Infestation and Larval Habitat Ecology of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in an Urban Gradient in Vassouras, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Since there are no available vaccines against some arboviruses, vector control is the most effective way to reduce their incidence. In this context, mechanical control is one of the most cost-effective ways to suppress Aedes populations, but it requires knowledge about vector breeding ecology in varied landscapes and climates. Here we investigated the infestation levels and container types used as larval habitats by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in an urban gradient of Vassouras, a countryside city in Rio de Janeiro. Larval surveys were conducted bimonthly from January 2017 to December 2018. Infestation was measured through the House (HI) and Breteau indexes (BI). Container types found with Aedes spp. immatures were correlated with temperature and rainfall and were compared between urbanization zones. The distribution of positive containers was mapped. The HI for Ae. aegypti increased during rainy seasons, but the HI and BI were always <1% for both mosquito vectors. More reservoirs were found harboring Ae. albopictus than Ae. aegypti, but in general their relative distribution into types was similar between species. On the other hand, the amount and distribution of containers into types varied across urbanization zones. Finally, the spatial distribution of larval habitats was similar between species, as well as often constant between seasons and study years.