[Broadening the scope of triatomine research in the attendance of notifications of Triatoma sordida (Stål, 1859) in the State of São Paulo]. / Ampliação de raio de pesquisa de triatomíneos na atividade de atendimento às notificações em área de Triatoma sordida (Stål, 1859) no Estado de São Paulo.

The objective of this study was to broaden the inspection of home units to a radius of 200 meters from the residence of each notified case. The notifications received by the regional Services of SUCEN of São José do Rio Preto, Araçatuba and Presidente Prudente were evaluated in August, September and October of 2002. There was a total of 263 notifications of triatomines, of which 79 were positive. Broadening the scope meant another 610 domestic units were included in the investigation and in 14.5% of these triatomines were found. It was observed that 24.7% of the domestic units neighboring the house of the notified case presented positive results in the triatomines investigation. When a notified domestic unit presented a positive result, broadening the scope showed positivity in 42.5% of neighboring domestic units (Odds ratio 2.252 (1.25

PCR -- based diagnosis to evaluate the performance of malaria reference centers.

Although the Giemsa-stained thick blood smear (GTS) remains the gold standard for the diagnosis of malaria, molecular methods are more sensitive and specific to detect parasites and can be used at reference centers to evaluate the performance of microscopy. The description of the Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae and P. ovale ssrRNA gene sequences allowed the development of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) that had been used to differentiate the four species. The objective of this study was to determine Plasmodium species through PCR in 190 positive smears from patients in order to verify the quality of diagnosis at SUCEN's Malaria Laboratory. Considering only the 131 positive results in both techniques, GTS detected 4.6% of mixed and 3.1% of P. malariae infections whereas PCR identified 19.1% and 13.8%, respectively.

[Determinants of the process of domiciliary infestation by Panstrongylus megistus: the role of housing and deforesting]. / Determinantes do processo de infestação domiciliar por Panstrongylus megistus: o papel da habitação e do desmatamento.

This study investigates the housing conditions and deforesting in Caconde and São José do Rio Pardo, neighbouring towns located in the northeastern region of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. These localities have had different dwelling infestation rates by Panstrongylus megistus and they also show distinct socioeconomic development. The housing conditions were studied by the analysis of data collected during the 1970's by the Superintendência de Controle de Endemias (SUCEN), a government agency. Aerial photographs taken during flights performed by the Agricultural Department of the State were used to analyse the deforesting. The socioeconomic analysis was based on Agricultural Census and interview with agronomic officials. The study showed more precarious housing conditions in Caconde than in São José do Rio Pardo. It was related to lower socioeconomic development in Caconde, confirming a trend showed by previous studies. The deforesting was more intense in São José, where socioeconomic development has been higher and the infestation rates were lower, what demonstrates opposite behaviour between the two determinants in these towns. The links between deforesting and higher socioeconomic development can also be showed by the relation between productive activity and destruction of the natural agricultural covering. It is emphasized that the tendency of opposite effect of the deforesting did not change the final result, that is, the confrontation of these determinant forces resulted in higher infestation rates in Caconde than in São José do Rio Pardo. The existence of these opposite trends between the determinants disclosed therefore more complexity in the infestation process of P. megistus, although the final result was not reverted changed.

[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.

[Entomological surveillance of Chagas' disease in the State of Sao Paulo]. / Vigilância entomológica da doença de Chagas no Estado de São Paulo.

Drastic modifications in agrarian space, with the reductions of primary forests, along with changes in rural production systems have led to the growth of salaried employment and also caused rural workers to move to the peripheral areas of cities. There has also been an intense and continuous intervention undertaken by the Superintendência de Controle de Endemias (SUCEN) through the use of pesticides in the fight against triatomine bugs in houses and peridomestic areas of the State of S. Paulo. All these factors have contributed to the interruptions of the natural transmission of Chagas' disease in S. Paulo. The next step in the program was the integration of vertical vector control into primary health care involving community participation. The several years of SUCEN's work among the rural communities has encouraged them to notify the presence of triatominae bugs, and prompt response to each notification has led to the growth of the process of permanent participation. Data from 1985 and 1986 showed that 85.6% of the bugs captured inside houses were notified by the population, which confirms that the best way to maintain the epidemiologic surveillance of Chagas' disease by the mobilization of local communities for effective participation in vector surveillance.

[Malaria acquired during entomological research in the Serra do Mar, southeastern region of Brazil]. / Malária adquirida durante atividade entomológica na Serra do Mar, região Sudeste do Brasil.

