traps at different levels in a forest area bordering a Conservation Unit of Nova Iguaçu in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Specimens were collected from August 2018 to July 2019 by installing traps in sampling sites under different vegetation covers. We detected some species of epidemiological importance in terms of arbovirus transmission. A total of 4,048 specimens representing 20 different species were collected. Among them, Aedes (Stg.) albopictus Skuse, 1894 showed recurrent association with the closest level to human residences and Haemagogus (Con.) leucocelaenus Dyar and Shannon, 1924 with the most distant levels. Since these mosquitoes are possible vectors of yellow fever, monitoring the area is extremely important. Under the studied conditions, the mosquito populations were directly influenced by dry and rainy periods, posing a risk to the nearby resident population.

Mosquito Fauna and Spatial Distribution in an Atlantic Forest Area in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, Reveal a High Risk of Transmission of Yellow Fever and Other Arboviruses.

In 2017-2019, Brazil recorded its most severe outbreak of yellow fever due to the spread of the virus (YFV) in the country's southeast. Here, we investigated mosquito fauna and the spatial distribution of species in a primatology center in the Atlantic Forest bioregion in Rio de Janeiro state to evaluate the risk of YFV transmission in distinct environments. Fortnightly mosquito collections were performed from December 2018 to December 2019 at 12 sites along a disturbance gradient from a modified environment to 400 m inside the forest. We used ovitraps, BG-Sentinel, and protected human attraction (PHA). A total of 9349 mosquitoes of 21 species were collected. The collection method strongly influenced the captured fauna, with species such as Anopheles cruzii, Psorophora ferox, Runchomyia cerqueirai, Wyeomyia incaudata, Wy. theobaldi, Sabethes chloropterus, and Sa. albiprivus only collected via PHA. Collections with ovitraps resulted in low diversity and richness, with Haemagogus leucocelaenus and Hg. janthinomys/capricornii predominating. The diverse local fauna and the abundance and ubiquity of the latter species, which are the primary vectors of YFV, indicated that this area was highly vulnerable to arbovirus transmission, especially yellow fever, highlighting the need for improved surveillance and vaccination coverage in human and captive endangered non-human primates.

Retrospective molecular investigation of Mayaro and Oropouche viruses at the human-animal interface in West-central Brazil, 2016-2018.

Mayaro virus (MAYV, Togaviridae) and Oropouche orthobunyavirus (OROV, Peribunyaviridae) are emerging enzootic arboviruses in Latin America. Outbreaks of febrile illness associated with MAYV and OROV have been reported among humans mainly in the northern region of Brazil since the 1980s, and recent data suggest these viruses have circulated also in more populated areas of western Brazil. MAYV shares mosquito vectors with yellow fever virus and it has been historically detected during yellow fever epidemics. Aiming to investigate the transmission of OROV and MAYV at the human-animal interface during a yellow fever, chikungunya and Zika outbreaks in Brazil, we conducted a retrospective molecular investigation in 810 wild and domestic animals, 106 febrile patients, and 22.931 vectors collected from 2016 to 2018 in Cuiaba and Campo Grande metropolitan regions, western Brazil. All samples tested negative for OROV and MAYV RNA by RT-qPCR. Findings presented here suggest no active circulation of MAYV and OROV in the sampled hosts. Active surveillance and retrospective investigations are instrumental approaches for the detection of cryptic and subclinical activity of enzootic arboviruses and together serve as a warning system to implement appropriate actions to prevent outbreaks.

Neotropical Sylvatic Mosquitoes and Aedes aegypti Are Not Competent to Transmit 17DD Attenuated Yellow Fever Virus from Vaccinated Viremic New World Non-Human Primates.

Beside humans, thousands of non-human primates (NHPs) died during the recent outbreak caused by the yellow fever virus (YFV) in Brazil. Vaccination of NHPs against YFV with the YF 17DD attenuated virus has emerged as a public health strategy, as it would reduce sylvatic transmission while also preserving endangered susceptible species. The hypothesis of establishing an uncontrolled transmission of this attenuated virus in nature was raised. We assessed vector competence of four sylvatic mosquito species, Haemagogus leucocelaenus, Haemagogus janthinomys/capricornii, Sabethes albiprivus, and Sabethes identicus, as well as the urban vector Aedes aegypti for YF 17DD attenuated vaccine virus when fed directly on eleven viremic lion tamarins or artificially challenged with the same virus. No infection was detected in 689 mosquitoes engorged on viremic lion tamarins whose viremia ranged from 1.05 × 103 to 6.61 × 103 FFU/mL, nor in those artificially taking ≤ 1 × 103 PFU/mL. Low viremia presented by YF 17DD-vaccinated New World NHPs combined with the low capacity and null dissemination ability in sylvatic and domestic mosquitoes of this attenuated virus suggest no risk of its transmission in nature. Thus, vaccination of captive and free-living NHPs against YFV is a safe public health strategy.

