Caracterização dos criadouros artificiais de Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus e Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) no município de Lago dos Rodrigues, estado do Maranhão

Abstract

The preferred artificial breeding containers of Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, and Culex quinquefasciatus are predominantly found in residential environments, facilitating the proliferation of these culicids and the transmission of pathogens relevant to One Health. Studies on culicidology are essential for understanding species dynamics and their importance in developing vector control strategies. This study aimed to identify and characterize the artificial breeding containers of Ae. aegypti, Ae. albopictus, and Cx. quinquefasciatus in the Centro and Pimentel neighborhoods of Lago dos Rodrigues, Maranhão, during the rainy and dry periods of 2023. Direct inspections were carried out in 100 households, selected at intervals of 15 residences, identifying 2,988 potential breeding containers. Of these, 38 (1.2%) and 24 (0.8%) were positive for at least one species during the rainy and dry periods, respectively. Immature forms of Ae. aegypti predominated in both periods (69.0%). Among the six groups of containers analyzed, the storage group (G4) showed the highest positivity for immatures in both periods (H = 92,27; p < 0.0001). During the rainy period, containers in the disposables and jars group (G1) showed higher productivity for Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus, while the storage group (G4) was the most productive for these species during the dry period. Aedes albopictus showed higher productivity in containers from the storage group (G4) in both periods. Regarding the characteristics of positive containers, in both periods, the majority had a capacity of 1 to 50 liters of water (42.0%), were protected from sunlight (45.1%), contained organic matter (90.3%), were open (66.1%), and were located in the peridomestic area (85.4%). A weak but significant negative correlation was observed between the number of immatures collected per day and minimum (rs = -0.39; p = 0.02) and maximum temperatures (rs = -0.38; p = 0.02), as well as a weak but significant positive correlation with precipitation (rs = 0.38; p = 0.03) in both periods. The identification and characterization of the preferred types of artificial breeding containers for mosquito immatures, combined with an understanding of the ecology of these species and their seasonal distribution in the municipality of Lago dos Rodrigues, provide essential information for the planning and implementing of effective control strategies aimed at reducing the proliferation of these vectors in the region