Cutaneous leishmaniasis–Awareness, knowledge and practices among general population in rural and urban areas in Malakand region, Pakistan / Leishmaniose cutânea - conscientização, conhecimentos e práticas entre a população em geral nas áreas rurais e urbanas da região de Malakand, Paquistão

Malakand region is an endemic area for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). However, there are limited number of studies of this disease in Pakistan. Therefore, a study was conducted to understand the level of awareness attitude and practice among the residents of Makaland towards CL and the disease vectors. This study adopted a cross-sectional approach with a total of 400 respondents (n=93 rural and n= 307 urban). Overall, the population in Malakand region (61.2%) were well-informed in the role of sand fly in transmitting diseases, but most lack knowledge on the vector's behavior and almost a quarter (24.5%) were unable to provide knowledge on proper control measures. Alarmingly, the practice and attitudes of the general population was not satisfactory as close to half (49.8%) of the population did adopt any control method. This study calls for increase in awareness through health education campaign to reduce the risk of cutaneous leishmaniasis outbreaks in the future.

A região de Malakand é uma área endêmica para leishmaniose cutânea (CL). No entanto, há um número limitado de estudos sobre esta doença no Paquistão. Portanto, foi realizado um estudo para entender o nível de atitude e prática de conscientização entre os residentes de Makaland em relação aos CL e os vetores da doença. Este estudo adotou uma abordagem transversal com um total de 400 entrevistados (n = 93 rural e n = 307 urbano). No geral, a população da região de Malakand (61,2%) estava bem informada sobre o papel da mosca na transmissão de doenças, mas a maioria não possui conhecimento sobre o comportamento do vetor e quase um quarto (24,5%) foi incapaz de fornecer conhecimento sobre medidas de controle adequadas . De maneira alarmante, a prática e as atitudes da população em geral não foram satisfatórias, pois cerca da metade (49,8%) da população adotou algum método de controle. Este estudo apela ao aumento da conscientização por meio de campanhas de educação em saúde para reduzir o risco de surtos de leishmaniose cutânea no futuro.

Updated distribution of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Spain: new findings in the mainland Spanish Levante, 2013

In 2004, Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse, 1894) was observed for the first time in Catalonia, northeastern Spain. A decade later, it has spread throughout the eastern Mediterranean region of the country and the Balearic Islands. Framed within a national surveillance project, we present the results of monitoring in 2013 in the autonomous communities of the mainland Levante. The current study reveals a remarkable increase in the spread of the invasive mosquito in relation to results from 2012; the species was present and well-established in 48 municipalities, most of which were along the Mediterranean coastline from the Valencian Community to the Region of Murcia.

Updating the geographical distribution and frequency of Aedes albopictus in Brazil with remarks regarding its range in the Americas

The geographical distribution of Aedes albopictus in Brazil was updated according to the data recorded across the country over the last eight years. Countrywide house indexes (HI) for Ae. albopictus in urban and suburban areas were described for the first time using a sample of Brazilian municipalities. This mosquito is currently present in at least 59% of the Brazilian municipalities and in 24 of the 27 federal units (i.e., 26 states and the Federal District). In 34 Brazilian municipalities, the HI values for Ae. albopictus were higher than those recorded for Ae. aegypti, reaching figures as high as HI = 7.72 in the Southeast Region. Remarks regarding the current range of this mosquito species in the Americas are also presented. Nineteen American countries are currently infested and few mainland American countries have not confirmed the occurrence of Ae. albopictus. The large distribution and high frequency of Ae. albopictus in the Americas may become a critical factor in the spread of arboviruses like chikungunya in the new world.