Report of Mosquito Vectors of Arboviruses from a Federal Conservation Unit in the Atlantic Forest, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil.

Arbovirus infections, such as dengue, zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever, are a major public health problem worldwide. As the main vectors, mosquitoes have been classified by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention as one of the deadliest animals alive. In this ecological study, we analyzed the population dynamics of important genera and species of mosquito vectors. Mosquito immatures were collected using ovitraps and at natural breeding sites: bamboos and bromeliads. Adult mosquitoes were captured using CDC traps with CO2, Shannon traps, and manual suction tubes. Collections took place during the rainy and dry seasons from 2019 to 2020 in the Serra dos Órgãos National Park, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. The highest number of species was recorded in the ovitraps, followed by CDC and bromeliads. The breeding site with the lowest diversity was bamboo, though it showed the highest level of evenness compared to the other breeding sites. The medically important genera reported were Haemagogus spp., Aedes spp., Culex spp., and Wyeomyia spp. Culicid eggs increased in the rainy season, with a peak in November 2019 and January and February 2020, and lower abundance in the dry season, from September to October 2019. Mosquito eggs had a strong positive correlation (ρ = 0.755) with temperature and a moderate positive correlation (ρ = 0.625) with rainfall. This study shows how environmental variables can influence the ecology of disease-vector mosquitoes, which are critical in the maintenance of arbovirus circulation in a threatened biome within the most densely populated region of Brazil.

Occurrence of the Sylvatic Yellow Fever Vector Mosquito Haemagogus leucocelaenus (Diptera: Culicidae) in an Atlantic Forest Fragment of the Touristic State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The yellow fever virus is estimated to cause 30,000 deaths each year worldwide, with the majority of cases and deaths occurring in Africa. The virus is also endemic to Central and South America, including northern and western Brazil. The sylvatic cycle of the virus is related to wild and rural areas, with nonhuman primates as the primary host and wild mosquitoes, specifically from the genera Haemagogus, as vectors. The diversity of the mosquito community plays a significant role in the increase of pathogen transmission to humans. In the present study, we detected fluctuation in populations of vector mosquitoes using ovitraps for Culicidae egg collection. The study area is a forest fragment of the Atlantic Forest, one of the most threatened biomes in Brazil. This biome has been suffering significant deforestation due to anthropic activity. Worryingly, the proximity of human populations to forest environments increases the risk of spreading disease from forest fragments to urban areas. Our findings showed that the highest egg abundance occurred in December 2019, with a significant difference (p = 0.005) between rainy and dry seasons. Most eggs were collected during the rainy period. Subsequent quantification of specimens from epidemiologically relevant species hatched from field-collected eggs resulted in 1,131 (86%) Haemagogus leucocelaenus (Dyar & Shannon, 1924), 111 (8%) Aedes terrens (Walker, 1856), 47 (4%) Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1894), and 21 (2%) Haemagogus janthinomys (Dyar, 1921). Finally, we assessed the behavior of different vector species performing oviposition on the same breeding site. The highest correlation coefficient was observed between Ae. albopictus and Ae. terrens (rho = 0.52) concerning other Culicidae species. Therefore, we believe that Culicidae population surveillance is crucial for disease monitoring since the increase in specimens of a number of vector species influences the emergence of yellow fever cases in nonhuman primates and human populations.

Little noticed, but very important: The role of breeding sites formed by bamboos in maintaining the diversity of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Atlantic Forest biome.

This study investigated the composition of mosquito species in different kinds of breeding sites in a tropical forest remnant of the Atlantic Forest and identified species of public health concern therein. Collections of immature forms of mosquitoes were carried out monthly at the Poço das Antas Biological Reserve in southeastern Brazil, between June 2014 and June 2015. Samples were collected from four types of breeding sites: bamboos, bromeliads, puddles, and a lake. A total of 1,182 specimens of mosquitoes belonging to 28 species and 13 genera were collected. Three species, Ad. squamipennis, An. neglectus, and Wy. arthrostigma represented 64.8% of the captured specimens. Only three species were found in more than one type of breeding site: Ps. ferox, An. triannulatus, and Tx. trichopygus. Two species of public health concern were found breeding in bamboo (Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus) and one in the lake (An. darlingi). Bamboo had the highest species richness, Shannon diversity, abundance of individuals and number of dominant species of all breeding sites. Similar Simpson diversity was obtained for bamboo and bromeliads, with higher values than those obtained for puddles and the lake. The significance of the four breeding sites, especially bamboos, is discussed in the context of controlling populations of sylvatic species of mosquitoes in Atlantic Forest areas.