A focus of malaria was discovered at the beginning of 1993, in the Coastal Range State Park, in the Atlantic Forest area of the State of S. Paulo, Brazil. The entomological research carried out there caused malaria infection by Plasmodium vivax in three workers of the Endemic Research Control Superintendancy (Superintendência de Controle de Endemias - SUCEN), of the State Health Secretariat. It is worth emphasizing that transmission occurred in an area which had been presenting low levels of incidence of the disease; also, the capturers who were undertaking their entomological activities in the area were exposed for an extremely short period of time in one case for only three hours.

[Simplifying the sampling method for evaluating the larval density of Aedes aegypti in São Paulo State, Brazil]. / Simplificação do método de estimação da densidade larvária de Aedes aegypti no Estado de São Paulo.

OBJECTIVE: To suggest changes in the sampling procedures for estimating the larval density of Aedes aegypti in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, by assessing the efficacy and level of complexity of the current procedures. METHODS: The "Superintendência de Controle de Endemias do Estado de São Paulo" - SUCEN's (Superintendence for Endemic Control of the State of São Paulo) sampling procedures for estimating the density of Aedes aegypti larvae was assessed. The Breteau index with one-stage cluster sampling was applied. An average of 35 blocks, 14 buildings per block, of a total of 510 buildings per sample, were assessed. One hundred and eleven samples were obtained in 6 municipalities of São José do Rio Preto. RESULTS: The Breteau index estimates higher than 3 had coefficients of variation smaller than 30% in 71% of the samples. The design effect was 1.19 and 1.79 for indexes lower and higher than 5, respectively. The estimates were obtained in less than 3 days, requiring a daily average of 5.5 men per sampling. CONCLUSION: This sampling design revealed to be a simplified one: fast, economic and easily managed. The operational easiness was due to the use of the one-stage cluster sampling, when there was not need to prepare lists of addresses and then sort and locate the buildings. Though the design effect shows a slight loss of the estimates' accuracy with the use of one-stage cluster sampling, this was proven to be under acceptable range. Simplifying changes in the process of determining the sample size and assessing sampling errors are proposed.

[Social representations of the relationships between plant vases and the dengue vector]. / Representações sociais sobre relações entre vasos de plantas e o vetor da dengue.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate how houseplant 'caretakers' represent the relationship between plant vases and breeding sites for the dengue vector, in order to reformulate educational policies. METHODS: The present study was carried out among caretakers from three São Paulo State municipalities in which dengue is known to exist and in which extensive educational activities had been previously conducted. Twenty households from each of the municipalities studied were selected based on larval density evaluation bulletins elaborated by SUCEN (Endemic Disease Control Coordination) and classified as positive or negative for the presence of Aedes aegypti larvae in plant vases. The 60 participants were aged 20-65 years and were directly involved in plant care. Interviews were carried out using a semi-structured questionnaire, and recorded in cassette tapes. Data were tabulated using the collective subject discourse technique. RESULTS: Negative representations found included: erroneous information in the population's imaginary universe; disbelief that a 'tiny little mosquito' could cause such extensive problems; belief in the disease only after its concrete manifestation; and mistrust in educational activities in general. Positive representations included: understanding of the basic mechanism of dengue transmission; appreciation of the role and constant presence of sanitary authorities; understanding of their own share of responsibility in fighting the disease. CONCLUSIONS: With respect to vector control activities, the exceedingly synthetic messages emitted by the sanitary authorities prevent the information from being assimilated by the population to the desirable extent. Educational activities must be understood by the population to which they are destined if any behavioral changes are to take place.

Sistema Escorpio/Sucen ­ uma inovação para a saúde pública do estado de São Paulo / Escorpio System/Sucen ­ an innovation for the public health of the state of São Paulo

O escorpionismo, ou acidente escorpiônico, é o envenenamento provocado pelo escorpião quando este injeta veneno em uma pessoa através do ferrão, sendo as crianças e os idosos os mais vulneráveis a complicações.1 No Brasil, as notificações do Sistema Nacional de Agravos de Notificação (Sinan) registraram 86.419, 91.476 e 124.077 casos nos anos de 2015, 2016 e 2017, respectivamente (dados provisórios do Sinan 26-06-2018). As incidências nesses anos variaram entre 40 e 60 casos/100 mil habitantes, sendo as maiores nas regiões Nordeste (97,9/100 mil hab) e Sudeste (62,7/100 mil hab.), no ano de 2017. Dada a situação epidemiológica do escorpionismo no Estado de São Paulo, que desde 2016 está em ascensão, e o progressivo(AU)