Características clínicas epidemiológicas de los cooperantes con dengue en el municipio Torres, estado de Lara, Venezuela, 2008 / Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of cooperation personnel diagnosed with dengue in the municipality of Torres, state of Lara, Venezuela, 2008

Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, de corte transversal, con el objetivo de identificar las características clínicas epidemiológicas de los cooperantes con dengue en el municipio Torres, en el estado de Lara, Venezuela, del 1ro. de junio de 2007 al 31 de julio de 2008. El universo de estudio quedó conformado por los 32 casos de dengue confirmados en el período de estudio. Se estudiaron las siguientes variables: edad, sexo, tipo de misión, factores de riesgos y las manifestaciones clínicas de los casos de dengue. Como medidas de resumen se utilizaron los números absolutos, frecuencias relativas, tasas, así como la determinación del índice de infestación a Aedes aegypti en las viviendas. Entre los principales resultados de la investigación se encontró que la morbilidad por dengue en los cooperantes del municipio Torres fue elevada, con una tasa de incidencia superior a la del Estado. En la muestra predominaron el sexo masculino y las edades entre 30 y 39 años. La mitad de los cooperantes de la misión agricultura enfermó de dengue. Entre los principales factores de riesgos se encontraron la presencia del vector y los criaderos en las viviendas, así como la baja percepción del riesgo sobre la enfermedad, lo que estuvo relacionado con el no uso de repelente, todos con un riesgo relativo mayor que 1. Las principales manifestaciones clínicas que se reportaron en los pacientes fueron la fiebre, la cefalea y la artralgia

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with the purpose of identifying the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of cooperation personnel diagnosed with dengue in the municipality of Torres, state of Lara, Venezuela, from 1 June 2007 to 31 July 2008. The study group was composed of 32 dengue cases confirmed during the study period. The variables studied were age, sex, mission type, risk factors and clinical manifestations. The summary measurements used were absolute numbers, relative frequencies, rates, and household infestation rates for Aedes aegypti. One of the main findings of the study was the high dengue morbidity rate among cooperation personnel in the municipality of Torres, with an incidence rate higher than that of the state. Male sex and the 30-39 age range were predominant in the sample. Half the cooperation personnel in the agriculture mission became ill with dengue. Among the risk factors identified were the presence of the vector and breeding sites in households, and low risk perception of the disease, associated with the non-use of insect repellent. The relative risk of these factors was above 1. The main clinical manifestations observed in patients were fever, headache and arthralgia

Evaluación de la vigilancia y la lucha antivectorial en el policlínico Tomás Romay, del municipio La Habana Vieja, 2009 / Evaluation of surveillance and vector control at Tomás Romay polyclinic in the municipality of Habana Vieja, 2009

Introducción: las enfermedades transmitidas por vectores constituyen un creciente problema de salud, por su creciente expansión geográfica, el aumento alarmante de su incidencia y su carácter endémico en muchos países; tal es el caso del dengue. Objetivo: evaluar la vigilancia y la lucha antivectorial en el área de salud Tomás Romay, en el municipio La Habana Vieja, durante el ciclo 172 en el mes de abril de 2009. Métodos: se realizó un estudio observacional descriptivo de corte transversal a través del diseño de una evaluación de tipo táctica. Se seleccionó la muestra teniendo en cuenta criterios de expertos del Departamento Municipal y Provincial de Vigilancia y Lucha Antivectorial; los operarios fueron elegidos teniendo en cuenta los quince primeros seleccionados, de un muestreo aleatorio simple (operarios A y B); y con respecto a los trabajadores comunitarios, se realizó un muestreo sistemático en fases a escoger el 20 porciento de estos. Resultados: la dimensión estructura cumplió lo establecido por la norma (más del 80 porciento de los criterios esenciales evaluados de aceptable), con el 88,95 porciento; la dimensión proceso cumplió solo los criterios no esenciales (57,14 porciento). La dimensión resultado cumplió el estándar establecido para los criterios no esenciales (81,81 porciento), y con 85,71 porciento se cumplió el estándar de los criterios no esenciales. Conclusión: La vigilancia y la lucha antivectorial fueron valoradas de No satisfactorias, ya que no cumplieron la norma para los criterios no esenciales que corresponden a las actividades que son necesarias para el funcionamiento óptimo del programa

