The overall theme that drove my research was the concern for public health and its possible compromise due to the colonization of large areas of the United States by the disease-vectoring Aedes albopictus. The main objective is to determine the elements that make an environment conducive to Aedes albopictus populations. Specifically, the objective of this research is to identify the socio-economic impact of Aedes albopictus on residents in the Hampton Roads area in southeast Virginia and determine if there is an identifiable environment in which A. albopictus could be found. Data were collected at the Census block group level (demographic variables) and at the single household level (survey and physical-cultural variables). The variables were then correlated (Pearson) and the results were analyzed. Only variables that were less than (.1) significance were examined. The following physical-cultural variables were found to be associated with the reduction of A. albopictus activity: having a sea breeze, being near an oceanfront, cutting the grass frequently, and keeping the overall neatness of a property high. Secondary variables that are related to the decrease in A. albopictus populations are sunny yards, yards with no containers that can hold water, and yards that contain coniferous trees versus deciduous trees. The primary socio-economic variables that can signify an environment with high A. albopictus activity are: lower house value and median rent value, lower levels of education, and a lower median income level. Other demographic variables that help determine the size of an A. albopictus population are (in order of significance): ethnicity (white or black), poverty/unemployed, owner/renter occupied, and the year a house was built. These secondary variables increase A. albopictus numbers if the following trends exist: high percent of persons in poverty and unemployed, higher percent of renter occupied homes, and older houses. / Master of Science

Mosquito-borne diseases remain a significant burden on global public health. Maintenance of mosquito-borne viruses in nature requires a biological transmission cycle that involves alternating virus replication in a susceptible vertebrate and mosquito host. Although infection of the vertebrate host is acute and often associated with disease, continual transmission of these viruses in nature depends on the establishment of a persistent, nonpathogenic infection in the mosquito vector. It is well known that invertebrates rely on small RNA pathways as an adaptive antiviral defense. The canonical antiviral response in these organisms involves dicer enzymes that cleave viral double-stranded RNA replicative intermediates (RIs) into small interfering RNAs (siRNAs; ~21-24 nucleotides). One strand of the siRNA duplex guides the targeting and destruction of complementary viral RNAs when loaded and retained in a multi-protein complex called the RNA-induced silencing complex. Here, we show that mosquito vectors mount a redundant double defense against virus infection mediated by two different small RNA pathways. Specifically, we demonstrate that in addition to a canonical antiviral response mediated by siRNAs, virus infection of the mosquito soma also triggers an antiviral immune pathway directed by ping-pong-dependent PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs; ~24-30 nucleotides). The complexity of mosquito antiviral immunity has important implications for understanding how viruses both induce and modulate RNA-silencing responses in mosquito vectors. In mammals, viral RIs induce a range of relatively nonspecific antiviral responses. However, it remains unclear if viral RIs also trigger RNA silencing in mammals. Mosquito-borne viruses represent an ideal model for addressing this question as their transmission cycles involve alternating replication in mammalian and invertebrate hosts. Although we report identifying a subset of virus-derived small RNAs that appear to be products of RNA silencing in two mammalian cell lines infected with the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus (CHIKV), our studies suggest these small RNAs have little biological relevance in combating virus infections. Thus, while the accumulation of virus-derived siRNAs is essential to the survival of mosquitoes infected with CHIKV, they appear to have little functional significance in mammalian antiviral immunity. / Ph. D.

