Cemeteries as sources of Aedes aegypti and other mosquito species in southeastern Puerto Rico

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Trop Med Int Health
• Personal Author:
  Otero, Luisa M. ; Medina-Martinez, Gisela ; Sepúlveda, Manuel ; Acevedo, Verónica ; Toro, Mayra ; Barrera, Roberto
• Description:
  Objective:
  
  To investigate the presence and abundance of mosquito species in containers found in different types of cemeteries in Puerto Rico to assess their importance and make control recommendations.
  
  Methods:
  
  We conducted surveys of containers with water in 16 cemeteries in southeastern Puerto Rico to detect the presence of larvae and pupae of Aedes aegypti and other mosquitoes; to identify the most common and productive containers and to study their variation in relation to the type of cemetery.
  
  Results:
  
  The most common containers with water were flowerpots, followed in abundance by a variety of discarded containers and open tombs. We found a positive relationship between density of containers with water and rainfall. There was a rich community of mosquito species developing in containers of the inspected cemeteries: nine mosquito species belonging to four genera with Ae. aegypti and Ae. mediovittatus being the most frequent and abundant. We sampled 13 cement-type cemeteries, 2 mixed and only 1 lawn cemetery, consequently, we could not draw any conclusion regarding container productivity and cemetery type.
  
  Conclusions:
  
  Surveyed cemeteries were important sources of Ae. aegypti and other mosquitoes in flowerpots, discarded containers and open tombs. We recommend conducting further studies to establish how frequently inspections should occur; and mosquito control by emptying aquatic habitats and larviciding to reduce mosquito productivity and protect workers and visitors from mosquito bites and possible transmission of arboviruses.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Aedes Animals Cemeteries Ecosystem Humans Larva Mosquito Control Mosquito Vectors Puerto Rico Pupa Water

  More +
• Source:
  Trop Med Int Health. 27(3):300-309
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Volume:
  27
• Issue:
  3
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:bfbb061a48a5800abd88cc833ab759d7003f6fb2f412e845919401d2bcbcd2b810874abf5c20ac19bcefe0e645f536d27b083005eb485ff041e02487a4bfad03
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/115723/cdc_115723_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 861.01 KB ]