Introduction: Vector-borne diseases are a health problem on the increase, due to their growing geographic expansion, the alarming rise in their incidence, and their endemic nature in many countries. Such is the case with dengue. Objective: Evaluate surveillance and vector control in Tomás Romay health area, municipality of Habana Vieja, during cycle No. 172, corresponding to April 2009. Methods: An observational descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted through the design of a tactical evaluation. The sample was constituted following criteria provided by experts from the Municipal and Provincial Departments of Surveillance and Vector Control. Operators were chosen by simple random sampling, picking the first fifteen obtained (operators A and B). Community workers were chosen by staged systematic sampling, where 20 percent were picked. Results: The dimension structure complied with the standard (more than 80 percent of the essential criteria were evaluated as acceptable) (88. 95 percent). The dimension process only complied with non-essential criteria (57.14 percent). The dimension outcome complied with the standard for non-essential criteria (81.81 percent). The standard for non-essential criteria was complied with in 85.71 percent.Conclusion: Surveillance and vector control were evaluated as Unsatisfactory, for they did not comply with the standard for non-essential criteria corresponding to activities required for optimal program performance

Impacto operacional del uso de insecticidas en larvas de Aedes aegypti en La Habana / Operational impact of the use of insecticidal products on Aedes aegypti larvae in Havana province

INTRODUCCIÓN: a pesar de los enormes esfuerzos que realiza el programa de erradicación de Aedes aegypti en Cuba, persisten en algunas regiones del país determinados índices de infestación que favorecen el desarrollo de epidemias o brotes de dengue. En este negativo indicador se destaca la provincia La Habana, donde desempeña un papel importante el uso de insecticidas. OBJETIVOS: evaluar el impacto del uso de insecticidas, por el programa de erradicación de Ae. aegypti, en el desarrollo de resistencia en esta especie en La Habana. MÉTODOS: se utilizaron 15 cepas de Ae. aegypti, procedentes de los 15 municipios de La Habana, colectados en 2008. El nivel de susceptibilidad a insecticidas se determinó mediante bioensayos recomendados por la Organización Mundial de la Salud. RESULTADOS: 60 por ciento de las cepas mostró susceptibilidad a clorpirifos; de los piretroides evaluados, se observó mayor resistencia a cipermetrina, seguido por lambdacialotrina y ciflutrina. CONCLUSIONES: el insecticida clorpirifos es un buen candidato a utilizar con los piretroides, de forma rotacional, para retardar el desarrollo de la resistencia a los piretroides en Ae. aegypti de La Habana.

INTRODUCTION: in spite of the huge efforts of the Aedes aegypti eradication program in Cuba, there are still certain infestation indexes favoring the development of outbreaks or epidemics in some regions of the country. Havana province holds a leading position in this negative indicator, in which the use of insecticides plays an important role. OBJECTIVES: to evaluate the impact of the use of insecticides in the development of drug resistance by this species in Havana. METHODS: fifteen Ae. aegypti strains from the fifteen municipalities of the province were used. They were all collected in 2008. The level of susceptibility to insecticides was measured by means of the WHO-recommended bioassays. RESULTS: sixty percent of the strains were susceptible to chlorpirifos; more resistance to pyrethroid cypermethrin was observed followed by lambdacyalothrin and cifluthrin. CONCLUSIONS: the insecticide Chlorpirifos is a good candidate to be used with pyrethroids, on a rotational scheme, to delay the development of resistance to pyrethroids in Ae. aegypti vectors in Havana province.