Experiências municipais em manejo e controle de escorpião no estado de São Paulo / Municipal experiments for handling and controlling the scorpions in the state of São Paulo

No dia 18 de dezembro de 2018, nas dependências da Superintendência de Controle de Endemias (Sucen), auditório "Antonio Carlos D'Ávila", foi realizado um evento para compartilhar experiências de municípios que realizam o manejo e controle de escorpião em área urbana no estado de São Paulo. A magnitude da situação epidemiológica de acidentes por esse aracnídeo se configura em dados alarmantes. No Brasil, no ano de 2017, tivemos o registro de 123.964 casos de escorpionismo, sendo o estado de São Paulo o segundo da federação com maior número, 21.243 casos

Impact of insecticide resistance on the field control of Aedes aegypti in the State of São Paulo.

INTRODUCTION: The need to control dengue transmission by means of insecticides has led to the development of resistance to most of the products used worldwide against mosquitoes. In the State of São Paulo, the Superintendência de Controle de Endemias (SUCEN) has annually monitored the susceptibility of Aedes aegypti to insecticides since 1996; since 1999, surveys were conducted in collaboration with the National Network of Laboratories (MoReNAa Network) and were coordinated by the Ministry of Health. In this study, in addition to the biological characterization of insecticide resistance in the laboratory, the impact of resistance on field control was evaluated for vector populations that showed resistance in laboratory assays. METHODS: Field efficacy tests with larvicides and adulticides were performed over a 13-year period, using World Health Organization protocols. RESULTS: Data from the field tests showed a reduction in the residual effect of temephos on populations with a resistance ratio of 3. For adults, field control was less effective in populations characterized as resistant in laboratory qualitative assays, and this was confirmed using qualitative assays and field evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that management of resistance development needs to be adopted when insect populations show reduced susceptibility. The use of insecticides is a self-limiting tool that needs to be applied cautiously, and dengue control requires more sustainable strategies.

Análise da distribuição dos flebotomíneos (Diptera,Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) no Estado de São Paulo / Analysis of the distribution of sand flies (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) in the state of São Paulo

Introdução: A leishmaniose pode ocorrer na forma tegumentar (LT) ou visceral (LV). É endêmica em 102 países, e cerca de 350 milhões de pessoas vivem em áreas de risco da infecção. Anualmente, ocorrem 1,3 milhões de novos casos e provocam 20.000 a 30.000 mortes, com impacto na saúde pública. Os flebotomíneos são os vetores dos agentes da leishmaniose, várias espécies do gênero Leishmania (Trypanosomatidae), transmitidos ao homem e animais. No estado de São Paulo (SP), a LV ocorre mais associada ao ambiente urbano e a LT, ao rural. Objetivos: Atualizar os dados da distribuição geográfica das espécies de flebotomíneos em SP e avaliar a frequência dos vetores implicados na transmissão da LT, segundo Divisões Regionais de Saúde (DRS), para detecção de áreas com riscos de infecção, bem como de áreas carentes de informação da presença desses insetos. Método: Pesquisas bibliográficas foram realizadas em artigos científicos, teses, dissertações e em banco de dados sobre flebotomíneos no site da Superintendência de Controle de Endemias (SUCEN). Os dados foram lançados em planilhas com as informações sobre autores, locais de coleta, espécies coletadas e número de espécimes. Os mapas com a distribuição das espécies por município e DRS foram construídos por meio do software de geoprocessamento QGIS 3.16. Também foram levantadas a incidências da LT por DRS de 2018 a 2021. Resultados: São 78 espécies de flebotomíneos com registros em SP; Psathyromyia ribeirensis e Psathyromyia baratai foram descritas após a última revisão (em 2011), e sete outras (Evandromyia costalimai, Evandromyia teratodes, Lutzomyia alencari, Nyssomyia fraihai, Psathyromyia barrettoi barrettoi, Psathyromyia campograndensis e Pintomyia serrana) representam novos registros. A distribuição em mapas por município e DRS foi feita para todas as espécies. Nas 17 DRSs de SP, constatou-se a presença de vetores, de LT com diversidade e frequências variáveis. As espécies do gênero Nyssomyia predominam, isoladamente ou em simpatria, na maioria das regionais. Nas situadas mais a leste do estado, e que incluem a costa, Ny. intermedia domina; em regionais que incluem áreas mais para o interior, em algumas delas, como a de Registro, no Vale do Ribeira, Ny. intermedia e Ny. neivai ocorrem em simpatria. Na DRS da Grande São Paulo, Pi. fischeri prevalesce. Nas DRSs de Campinas e Sorocaba, Ny. neivai, Ny. whitmani, Mg. migonei e Pi. fischeri predominam. Nas mais centrais e a oeste do estado, Ny. neivai prevalesce, em algumas delas, em simpatria com Ny. whitmani. A DRS de Registro se destaca, quanto à incidência de casos de LT. Lutzomyia longipalpis, vetor principal do agente da LV, teve sua distribuição plotada, mas não a frequência. A visualização espacial em mapas da distribuição das espécies pode auxiliar em atividades de vigilância entomológica. Conclusão: A fauna flebotomínea foi acrescida de nove espécies em relação à última revisão. Constatou-se a presença de vetores em todas as regionais, e com exceção da DRS da Grande São Paulo, onde Pi. fischeri, notadamente, predomina, em todas as demais DRSs, as espécies de Nyssomyia, isoladamente, ou em simpatria, predominam. As duas outras vetoras Mg. migonei e Pi. pessoai, não predominaram em qualquer das DRSs. A DRS de Registro se destaca marcadamente em relação à incidência de casos de LT e nela estão presente Ny. intermedia nas áreas litorâneas e em simpatria com Ny. neivai, nas áreas mais afastadas da costa.

