Updating the geographical distribution and frequency of Aedes
albopictus in Brazil with remarks regarding its range in the
Americas |
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| Authors: | Roberta Gomes Carvalho Ricardo Louren?o-de-Oliveira Ima Aparecida Braga |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde, Ministério da Saúde, Brasília, DF, Brasil;2. Laboratório de Transmissores de Hematozoários, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil |
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| Abstract: | The geographical distribution of Aedes albopictus in Brazil was updated according tothe data recorded across the country over the last eight years. Countrywide houseindexes (HI) for Ae. albopictus in urban and suburban areas were described for thefirst time using a sample of Brazilian municipalities. This mosquito is currentlypresent in at least 59% of the Brazilian municipalities and in 24 of the 27 federalunits (i.e., 26 states and the Federal District). In 34 Brazilian municipalities, theHI values for Ae. albopictus were higher than those recorded for Ae. aegypti,reaching figures as high as HI = 7.72 in the Southeast Region. Remarks regarding thecurrent range of this mosquito species in the Americas are also presented. NineteenAmerican countries are currently infested and few mainland American countries havenot confirmed the occurrence of Ae. albopictus. The large distribution and highfrequency of Ae. albopictus in the Americas may become a critical factor in thespread of arboviruses like chikungunya in the new world. |
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| Keywords: | Aedes albopictus distribution house index infestation surveillance |
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