A família dos culicídeos é diversa e possui muitas espécies com alta relevância epidemiológica e que transmitem os patógenos causadores de doenças como dengue, febre amarela e malária. Os imaturos se criam exclusivamente na água e nos mais diversos tipos de criadouros, podendo ser influenciados por fatores biológicos e fatores físico-químicos, que incluem pH, salinidade, condutividade, sólidos totais dissolvidos, entre outros. Entender as variações das condições dos criadouros é importante para entender e esclarecer como esses fatores agem no desenvolvimento dos imaturos, na sua fisiologia e nas relações interespecíficas, que influenciam o desenvolvimento larval e a sobrevivência dos mosquitos. Portanto, o objetivo principal desse trabalho foi investigar a influência de fatores físico-químicos e do tipo de criadouro sobre a ocorrência das espécies de culicídeos em dois remanescentes de Mata Atlântica no município de São Paulo. As coletas dos imaturos ocorreram em três diferentes pontos no Parque Estadual da Cantareira e quatro diferentes pontos na Área de Proteção Ambiental Capivari-Monos, remanescentes de Mata Atlântica inseridos na Grande São Paulo, durante vinte e sete meses para as coletas de diversidade geral e doze meses para as coletas de diversidade juntamente com fatores físico químicos da água. Os imaturos foram coletados em bromélias epífitas e de solo, bambus, poças d\'água no solo e em pedras, ocos de árvore, lagos e recipientes artificiais. As análises dos dados foram feitas através do cálculo do coeficiente de variação das variáveis para os tipos de criadouros, Análise Restrita de Proximidade (CAP), Análise de Correspondência Canônica (CCA) e boxplots sem outliers. Os resultados indicaram que há uma diferença estatisticamente significante na composição de espécies em função dos diferentes tipos de criadouros e que o pH possui influência sobre a ocorrência das espécies, tanto para a variável tipo de criadouro quanto para situações em que se retira essa variável. As espécies com importância epidemiológica coletadas foram: Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, Anopheles cruzii, Haemagogus leucocelaenus, Psorophora ferox e Sabethes purpureus, com ocorrência das duas espécies de Aedes e Haemagogus no mesmo criadouro. Esses resultados são importantes para reforçar a necessidade do monitoramento de criadouros das espécies vetoras de patógenos e para um melhor entendimento da ecologia das espécies. / The Culicidae family is diverse and has many species of high epidemiological relevance that transmit the pathogens that cause diseases such as dengue fever, yellow fever and malaria. The immatures are created exclusively in the water and in the most diverse types of breeding places, being able to be influenced by biological factors and physicochemical factors, that include pH, salinity, conductivity, total solids dissolved, among others. Understanding variations in breeding conditions is important in understanding and clarifying how these factors affect the development of immatures, their physiology, and interspecific relationships that influence larval development and mosquito survival. Therefore, the main objective of this work was to investigate the influence of physical-chemical factors and breeding type on the occurrence of Culicidae species in two remnants of Atlantic Forest in the city of São Paulo. Immature collections occurred at three different points in the Cantareira State Park and four different points in the Capivari-Monos Environmental Protection Area, remnants of the Mata Atlântica, located in Greater São Paulo, during twenty-seven months for collections of general diversity and twelve months for collections of diversity along with physical chemical factors of water. The immatures were collected in epiphytic and soil bromeliads, bamboos, pools of water in the soil and stones, tree hollows, lakes and artificial containers. Data analysis was done by calculating the coefficient of variation of the variables for breeding types, Restricted Proximity Analysis (CAP), Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) and boxplots without outliers. The results indicated that there is a statistically significant difference in species composition as a function of the diverse types of breeding sites and that pH has an influence on the occurrence of species, both for the type of breeder variable and for situations in which this variable is removed. The species with epidemiological importance were: Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, Anopheles cruzii, Haemagogus leucocelaenus, Psorophora ferox and Sabethes purpureus, with occurrence of both Aedes and Haemagogus species in the same breeding ground. These results are important to reinforce the need to monitor breeding sites of pathogen vector species and to better understand species ecology.