Introduction: Leishmaniasis can occur in tegumentary (TL)) or visceral (VL) forms. It is endemic in 102 countries, and about 350 million people live in areas at risk of infection. Annually, 1.3 million new cases occur and cause 20,000 to 30,000 deaths, with an impact on public health. Sand flies are the vectors of the agents of leishmaniasis, several species of the genus Leishmania (Trypanosomatidae), transmitted to humans and animals. In the state of São Paulo (SP), VL is more associated with the urban and TL with the rural environments. Objectives: To update data on the geographic distribution of sand fly species in SP and to assess the frequency of vectors involved in LT transmission, according to Regional Health Divisions (DRS), to detect areas at risk of infection, as well as areas lacking information on the presence of these insects. Method: Bibliographic searches were carried out in scientific articles, theses, dissertations and in a database on sandflies, on the website of the Superintendence of Endemic Diseases Control (SUCEN). Data were entered into spreadsheets with information about authors, collection sites, collected species and number of specimens. Maps with the distribution of species by municipality and DRS were constructed using the geoprocessing software QGIS 3.16. The incidence of LT by DRS from 2018 to 2021 was also surveyed. Results: There are 78 species of sand flies with records in SP; Psathyromyia ribeirensis and Psathyromyia baratai were described after the last revision (in 2011), and seven others (Evandromyia costalimai, Evandromyia teratodes, Lutzomyia alencari, Nyssomyia fraihai, Psathyromyia barrettoi barrettoi, Psathyromyia campograndensis and Pintomyia serrana) represent new records. The distribution on maps by municipality and DRS was made for all species. In the 17 DRS's of SP, the presence of vectors of LT agents was verified with variable diversity and frequencies. Species of the genus Nyssomyia predominate, alone or in sympatry, in most regions. In the easternmost parts of the state, which include the coast, Ny. intermedia dominates; in regions that include areas further inland, in some of them, such as Registro, in Ribeira Valley, Ny. intermedia and Ny. neivai occur in sympatry. In the Greater São Paulo DRS, Pi. fischeri prevails. In the DRSs of Campinas and Sorocaba, Ny. neivai, Ny. whitmani, Mg. migonei and Pi. fischeri predominate. In the most central and western parts of the state, Ny. neivai prevails, in some of them, in sympatry with Ny. whitmani. The DRS of Registro stands out in terms of the incidence of TL cases. Lutzomyia longipalpis, the main vector of the VL agent, had its distribution plotted, but not its frequency. Spatial visualization on species distribution maps can help in entomological surveillance activities. Conclusion: The sand fly fauna was increased by nine species compared to the last review. The presence of vectors was found in all regions, with the exception of the Greater São Paulo DRS, where Pi. fischeri, notably, predominates, in all other DRSs, Nyssomyia species, alone or in sympatry, predominate. The two other vectors Mg. migonei and Pi. pessoai, did not predominate in any of the DRSs. TheDRS of Registro stands out markedly in relation to the incidence of TL cases and Ny intermedia is present in coastal areas and in sympatry with Ny. neivai, in the areas furthest from the coast.

