Effect of an intervention in storm drains to prevent Aedes aegypti reproduction in Salvador, Brazil

• Published in: Parasites & vectors 2017-07, Vol.10 (1), p.328-328, Article 328
• Main Authors: Souza, Raquel Lima, Mugabe, Vánio André, Paploski, Igor Adolfo Dexheimer, Rodrigues, Moreno S, Moreira, Patrícia Sousa Dos Santos, Nascimento, Leile Camila Jacob, Roundy, Christopher Michael, Weaver, Scott C, Reis, Mitermayer Galvão, Kitron, Uriel, Ribeiro, Guilherme Sousa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accumulation; Adults; Aedes - physiology; Aedes - virology; Aedes aegypti; Animals; Aquatic insects; Arboviruses; Brazil; Chikungunya Fever - prevention & control; Chikungunya Fever - virology; Community; Concrete; Culex - physiology; Culex - virology; Dengue - prevention & control; Dengue - virology; Dengue fever; Dengue Virus - physiology; Detritus; Disease vectors; Drainage, Sanitary; Drains; Entomology; Environmental health; Epidemiology; Guillain-Barre syndrome; Human diseases; Infestation; Insect vectors; Insect Vectors - physiology; Insect Vectors - virology; Intervention; Larva; Larval development; Larval stage; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Metals; Mosquito Control; Mosquitoes; Neighborhoods; Outflow; Polls & surveys; Rain; Rain water; Rainfall; Reproduction; Reproductive cycle; Safety and security measures; Stagnant water; Storm drains; Storms; Surveys; Urban environments; Vector-borne diseases; Viral diseases; Viruses; Water; Water-storage; Zika virus
• ISSN: 1756-3305; 1756-3305
• DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2266-6

Aedes aegypti, the principal vector for dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses, is a synanthropic species that uses stagnant water to complete its reproductive cycle. In urban settings, rainfall water draining structures, such as storm drains, may retain water and serve as a larval development site for Aedes spp. reproduction. Herein, we describe the effect of a community-based intervention on preventing standing water accumulation in storm drains and their consequent infestation by adult and immature Ae. aegypti and other mosquitoes. Between April and May of 2016, local residents association of Salvador, Brazil, after being informed of water accumulation and Ae. aegypti infestation in the storm drains in their area, performed an intervention on 52 storm drains. The intervention consisted of placing concrete at the bottom of the storm drains to elevate their base to the level of the outflow tube, avoiding water accumulation, and placement of a metal mesh covering the outflow tube to avoid its clogging with debris. To determine the impact of the intervention, we compared the frequency at which the 52 storm drains contained water, as well as adult and immature mosquitoes using data from two surveys performed before and two surveys performed after the intervention. During the pre-intervention period, water accumulated in 48 (92.3%) of the storm drains, and immature Ae. aegypti were found in 11 (21.2%) and adults in 10 (19.2%). After the intervention, water accumulated in 5 (9.6%) of the storm drains (P