A família dos culicídeos é diversa e possui muitas espécies com alta relevância epidemiológica e que transmitem os patógenos causadores de doenças como dengue, febre amarela e malária. Os imaturos se criam exclusivamente na água e nos mais diversos tipos de criadouros, podendo ser influenciados por fatores biológicos e fatores físico-químicos, que incluem pH, salinidade, condutividade, sólidos totais dissolvidos, entre outros. Entender as variações das condições dos criadouros é importante para entender e esclarecer como esses fatores agem no desenvolvimento dos imaturos, na sua fisiologia e nas relações interespecíficas, que influenciam o desenvolvimento larval e a sobrevivência dos mosquitos. Portanto, o objetivo principal desse trabalho foi investigar a influência de fatores físico-químicos e do tipo de criadouro sobre a ocorrência das espécies de culicídeos em dois remanescentes de Mata Atlântica no município de São Paulo. As coletas dos imaturos ocorreram em três diferentes pontos no Parque Estadual da Cantareira e quatro diferentes pontos na Área de Proteção Ambiental Capivari-Monos, remanescentes de Mata Atlântica inseridos na Grande São Paulo, durante vinte e sete meses para as coletas de diversidade geral e doze meses para as coletas de diversidade juntamente com fatores físico químicos da água. Os imaturos foram coletados em bromélias epífitas e de solo, bambus, poças d\'água no solo e em pedras, ocos de árvore, lagos e recipientes artificiais. As análises dos dados foram feitas através do cálculo do coeficiente de variação das variáveis para os tipos de criadouros, Análise Restrita de Proximidade (CAP), Análise de Correspondência Canônica (CCA) e boxplots sem outliers. Os resultados indicaram que há uma diferença estatisticamente significante na composição de espécies em função dos diferentes tipos de criadouros e que o pH possui influência sobre a ocorrência das espécies, tanto para a variável tipo de criadouro quanto para situações em que se retira essa variável. As espécies com importância epidemiológica coletadas foram: Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, Anopheles cruzii, Haemagogus leucocelaenus, Psorophora ferox e Sabethes purpureus, com ocorrência das duas espécies de Aedes e Haemagogus no mesmo criadouro. Esses resultados são importantes para reforçar a necessidade do monitoramento de criadouros das espécies vetoras de patógenos e para um melhor entendimento da ecologia das espécies. / The Culicidae family is diverse and has many species of high epidemiological relevance that transmit the pathogens that cause diseases such as dengue fever, yellow fever and malaria. The immatures are created exclusively in the water and in the most diverse types of breeding places, being able to be influenced by biological factors and physicochemical factors, that include pH, salinity, conductivity, total solids dissolved, among others. Understanding variations in breeding conditions is important in understanding and clarifying how these factors affect the development of immatures, their physiology, and interspecific relationships that influence larval development and mosquito survival. Therefore, the main objective of this work was to investigate the influence of physical-chemical factors and breeding type on the occurrence of Culicidae species in two remnants of Atlantic Forest in the city of São Paulo. Immature collections occurred at three different points in the Cantareira State Park and four different points in the Capivari-Monos Environmental Protection Area, remnants of the Mata Atlântica, located in Greater São Paulo, during twenty-seven months for collections of general diversity and twelve months for collections of diversity along with physical chemical factors of water. The immatures were collected in epiphytic and soil bromeliads, bamboos, pools of water in the soil and stones, tree hollows, lakes and artificial containers. Data analysis was done by calculating the coefficient of variation of the variables for breeding types, Restricted Proximity Analysis (CAP), Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) and boxplots without outliers. The results indicated that there is a statistically significant difference in species composition as a function of the diverse types of breeding sites and that pH has an influence on the occurrence of species, both for the type of breeder variable and for situations in which this variable is removed. The species with epidemiological importance were: Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, Anopheles cruzii, Haemagogus leucocelaenus, Psorophora ferox and Sabethes purpureus, with occurrence of both Aedes and Haemagogus species in the same breeding ground. These results are important to reinforce the need to monitor breeding sites of pathogen vector species and to better understand species ecology.