Laboratório de vetores

O Laboratório de Vetores iniciou suas atividades em 30 de agosto de 2004, quando foi assinado o Termo de Cooperação Técnica nº 1/2004 entre a Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto (Famerp) e a Sucen (Processo Sucen 197/2004), objetivando a cooperação técnica, científica e pedagógica para o desenvolvimento de atividades de rotina e pesquisa em doenças transmitidas por vetores...

Da Tamandaré à Paula Souza: vivências do passado e experiência adquirida

Dos quarenta anos de existência da Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, Sucen, dez foram passados em imóveis da Rua Tamandaré, Bairro da Aclimação, São Paulo,Capital. A Sucen, inicialmente conhecida sob outras denominações, forneceu um panorama organizativo e de inter-relações de trabalho que serviram de base técnica e, até certo ponto, cultural das suas atividades...

Laboratório de Imunoepidemiologia

O Laboratório de Imunoepidemiologia teve origem em convênio celebrado em 1969 entre a Divisão de Combate a Vetores, do então Serviço de Erradicação da Malária e Profilaxia da doença de Chagas e a Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo. A instalação do laboratório nas dependências da Sucen, em 1972, visou a realização de levantamentos imunológicos em diversos grupos etários da população residente em áreas de vigilância para a doença de Chagas...

Parâmetros aplicados à análise da produção científica da Superintendência de Controle de Endemias durante os anos 1975 a 2014

As atividades de pesquisa científica na Superintendência de Controle de Endemias (Sucen) respondem à missão institucional de produzir conhecimento para atender às demandas da sociedade quanto ao controle de vetores de doenças transmissíveis. A produção científica merece destaque, pois é através dela que o conhecimento produzido é difundido e democratizado. Desta forma são adquiridas informações para a solução de problemas ou adoção de alternativas para o desenvolvimento e integração sustentável de atividades específicas...

Contribuição das pesquisas desenvolvidas na Sucen incorporadas às ações de vigilância e controle dos vetores da leishmaniose visceral

No estado de São Paulo, a partir da ocasião do registro do primeiro encontro do vetor Lutzomyia longipalpis em área urbana, em 1997 incrementaram-se as atividades de vigilância entomológica, cujo desenvolvimento pela Superintendência de Controle de Endemias (Sucen) permitiu identificar, até este momento, a presença desse vetor em 163 municípios (25,3% dos que compõem o Estado)...

A Sucen e as políticas públicas de saúde

Quando da criação da Superintendência de Controle de Endemias (Sucen), em 1975, com uma estrutura verticalizada, as bases dos programas de controle das endemias, delineados no formato de campanhas, incluíam a busca, o diagnóstico e o tratamento de casos, a coleta e a identificação de espécies de importância epidemiológica e as aplicações de substâncias químicas contra a proliferação dos vetores e/ou hospedeiros intermediários. Excetuando o programa da doença de Chagas, com sustentação quase exclusiva no combate aos vetores, as ações e os trabalhos previstos nos programas de controle da malária e da esquistossomose aconteciam até então com elevada qualidade,evitando o desenvolvimento de formas graves dessas doenças...

Laboratório de malacologia

A origem do Laboratório de Malacologia é de 1969, ou seja, seguiu-se à criação da Campanha de Combate à Esquistossomose, a CACESQ, a partir da inclusão da esquistossomose como um problema de saúde pública do Estado de São Paulo. Com o entendimento que o controle da doença ficara relegado a um plano secundário, na expectativa de retomada da atenção com o assunto, por sugestão de Piza , em 1976, aconteceu a incorporação da CACESQ pela recém criada Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, a Sucen...

Contribuição das pesquisas desenvolvidas na Sucen incorporadas às ações de vigilância e controle dos vetores da dengue

Desde 1985, com a reinfestação do estado de São Paulo por Aedes aegypti, os estudos enfocaram fatores que propiciaram o estabelecimento da espécie, a dispersão passiva e a influência das condições climáticas na expansão geográfica desse vetor. A necessidade de monitorar a presença do inseto nas áreas infestadas foi atendida com metodologia simples, rápida, econômica e de fácil operacionalização, que permitiu avaliar os níveis de infestação, sazonalidade e flutuações das populações do vetor e determinar o impacto das medidas de controle...