Mosquitoes and their control

Mosquitoes and Their Control presents a wealth of information on the bionomics, systematics, ecology, research techniques and control of both nuisance and disease vector mosquitoes in an easily readable style, providing practical guidelines and important information for professionals and laymen alike. Ninety-two European species and more than 100 globally important vector and nuisance species are included in the book. Most of them, including all European species, are described in the fully illustrated identification keys, followed by a detailed description of the morphology, biology, distribution and medical importance of each species, including over 700 detailed drawings. Mosquitoes and Their Control includes: systematics and biology, medical significance, research techniques, illustrated identification keys for larval and adult mosquito general, morphology, ecology, and distribution of the species identified in the keys, biological, chemical, physical and genetic control of mosquitoes. Mosquitoes and Their Control is a valuable tool for vector ecologists, entomologists, and all those involved with mosquito control, biology, ecology, and systematics world-wide. It will especially benefit those professionals, scientists and students dealing with mosquitoes and their control on a day-to-day basis. Society as a whole stands to gain from improved, environmentally responsible mosquito management programs designed on the basis of a broader understanding of mosquitoes and their control, as provided in this enlightening book

Mosquitoes and their control

Mosquitoes and Their Control presents a wealth of information on the bionomics, systematics, ecology, research techniques and control of both nuisance and disease vector mosquitoes in an easily readable style, providing practical guidelines and important information for professionals and laymen alike. Ninety-two European species and more than 100 globally important vector and nuisance species are included in the book. Most of them, including all European species, are described in the fully illustrated identification keys, followed by a detailed description of the morphology, biology, distribution and medical importance of each species, including over 700 detailed drawings. Mosquitoes and Their Control includes: systematics and biology, medical significance, research techniques, illustrated identification keys for larval and adult mosquito general, morphology, ecology, and distribution of the species identified in the keys, biological, chemical, physical and genetic control of mosquitoes. Mosquitoes and Their Control is a valuable tool for vector ecologists, entomologists, and all those involved with mosquito control, biology, ecology, and systematics world-wide. It will especially benefit those professionals, scientists and students dealing with mosquitoes and their control on a day-to-day basis. Society as a whole stands to gain from improved, environmentally responsible mosquito management programs designed on the basis of a broader understanding of mosquitoes and their control, as provided in this enlightening book...

Aedes aegypti na regiäo de Säo José do Rio Preto, Estado de Säo Paulo / Aedes aegypti in the Säo José do Rio Preto region, Säo Paulo state

Considerado erradicado do Brasil em 1955, o Aedes aegypti foi reintroduzido posteriormente. Na regiäo de abrangência do Escritório Regional de Saúde de Säo José do Rio Preto - ERSA 57 (Regiäo de Säo José do Rio Preto) composta por 28 municípios, a infestaçäo domiciliar pelo Aedes aegypti evolui rapidamente. Em 1985, existia um município com infestaçäo domiciliar; em 1986, nove município; em 1987, 25 municípios e em 1988, todos os municípios. Tendo como base o Programa de Controle do Aedes inicialmente estabelecido, o objetivo de evitar a dispersäo näo foi atingido, sendo que no Oeste do Estado a infestaçäo domiciliar evoluiu rapidamente, mostrando uma adaptaçäo bastante grande do vetor à regiäo. As médias mensais dos índices de Breteau (número de recipientes com larvas de Aedes aegypti e/ou Aedes albopictus por 100 casas pesquisadas) medidas nos municípios de Säo José do Rio Preto apresentaram seus valores máximos geralmente nos meses de janeiro e fevereiro e seus valores mínimos geralmente nos meses de agosto. Nos períodos de maior incidência de chuvas ocorreram aumentos dos ïndices de Breteau, tendo sido verificados altos graus de correlaçäo entre os valores médios mensais destes Indices e os valores médios mensais das precipitaçòes pluviométricas medidas nos Municípios da Regiäo de Säo José do Rio Preto

Combate aos vetores da febre amarela e do dengue Aedes aegypti/Aedes albopictus: instruçöes para guardas, guardas-chefes e inspetores / Combat against vectors of yelow fever and dengue Aedes aegypti/Aedes Albopictus: instructions for guards, guard-chiefs and inspectors

O manual destina-se aos guardas, guardas-chefes e inspetores da SUCAM que trabalham no Programa de Controle da Febre Amarela e no combate ao Aedes Aegypti e Albopictus. Contém regulamento disciplinar e noçöes gerais sobre a doença e seu controle. (AMSB)