Spatial distribution and interactions between mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) and climatic factors in the Amazon, with emphasis on the tribe Mansoniini.

This work aimed to evaluate the spatial distribution of mosquitoes in different seasonal periods and the interaction between climatic factors and the abundance of mosquitoes, especially those belonging to the tribe Mansoniini in the area surrounding the Amazon hydroelectric production region (Jirau-HP) of Rondônia state, Brazil. Mosquito specimens were collected in May, July, October, and December 2018, and April, July, September, and November 2019, over periods of three alternating days during the hours of 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Mosquito sampling was performed using automatic CDC and Shannon light traps. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), combined with Monte Carlo permutations, was used to evaluate the correlation between climatic variables and species distribution. In addition, non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) was used to verify the similarity among the sampled communities from the different collections. After analyzing the total mosquito fauna at all sampling points, 46,564 specimens were identified, with Mansonia dyari showing the highest relative abundance in 2018 (35.9%). In contrast, Mansonia titillans had the highest relative abundance in 2019 (25.34%), followed by Mansonia iguassuensis (24.26%). The CCA showed that maximum temperature significantly influenced the distribution of mosquito populations in the study area (p = 0.0406). The NMDS showed that sampling carried out in the rainy and dry seasons formed two distinct groups. There was a significant correlation between species richness and cumulative precipitation 15 days before the sampling period (R2 = 58.39%; p = 0.0272). Thus, both temperature and precipitation affected mosquito population dynamics. The effect of rainfall on mosquito communities may be due to variations in habitat availability for immature forms.

Categorization by Score of Mosquito Species (Diptera: Culicidae) Related to Yellow Fever Epizootics in Argentina.

The mosquito-borne yellow fever virus (YFV) is the cause of a zoonotic disease, with both sylvatic and urban cycles. Some mosquito species have been associated directly with transmission of the virus in South America, although the importance given to each species varies depending on the bibliography, geographical location, or year of publication. For Argentina, few publications have assessed the involvement of mosquito species, especially those included in the sylvatic cycle. Therefore, the goal of our paper was to gather all the information available in South America and categorize all mosquito species potentially involved in the YFV transmission cycle in Argentina according to incriminating vector criteria. Based on three main characteristics ('Hosts', 'Mosquito vector', and 'YF outbreak'), we generated scales of importance by species, one exclusively for Argentina and another for all of South America, Sabethes albiprivus Theobald, 1903 was the most important species in Argentina; whereas the most important species in South America were Haemagogus janthinomys Dyar 1921, Hg. leucocelaenus Dyar and Shannon, 1924, and Sa. chloropterus Von Humboldt, 1819. Our review highlights the lack of research that evaluates the importance of these species for YFV transmission in Argentina, while serving as a starting point to establish priorities for research on the bionomics and vector status of these species.

Interaction of Haemagogus leucocelaenus (Diptera: Culicidae) and Other Mosquito Vectors in a Forested Area, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The yellow fever (YF) virus has been detected throughout Brazil, with the occurrence of human cases, cyclic epizootics, and its isolation from Haemagogus janthinomys and Hg. leucocelaenus. We assessed the seasonal occurrence, egg abundancy, and oviposition interaction of mosquito vector species captured at a Private Natural Heritage Reserve in the Atlantic Forest biome. A total of 2943 eggs and 1538 mosquito larvae were collected from which 1231 belonged to entomologically important species. Ovitraps were used to collect immature mosquitoes from September 2019 to January 2021. The Mann-Whitney test was used to assess the differences in the abundance of eggs between rainy and dry seasons. Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn's post hoc tests were used to evaluate the significance of the differences in the number of individuals from vector species. The highest percentage of mosquito vector eggs were collected during the rainy season, from December to February. Most eggs recovered from ovitraps belonged to the species Hg. leucocelaenus, representing 85% of all mosquito eggs identified. The other species had lower abundances and percentages: Aedes terrens (7%), Haemagogus janthinomys (5%) and Aedes albopictus (3%). The species that shared breeding sites with a higher frequency were Hg. leucocelaenus and Hg. janthinomys, with a statistically positive correlation (ρ = 0.74). This finding suggests that maybe the presence of Hg. leucocelaenus eggs acted as an attractant for Hg. janthinomys or vice versa. An understanding of mosquito oviposition behavior is necessary for the development of surveillance and control approaches directed against specific pathogen vectors of medical and veterinary importance.