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-01-26T12:51:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 margarethdibo_tese.pdf: 1810718 bytes, checksum: 4df01c13c55a541f2c4aff4668fbacd7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2004-03-17 / Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo / The strategy to contain the vector of Dengue fever in the state of São Paulo is centered around a reduction in breeding places and by chemical controls. To obtain better results in the reduction of the vectorial density it is important to incorporate other measures in the routine approach. Egg traps are considered to be preventative and control measures of Aedes aegypti, however, there are no studies that define the favorite egg-laying locations in residences. The utilization of an infusion of Panicum maximum in traps increases its attractiveness to vector females and increases the number of eggs collected. This study aims to contribute to techniques by using traps to evaluate the number of weeks this infusion remains attractive to females. More importantly, it aims to assess the egg-laying behavior of the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus populations in Mirassol, a town situated in the region of São José do Rio Preto, Brazil. Traps with egg-collecting paddle were installed in 200 houses in 20 blocks giving a total of 10 houses to each block. Half of the blocks were chosen at random for the installation of traps baited with the infusion and in the other half, traps with ordinary water were installed. Two egg-traps were placed inside the house (bedroom and living room) and two outside (one under cover and the other in the open). Weekly visits were made from September to December 2002, to analyze all the traps, collecting the existing sticks and leaving new ones. In the laboratory the viable and nonviable eggs on the sticks were counted. Positive sticks were considered to be those on which eggs were found and these were correlated with the type of trap, infusion or water, the location of the trap within the house and the number of weeks after the start of the trial. A sample of these sticks was placed in water, to hatch the larvae with the aim of identifying the species. The mean numbers of eggs and larvae of the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus were calculated and associated with the location within the house, the type of trap used, infusion or water, and the week number. Analyzing the number of positive sticks, and the mean number of eggs on the traps, it was evidenced that the traps with infusion were more attractive/stimulating for egg-laying for females of the genera Aedes than those with water in the first three weeks of exposition. The uncovered outdoor traps were the most favored location for egg-laying during the entire study period; in second place were the outdoor ones under cover. High values of the Spearman correlation coefficients and p-values less than 0.004 demonstrated a strong correlation between the positivity and the mean number of eggs, indicating that one variable predicts the other. From the analysis of the hatched larvae, Aedes aegypti were identified on 99.6% (CI 95%: 99.04 99.84) of the sticks and Aedes albopictus on 1.8% (CI 95%: 1.19 2.70) of them. In Mirassol the probability of finding eggs of Aedes aegypti on any one stick under these circumstances is greater than 99%. / A estratégia para controle do vetor do dengue no estado de São Paulo está centrada na redução de criadouros e ações de controle químico. Para a obtenção de melhores resultados na redução da densidade vetorial é importante que se incorpore outras medidas de uso rotineiro. Armadilhas de oviposição são consideradas medidas de vigilância e controle de Aedes aegypti, entretanto não existem estudos sobre locais do domicílio preferidos para oviposição. A utilização de infusão de Panicum maximum em armadilhas propicia maior atração às fêmeas do vetor e coleta de maior quantidade de ovos. Através deste estudo, procurou-se subsidiar as técnicas para o uso de armadilhas, avaliar durante quantas semanas a referida infusão manteve sua atração sobre as fêmeas e, principalmente, avaliar o comportamento de oviposição de populações de Aedes aegypti em Mírassol, cidade situada na região de São José do Rio Preto. Instalaram-se armadilhas de oviposição em 200 casas, divididas em 20 quadras, distribuindo-as em 10 casas por quadra. Foram sorteadas 50% das quadras para instalação de armadilhas iscadas com infusão, e nas demais se instalou armadilhas com água. Duas armadilhas foram colocadas no intradomicílio (quarto e sala) e duas no peridomicílio (uma sob cobertura e outra ao relento). Foram feitas visitas semanais entre setembro e dezembro de 2002, para a análise de todas as armadilhas, e substituição das palhetas. Em laboratório, contaram-se ovos viáveis e inviáveis existentes nas palhetas. A presença de ovos na palheta significou a sua positividade, a qual foi verificada quanto à presença ou não de infusão, local de instalação na casa e número de semanas. Uma amostra destas palhetas foi colocada em água, para eclosão de larvas, visando à identificação específica. Os números médios de ovos e de larvas Aedes aegypti e Aedes albopictus foram quantificados segundo o posicionamento no domicílio, presença de armadilha iscada com infusão ou água e o número de semanas. Analisando-se Nota de Resumo as positividades e os números médios de ovos das armadilhas, obteve-se que as armadilhas iscadas com infusão mostraram-se mais atraentes/estimulantes para oviposição pelas fêmeas do gênero Aedes que as com água, nas três primeiras semanas de exposição. O relento foi o local com maior preferência para oviposição durante todo o estudo; em segundo lugar encontrou-se o coberto. Elevados valores dos coeficientes de correlação de Spearman e valores de p inferiores a 0,004 mostraram forte correlação entre positividade e média de ovos, indicando que uma variável prediz a outra. A partir das análises das larvas eclodidas, identificou-se a presença de Aedes aegypti em 99,6% (IC 95%: 99,04 -99,84) das palhetas e de Aedes albopictus em 1,8% (1C95%: 1,19 - 2,70) delas. Em Mirassol, a probabilidade de se encontrar ovos de Aedes aegypti em uma palheta sob estes condições é superior a 99%.

