Influence of social and environmental factors for Culex quinquefasciatus distribution in Northeastern Brazil: a risk index

ABSTRACT

Culex quinquefasciatus is a vector of lymphatic filariasis. One important component in planning filariasis control activities is the mapping of vector distribution. A tool that involves socio-environmental factors and Cx. quinquefasciatus density can contribute to the identification of areas that should be prioritized in surveillance actions. This is an ecological study based on the construction and validation of a risk score of urban areas according to social and environmental variables extracted from a national database. Based on this stratification, female Cx. quinquefasciatus were captured. In total, 30,635 Cx. quinquefasciatus were captured, of which 17,161 (56%) were females. The highest vector density index of mosquitoes were captured in households located in the high-risk stratum and the indicator proved to be a tool that identified an association between social and environmental conditions and areas with the highest vector density index of females Cx. quinquefasciatus.

KEYWORDS:

• Culex quinquefasciatus
• vector control
• lymphatic filariasis

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the City Hall of Igarassu for the partnership in the development of this project, especially the representative Renata Maia. The authors are grateful for our collaborator Ana Carla da Silva and our scientific initiation students: Adrielle Nunes (BIC-1204-4.06/19), Romualdo Arthur (PIBIC/CNPq/Fiocruz), and Sara Xavier (PIBIC/CNPq/Fiocruz).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel—Brazil (CAPES) [Finance Code 001]; Foundation for the Support of Science and Technology of Pernambuco (FACEPE) [IBPG-0959-4.01/16 to A.T.X]; University of Pernambuco [PFA]; and by Fiocruz Support Foundation (FIOTEC)—Knowledge Generation II [VPPCB-007-FIO-18-2-107].