Influence of seasonality on wing morphological variability in populations of Mansonia amazonensis (Theobald) (Diptera: Culicidae).

Mansonia amazonensis (Theobald, 1901) is one of 15 species of the subgenus Mansonia Blanchard, 1901. It is essentially a Neotropical species, recorded in Bolivia, Peru and Brazil. In the highly seasonal Amazon region, Mansonia species find ideal environmental conditions for reproduction, development and establishment. Considering that climate significantly influences the size and behavior of mosquitoes, and insects in general, we analyzed the influence of seasonality on wing morphological variability in populations of Ma. amazonensis. Captures were carried out near the banks of the Madeira River in Rondnia State, Brazil during the dry, rainy and transition periods between seasons during 2018 and 2019. Morphometric characters of 181 wings were analyzed using morphological methods. The results show that wing size of Ma. amazonensis increases following a relatively gradual trend, from smaller wings during the dry period to larger ones in the rainy season. This study provides the first evidence, detected using geometric morphometry, of seasonally associated phenotypic variability in the wing conformation of Ma. amazonensis.

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.

Malaria in Haiti: A descriptive study on spatial and temporal profile from 2009 to 2018.

BACKGROUND: Haiti is one of the Caribbean countries where malaria persists. More than 99% of malaria cases are caused by Plasmodium falciparum, the main vector being the mosquito Anopheles albimanus. In this paper, we describe the epidemiological profile of malaria in Haiti between 2009 and 2018. METHODS: We analyzed information on cases reported by the Ministry of Health of Haiti and the World Health Organization (WHO). RESULTS: Between 2009 and 2018, 232,479 malaria cases were reported by the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP); an increase in the incidence of malaria in the country in 2010, followed by a decrease in 2011, was primarily observed. Due to recent efforts to reduce malaria by 2020, its incidence declined from 60,130 cases in 2010 to 8,978 cases in 2018. Controversially, in terms of the number of reported cases, the MSPP and WHO report conflicting data. However, the results from both datasets present the same trend in Haiti from 2009 to 2018. The results also illustrate the endemicity of the disease throughout Haiti, both in rural and urban areas, especially along the coast. CONCLUSIONS: This study emphasizes the need to promote official data collection and analyses, as well as the application of epidemiological surveillance of malaria at the municipal level, for a better understanding of the real impact of malaria on the Haitian population and to create more appropriate interventions.

Diversity of Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Bom Retiro Private Natural Heritage Reserve, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil.

This study registers the diversity of Culicidae in the Bom Retiro Private Natural Heritage Reserve (RPPNBR), Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, based on the collection of the immature stages in natural and artificial larval habitats. Larvae and pupae were collected monthly at two sites of the RPPNBR from May 2014 to July 2015 using dippers and aquatic pipettes. The diversity of the mosquito community was described using the Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index (H'), as well as diversity, richness, and dominance of species found in different larval habitats (lake, bamboos, bromeliads, and artificial vessels). The Mann-Whitney test was used to calculate differences between the two natural and artificial habitats. Overall, 15,659 specimens belonging to 25 species, ten genera, and two subfamilies were collected. The most abundant species collected at sites that were reforested recently were Culex pleuristriatus Theobald, 1903, Limatus durhamii (Theobald, 1901), Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1895), Culex neglectus (Lutz, 1904), and Culex retrosus (Lane & Whitman, 1951). In a forest preserved site, the most abundant species were Cx. neglectus, Culex iridescens (Lutz, 1905), Sabethes identicus (Dyar & Knab, 1907), Wyeomyia arthrostigma (Lutz, 1905), and Li. durhamii. With respect to larval habitats, 0.1% of the specimens were collected along the edge of a lake, 5.5% in bamboos, 35.9% in bromeliads, and 58.4% in artificial containers. Only 5.5% of the specimens were collected in the forest preserved site, with the remaining samples from the site with altered vegetation. A greater species richness and diversity were found in forest-altered sites compared to the forest preserved site. Several species were collected in the water accumulated in the nylon lids of plastic water tanks. Such vessels can promote an increase in mosquito population density in the environment surrounding the study area.