Le moustique Aedes albopictus, potentiellement vecteur de virus tels que la dengue, le Chikungunya ou le Zika est présent dans une quarantaine de départements français de métropole. L’expérience de cas et foyers autochtones de dengue et de Chikungunya enregistrés en Europe et en France métropolitaine depuis une dizaine d’années confirment l’intérêt des autorités d’anticiper le risque par l’adoption de stratégies collectives. Ce travail s’appuie sur une ethnographie des interactions entre les agents de la communauté d’agglomération Var-Esterel-Méditerranée et des riverains, ainsi que sur une série d’entretiens semi-directifs réalisés auprès d’acteurs institutionnels et d’administrés de la Ville de Nîmes. A partir d’analyses des discours et des pratiques, ce travail propose une réflexion sur les perceptions de la nuisance, des risques sanitaires associés à Aedes albopictus, ainsi que des mesures mises en œuvre à titre individuel et collectif. Cette thèse entend démontrer en quoi la lutte contre Aedes albopictus et la promotion de la mobilisation sociale à l’échelle institutionnelle locale relèvent moins d’enjeux strictement sanitaires que plus largement politiques et en particulier de priorisation de l’agenda politique local. L’enjeu plus général que nous discutons est de savoir si l’implication institutionnelle locale en matière de lutte contre le moustique tigre est révélatrice d’identités de territoire et préfigure des inégalités territoriales et plus largement sociales en termes d’accès à l’information, de prévention vis-à-vis des risques sanitaires et de qualité de vie des populations. / The mosquito Aedes albopictus, is the potential vector of different viruses, such as dengue, Chikungunya and Zika, and is present in about 40 departments of mainland France. The experience of the cases and the autochthonous clusters of dengue fever and Chikungunya recorded in Europe and in mainland France in the last 10 years confirm the authorities’ interest in anticipating this problem by adopting collective strategies. The work of this thesis is based on the ethnography of the interactions between the local authority agents of the communauté d’agglomération Var-Esterel-Méditerranée and the local residents, as well as on a series of semi-structured interviews with institutional players and citizens of the city of Nîmes. Starting from the analysis of the words and actions, this work proposes an investigation of the perceptions concerning the mosquito nuisance and health risks associated with Aedes albopictus, as well as of the individual and collective measures. This thesis work wants to show how the fight against Aedes albopictus and the promotion of social mobilization at the local scale are less related to strict health issues and more broadly to political issues, particularly the local political agenda priorities. The more general issue we discuss is to understand whether the local institution implication in the fight against tiger mosquitoes reveals local identities and foreshadow local and also more general social inequalities in terms of access to information and prevention of health risks and quality of life of the populations.

En France, le rapport aux moustiques et les politiques de démoustication présentent des histoires et des caractéristiques différenciées d’un territoire à l’autre. Si dans les DFA les moustiques n'ont jamais cessé d'être des facteurs épidémiques, sur le pourtour méditerranéen en revanche, ils ne constituaient plus de risques sanitaires depuis près d'un demi-siècle. Dans les DFA, les opérations de démoustication ont toujours principalement relevé de politiques sanitaires de Lutte Anti-Vectorielle, tandis qu'en métropole furent mises en place des démoustications de confort visant à réduire la nuisance. Mais, à partir de 2004, la situation évolue suite à l’installation durable du moustique vecteur Aedes albopictus sur le littoral méditerranéen et à l’élargissement progressif de son aire de répartition, exposant la métropole à des risques sanitaires jusqu'alors circonscrits aux régions tropicales. Mobilisant les cadres théoriques des sociologies de l’environnement, des risques et de la santé, et s'appuyant sur un corpus réunissant données qualitatives (311 entretiens et observation participante) et quantitatives (1415 questionnaires), cette thèse analyse la recomposition du rapport entre enjeux environnementaux et sanitaires face à la prolifération de moustiques vecteurs. L'analyse porte tout d'abord sur la place et le statut de l’insecte au sein des différentes populations. Puis, l’attention est portée aux caractéristiques socioéconomiques influençant la vulnérabilité individuelle. Ensuite, les attentes et demandes de la population relatives à la démoustication sont questionnées. Enfin, la dernière partie développe une analyse diachronique dans les Alpes-Maritimes. / In France,the human-mosquito relationship and the mosquito control policies show differentiated stories and features from one territory to another.Thus,if in FDA mosquitoes never ceased being epidemic factors,however,on the Mediterranean coast until recently they no longer represented a Health risk.Indeed,in the FDA,since their implementation,mosquito control campaigns have always been conducted for a sanitary purpose through vector control campaigns.Meanwhile,in metropolitan France,aiming to reduce the nuisance,these policies were initially implemented to ensure the inhabitants comfort.But,starting from 2004,following the durable installation of the Asian tiger mosquito on the French Mediterranean coastline and the progressive widening of its distribution area,the context evolves and,from now on,the metropolitan France is potentially exposed to health risks hitherto circumscribed to tropical areas.Mobilising the theoretical frameworks of environmental,health and risks sociologies,and based on a corpus gathering qualitative (311 interviews and direct observations) and quantitative data (1415 questionnaires),this PhD analyses the recombining of the relationship between environmental and health challenges in light of the vector mosquitoes proliferation.It initially focuses on the place and status of the insect within the different populations.Then, the socio-economic factors influencing the individual vulnerability of exposure to the insect are studied.The third part is devoted to the expectations and requests of the inhabitants regarding the public management of the mosquitoes’ proliferation.Finally, a diachronic analysis centered on the Alps-Maritimes region is developed.

