Cristiano Correa de Azevedo Marques

Microhabitats de Aedes albopictus (Skuse) na região do Vale do Paraíba, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

The objective of this study was the determination of extent of the spatial distribution of Aedes albopictus in the Paraiba River Valley, State S. Paulo, Brazil. Thus, collections of larvae and pupae mosquitoes were carried out at six sites distributed along a transection with a 10-km extension. The target was the tree-holes but artificial containers were also used in this investigation. Aedes terrens and Ae. albopictus were the only species of genus Aedes present in the tree-holes mentioned. The segregation of seven species of the tree-hole community was undertaken in the light of macrohabitat and microhabitat features. Thus, the distribution of Ae. albopictus was found to cover the rural, rural-urban and urban zones, but the rural-urban held the preference. Ae. albopictus never present in the residual and primary forest. The favorable factor to infestation with Ae. albopictus in the Paraiba Valley seems to have been the large number of natural niches made vacant by human influence. The rain has been important in the production of larvae and pupae, but the rainfall period does not coincide with the maximum production on them. The tree-holes whose volume exceeded 600 ml were the most productive breeding places. The abundance of these two stages occurs in the summer and autumn. However, the highest peak was observed in the months of March and April. These seasonal variations were found to be common in both the bamboo trap and the artificial container. The temperature data suggest a limit of from 17 to 23 degrees C for the best development of larvae. In the light of this, the strain of Ae. albopictus studied seems to have originated in tropical Asia. Just as happened with Ae. aegypti it may become an important epidemiological vector for the dengue fever and provide links for yellow fever transmission in Brazil.

Estudo comparativo de eficácia de larvitrampas e ovitrampas para vigilância de vetores de dengue e febre amarela

Com a finalidade de aprimorar a vigilância entomologica dos vetores de Dengue e Febre Amarela - Aedes aegypti e Aedes albopictus - no Estado de Sao Paulo, Brasil, realizou-se estudo comparativo de eficacia de larvitrampas (armadilhas de larvas), e ovitrampas (armadilhas de ovos). A regiao estudada e infestada somente pelo Aedes albopictus, especie que conserva habitos silvestres, mas tambem coloniza criadouros artificiais. A primeira parte do estudo foi realizada em area periurbana de Tremembe-SP, onde foram comparados tres ocos de arvore, 23 ovitrampas e 5 larvitrampas. A segunda parte dos experimentos desenvolveu-se no Municipio de Lavrinhas-SP, no distrito de Pinheiros, onde 20 ovitrampas foram instaladas (uma por quadra) e 5 larvitrampas foram localizadas em pontos estrategicos (comercios, depositos e postos). Os resultados obtidos mostraram que a ovitrampa, alem da capacidade de positivar-se mesmo em presenca de criadouros naturais, possui eficiencia superior a larvitrampa. Constatou-se que para avaliacao de efeitos da termonebulizacao as ovitrampas apresentaram uma significativa reducao na media de ovos, o que nao se verificou em relacao ao Indice de Breteau.

Primeiro encontro de Aedes (Stegomyia) Albopictus (Skuse) no Estado de São Paulo (Brasil)

A Superintendencia de Controle de Endemias (SUCEN), por intermedio do Programa de Controle da Febre Amarela e Dengue, desenvolve atividades no sentido de detectar a presenca de Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus), no Estado de Sao Paulo. Considerando a importância de outras especies de culicideos na transmissao destas doencas, e a presenca de Aedes albopictus (Skuse) nos Estados do Rio de Janeiro, Espirito Santo e Minas Gerais foi intensificado o trabalho de vigilância desse vetor.

Análise da ocorrência de leishmaniose tegumentar americana através de imagem obtida por sensoriamento remoto orbital em localidade urbana da região Sudeste do Brasil

As areas onde, segundo notificacao, ocorreram casos de leishmaniose tegumentar americana, na regiao de Lagoinha, Estado de Sao Paulo, Brasil (Lat 23 05 S; Lon 45 11), nos anos de 1993 e 1994, foram localizadas numa imagem do satelite TM-LANDSAT. A composicao colorida artificial feita com as bandas 3, 4 e 5 da imagem permitiu a identificacao de vegetacao arbustiva, ou dentro mesmo dos limites indicados para aquelas localidades ou a distância maxima de cerca de 250 metros do perimetro de cada area. A utilizacao de um recurso capaz de possibilitar uma visao mais abrangente de uma area geografica tornou evidente as vantagens do sensoriamento remoto orbital para o estudo desta endemia.

Antiretroviral resistance mutations in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infected patients enrolled in genotype testing at the Central Public Health Laboratory, São Paulo, Brazil: preliminary results

Antiretroviral resistance mutations (ARM) are one of the major obstacles for pharmacological human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) suppression. Plasma HIV-1 RNA from 306 patients on antiretroviral therapy with virological failure was analyzed, most of them (60%) exposed to three or more regimens, and 28% of them have started therapy before 1997. The most common regimens in use at the time of genotype testing were AZT/3TC/nelfinavir, 3TC/D4T/nelfinavir and AZT/3TC/efavirenz. The majority of ARM occurred at protease (PR) gene at residue L90 (41%) and V82 (25%); at reverse transcriptase (RT) gene, mutations at residue M184 (V/I) were observed in 64%. One or more thymidine analogue mutations were detected in 73%. The number of ARM at PR gene increased from a mean of four mutations per patient who showed virological failure at the first ARV regimens to six mutations per patient exposed to six or more regimens; similar trend in RT was also observed. No differences in ARM at principal codon to the three drug classes for HIV-1 clades B or F were observed, but some polymorphisms in secondary codons showed significant differences. Strategies to improve the cost effectiveness of drug therapy and to optimize the sequencing and the rescue therapy are the major health priorities.

