Autor(es): Padmanabha, H.; Soto, E.; Mosquera, M.; Lord, C. C.; Lounibos, L. P.

Resumo: Understanding linkages between household behavior and Aedes aegypti (L.) larval ecology is essential for community-based dengue mitigation. Here we associate water storage behaviors with the rate of A. aegypti pupal production in three dengue-endemic Colombian cities with different mean temperatures. Qualitative, semi-structured interviews and pupal counts were conducted over a 7-15-day period in 235 households containing a water storage vessel infested with larvae. Emptying vessels more often than every 7days strongly reduced pupal production in all three cities. Emptying every 7-15days reduced production by a similar magnitude as emptying 90% of households regularly used stored water for washing clothes, generating a weaker correlation between emptying and usage. Emptying was less frequent in the households surveyed in the dry season in all three cities. These results show that A. aegypti production and human behaviors are coupled in a temperature-dependent manner. In addition to biological effects on aquatic stages, climate change may impact A. aegypti production through human behavioral adaptations. Vector control programs should account for geographic variation in temperature and water usage behaviors in designing targeted interventions.

Palavras-Chave: Temperature effects; Human diseases; Climate change; Pest control; Hosts; Aquatic insects; Ecosystem disturbance; Disease transmission; Public health; Adaptations; Dengue; Control programs; Climatic changes; Vectors; Geographical variations; Water temperature; Ecology; Storage; Larvae; Temperature; Urban areas; Aedes aegypti

Imprenta: EcoHealth, v. 7, n. 1, p. 78-90, 2010.

Descritores: Aedes aegypti - Transmission ; Aedes aegypti - Dengue ; Aedes aegypti - Public health

Data de publicação: 2010