Submitted by (edna.saturno@ufrpe.br) on 2016-07-19T14:48:33Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Cristiane Maia da Silva.pdf: 1998511 bytes, checksum: 58b33e4aff3f932a9eed5c8296403044 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-19T14:48:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Cristiane Maia da Silva.pdf: 1998511 bytes, checksum: 58b33e4aff3f932a9eed5c8296403044 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-02-24 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The insects from culicidae family are present in different habitats since homes until places of habitation of domestics animals. The State of Pernambuco is considered endemic for various diseases transmitted by Culicidae. This is the first survey about culicids in the Municipality of Cabo de Santo Agostinho. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of different species of Culicidae in the Cabo de Santo Agostinho county located in Rainforest Zone of Pernambuco, Brazil. For this purpose, the larvae of culicidae from 3rd and 4th instars were collected weekly during the period from October 2012 to September 2013. Twenty-three artificial traps were distributed and installed in domiciliary environments, peridomiciliary and within the forest, 20 meters away between them. The larvae were collected and transported in plastic containers containing water. When the larvae arrived in the laboratory were identified. A total of 12,718 culicids larvae (average of 1059.83 specimens / month) were collected during study period. The largest number of specimens was detected in September 2013 (n = 4,084) and lowest in December 2012 (n = 86). Notably, 2,441 (19.2%), 7,098 (55.9%) and 3,179 (24.9%) larvae were collected in domiciliary, peridomiciliary environments and at forest, respectively. In relation to the placement of traps (peridomicile and forest) 8,585 (67.5%) specimens were collected on the floor and 1,692 (13.3%) in the treetop. Ten different species of Culicidae were identified, the more often was Aedes albopictus (46.45%; 5,908/12,718), Culex maxi (35.56%; 4,523/12,718) and Limatus durhami (12.58%; 1,600/12,718). Interestingly, Ae. albopictus was the only species detected throughout all the study period (average of 492 specimens / month). In distributed traps in domicile environments Ae. albopictus was responsible for 95.58% (2,333/2,441) of the samples, while the predominance in around peridomicile (floor) traps were Cx maxi (73.22%; 4,523/6,177) species and (treetop) Ae. albopictus (97.94%, 902/921). The presence of Oc. scapularis was exclusively observed in the peridomicile floor traps, demonstrating the preference of this species in this local. This is very worrying, because this specie is epidemiologically important as vector in filariasis and arboviruses transmission. Thus, there is a need of evaluate the vector competence of the Oc. scapularis population of Cabo de Santo Agostinho, Pernambuco for D. immitis, W. bancrofti and arboviruses, considering epidemiologics aspects and public health importance. Although Ae. albopictus, the most common specie in the studied area, has presented two population peaks from February to April and from June to September, it is also possible to conclude that the human and animal populations who live in studied area are exposed to culicids and pathogenics agents, especially, after the rains. Therefore, control and prevention measures of culicids should be adopted in the studied area in order to reduce the health impact of endemic species here reported. / Os culicídeos estão presentes em diferentes habitats frequentando domicílios humanos e locais de permanência de animais domésticos. O Estado de Pernambuco é considerado endêmico para diversas doenças transmitidas por culicídeos. Trata-se do primeiro levantamento de culicideos realizado na região do Cabo de Santo Agostinho, PE. