ABSTRACT
Aedes aegypti is one of the world's most widely distributed mosquitos and is of considerable medical importance as a vector of dengue and yellow fever. Not surprisingly therefore there has been more written on its biology than any other mosquito. The present paper summarizes ecological studies undertaken on this vector, including those on pre-adult mortalities, life-tables, adult dispersal and survival rates. In discussing surveillance techniques it is pointed out there are still no reliable methods for monitoring adult populations. The importance of the resting habits of adults and house construction in insecticidal control of Ae. aegypti is discussed. The question is, have ecological studies and population modeling resulted in any more understanding of the epidemiology of dengue, or helped formulate better control strategies? The answer seems to be not usually, possible because there have actually been relatively few good ecological studies on Ae. aegypti. Although mathematical modeling indicates that better control might be achieved if it were directed at the larvae, not adults, this has not usually been taken into consideration by those engaged in control. There is clearly need for greater collaboration between those practicing control, and ecologists and modelers.
Subject(s)
Aedes/physiology , Animals , Ecology , Insect Vectors/physiology , Models, Biological , Population Control/methods , Population SurveillanceABSTRACT
Apresenta-se revisäo do inter-relacionamento entre artrópodes vetores, as doenças por eles transmitidas e o desenvolvimento agrícola. Dá-se atençäo especial aos efeitos decorrentes do desmatamento, do desenvolvimento pecuário e da irrigaçäo artificial, sobre a abundância de vetores e mudanças de quadros epidemiológicos de doenças, como a malária, tripanossomíases, leishmanioses, doença de Chagas e algumas arboviroses. Discute-se a questäo de se a presença de gado pode disviar, da populaçäo humana, as picadas dos vetores e assim, como zooprofilaxia, propiciar a reduçäo de doenças como a malária, ou se, pelo contrário, a presença do gado, na atualidade se constitui em fator propiciador do incremento das populaçäo hematófaga