Duration of larval and pupal development stages of Aedes albopictus in natural and artificial containers

Aedes albopictus were reared in different containers: a tree hole, a bamboo stump and an auto tire. The total times from egg hatching to adult emergence were of 19.6, 27.3 and 37.5 days, respectively, according to the container. The first, second and third-instar larvae presented growth periods with highly similar durations. The fourth-instar larvae was longer than the others stages. The pupation time was longer than the fourth-instar larvae growth period. The temperature of the breeding sites studied, which was of 18 degrees C to 22 degrees C on average, was also taken into consideration. The mortality of the immature stages was analysed and compared as between the experimental groups; it was lower in the natural containers than in the discarded tire. The average wing length of adult females emerging from tree hole was significantly larger (p < 0.05) than that of those emerging from the tire.

Sensoriamento remoto orbital como recurso para análise da ocorrência da leishmaniose tegumentar americana em localidade urbana da região Sudeste do Brasil

INTRODUCTION The occurrence of American cutaneous leishmaniasis in the region of the Paraiba valley and the Northern shore of the State of S. Paulo, Brazil, is studied by remote sensing satellite imagery and maps of the region. METHOD The places where infections might have occurred were plotted on a false color composition made up of Landsat TM-3, 4 and 5 band images, the relevant vegetation (shrubs and trees) has been identified and correlations were sought for those areas seen as areas of risk for the disease and the environmental characteristics and their changes. The maps made it possible to add to the composite image the creeks and the contours of the tops of the large number of hills found in that region. RESULTS An area is characterized which may prove to be a macro-habitat for vectors, reservoirs and etiological agents. The search for changes in the landscape and the evaluation of meteorological data has not yielded any possible additional risk factor. CONCLUSIONS There is full correlation among the areas considered to present risk of infection and the presence of creeks and relevant vegetation (shrubs and trees).INTRODUCAO: A ocorrencia de leishmaniose tegumentar americana na regiao do Vale do Paraiba e litoral Norte do Estado de Sao Paulo foi estudada por meio de sensoriamento remoto orbital e de mapas da regiao. METODO: As areas consideradas de risco foram localizadas numa composicao de imagens das bandas TM-3,4 e 5 do satelite Landsat, a vegetacao arbustiva foi identificada e se procuraram correlacoes entre aquelas areas e as caracteristicas ambientais relevantes e suas mudancas. RESULTADOS: Foi caracterizada uma area de risco que pode se provar um macro habitat para vetores, reservatorios e agentes etiologicos. A busca de mudancas na paisagem e a avaliacao dos dados meteorologicos nao forneceram nenhum incremento dos possiveis fatores de risco. CONCLUSOES: Existe plena correlacao entre as areas consideradas de risco e a presenca de corregos e vegetacao arbustiva.

Estivação de Biomphalaria tenagophila (Pulmonata, Planorbidae)

E relatado o encontro de Biomphalaria tenagophila estivada, em dois municipios do Estado de Sao Paulo (Brasil): Ubatuba e Conchas. Essa caracteristica etologica foi percebida em 15 exemplares coletados em Ubatuba e 6 em Conchas. Os caramujos estavam enterrados em fendas do solo ressecado,e, em laboratorio, voltaram a exibir vitalidade depois de colocados em agua.

Influência de extratos de formas evolutivas sobre atividades de oviposição de fêmeas de Aedes (s) albopictus (Skuse)

Larval, pupae and egg water extracts were tested for their influence on the oviposition behavior of Aedes (s) albopictus females. Significant (alpha = 0.05) attraction was exercised by larval and pupal extracts containing 1 larva/3 ml and 1 pupa/3 ml. Eggs water extract containing 1 egg/3 ml did not influence the oviposition.Larval, pupae and egg water extracts were tested for their influence on the oviposition behavior of Aedes (s) albopictus females. Significant (a = 0.05) attraction was exercised by larval and pupal extracts containing 1 larva/3 ml and 1 pupa/3 ml. Eggs water extract containing 1 egg/3 ml did not influence the oviposition.

Microhabitats of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) in the Paraíba Valley region of the State of S. Paulo, Brazil

The objective of this study was the determination of extent of the spatial distribution of Aedes albopictus in the Paraiba River Valley, State S. Paulo, Brazil. Thus, collections of larvae and pupae mosquitoes were carried out at six sites distributed along a transection with a 10-km extension. The target was the tree-holes but artificial containers were also used in this investigation. Aedes terrens and Ae. albopictus were the only species of genus Aedes present in the tree-holes mentioned. The segregation of seven species of the tree-hole community was undertaken in the light of macrohabitat and microhabitat features. Thus, the distribution of Ae. albopictus was found to cover the rural, rural-urban and urban zones, but the rural-urban held the preference. Ae. albopictus never present in the residual and primary forest. The favorable factor to infestation with Ae. albopictus in the Paraiba Valley seems to have been the large number of natural niches made vacant by human influence. The rain has been important in the production of larvae and pupae, but the rainfall period does not coincide with the maximum production on them. The tree-holes whose volume exceeded 600 ml were the most productive breeding places. The abundance of these two stages occurs in the summer and autumn. However, the highest peak was observed in the months of March and April. These seasonal variations were found to be common in both the bamboo trap and the artificial container. The temperature data suggest a limit of from 17 to 23 degrees C for the best development of larvae. In the light of this, the strain of Ae. albopictus studied seems to have originated in tropical Asia. Just as happened with Ae. aegypti it may become an important epidemiological vector for the dengue fever and provide links for yellow fever transmission in Brazil.