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a ocorrência de diferentes espécies de culicídeos no município do Cabo de Santo Agostinho, na zona da Mata do estado de Pernambuco. Para tanto, larvas de culicídeos de 3º e 4º estádios foram coletadas, semanalmente, em criadouros artificiais no período de outubro de 2012 a setembro de 2013. Foram instaladas 23 armadilhas artificiais do tipo larvitrampa distribuídas em ambientes domiciliar, peridomiciliar e dentro da mata distando 20 metros entre elas. As larvas coletadas foram transportadas em recipientes plásticos contendo água e no laboratório foram identificadas. Um total de 12.718 larvas de culicídeos (média de 1.059,83 espécimes/mês) foi coletado durante o período de estudo. O maior número de espécimes foi detectado em Setembro de 2013 (n = 4.084) e o menor em Dezembro de 2012 (n = 86). Particularmente, 2.441 (19,2%), 7.098 (55,9%) e 3.179 (24,9%) larvas foram coletados nos ambientes domiciliar, peridomiciliar e de mata, respectivamente. Em relação ao posicionamento das armadilhas (peridomicílio e mata) 8.585 (67,5%) espécimes foram coletados no solo e 1.692 (13,3%) na copa. Dez diferentes espécies de culicídeos foram identificadas sendo Aedes albopictus (46,45%; 5.908/12.718), Culex maxi (35,56%; 4.523/12.718) e Limatus durhami (12,58%; 1.600/12.718) as mais frequentes. Curiosamente Ae. albopictus foi a única espécie detectada durante todo o período de estudo (média 492 espécimes/mês). Nas armadilhas distribuídas nos ambientes domiciliares houve predominância da espécie Ae. albopictus (95,58%; 2.333/2.441) enquanto nas posicionadas no peridomicílio (solo) predominou a espécie Cx. (Cx.) maxi (73,22%; 4.523/6.177) e (copa) Ae. albopictus (97,94%; 902/921). Nas armadilhas localizadas na mata várias espécies foram encontradas sendo Li. durhami (50,33%; 1.212/2.408) predominante no solo e Ae. albopictus no solo (38,12%; 918/2.408) e copa (55,71%; 430/771). Foi observada também a presença de Oc. scapularis, com frequência nas armadilhas instaladas no solo do peridomicílio demonstrando a domiciliação dessa espécie na área estudada, o que é muito preocupante, uma vez que essa espécie tem importância epidemiológica, pois possui competência vetorial para a transmissão de diversas arboviroses e filarioses. Conclui-se que há a necessidade, então, de avaliar o potencial vetorial da população de Oc. scapularis do Cabo de Santo Agostinho, PE para D. immitis, W. bancrofti e arboviroses considerando os aspectos epidemiológicos e a importância para saúde pública. Embora Ae. albopictus, a espécie mais frequente na área estudada, tenha apresentando dois picos populacionais, de Fevereiro a Abril e de Junho a Setembro, é possível concluir também que a população humana e animal residente na área de estudo está exposta aos culicídeos e aos agentes por eles veículados durante todo o ano, sobretudo após o período de chuvas. Portanto, medidas de controle e prevenção dos culicídeos devem ser adotadas na área estudada visando a redução do impacto sanitário causado pela endemicidade das espécies aqui reportadas.

Despite the advances made since the advent of germ theory, infectious diseases still wreak havoc on human societies, not only affecting us directly but impacting the crops and livestock upon which we rely. Infectious diseases also have dramatic effects on wildlife ecology. Therefore research into infectious diseases could not only directly lead to the improvement and saving of human lives, but aid in food security and the conservation of many wildlife species. Of vital importance in understanding the ecology of infectious diseases are the mechanisms by which they persist in host populations. One possible mechanism is vertical transmission: the transmission of a pathogen from a parent to its offspring as a result of the process of host reproduction. Another possible mechanism is inapparant infections, where an infected host does not display symptoms. Focusing on dengue fever and the Plodia interpunctella granulovirus laboratory system, this PhD thesis looks at the role these two mechanisms play on the persistence of two viral infections and their ecology. Regarding the Plodia interpunctella granulovirus (PiGV) low host food quality led to greater detection of vertically transmitted inapparant PiGV, but did not lead to its activation to an apparent form. Host inbreeding did not lead to vertically transmitted inapparant PiGV’s activation, nor had an effect on its vertical transmission. The vertical infection rate of PiGV was very low. I would therefore suggest that it may be better to use an insect virus system with a higher rate of vertical infection in future research into vertically transmitting inapparent infections. Regarding dengue virus I conclude that vertical transmission is not likely to play a role in the persistence of this virus. However modelling work found that inapparent infections could provide dengue viruses with a means of persistence and should be subject to further research.

Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 47-06, page: 3395. Advisers: Kristy O. Murray; George L. Delclos. Includes bibliographical references.