Automated classification of mixed populations of Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes under field conditions.

BACKGROUND: The recent rise in the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue virus (DENV), Zika (ZIKV), chikungunya (CHIKV), Oropouche (OROV), and West Nile (WNV) is a major concern for public health managers worldwide. Emerging technologies for automated remote mosquito classification can be supplemented to improve surveillance systems and provide valuable information regarding mosquito vector catches in real time. METHODS: We coupled an optical sensor to the entrance of a standard mosquito suction trap (BG-Mosquitaire) to record 9151 insect flights in two Brazilian cities: Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia. The traps and sensors remained in the field for approximately 1 year. A total of 1383 mosquito flights were recorded from the target species: Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus. Mosquito classification was based on previous models developed and trained using European populations of Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens. RESULTS: The VECTRACK sensor was able to discriminate the target mosquitoes (Aedes and Culex genera) from non-target insects with an accuracy of 99.8%. Considering only mosquito vectors, the classification between Aedes and Culex achieved an accuracy of 93.7%. The sex classification worked better for Cx. quinquefasciatus (accuracy: 95%; specificity: 95.3%) than for Ae. aegypti (accuracy: 92.1%; specificity: 88.4%). CONCLUSIONS: The data reported herein show high accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and precision of an automated optical sensor in classifying target mosquito species, genus and sex. Similar results were obtained in two different Brazilian cities, suggesting high reliability of our findings. Surprisingly, the model developed for European populations of Ae. albopictus worked well for Brazilian Ae. aegypti populations, and the model developed and trained for Cx. pipiens was able to classify Brazilian Cx. quinquefasciatus populations. Our findings suggest this optical sensor can be integrated into mosquito surveillance methods and generate accurate automatic real-time monitoring of medically relevant mosquito species.

Revisão dos manuais do ministério da saúde visando o controle de Aedes aegypti: levantamento de lacunas técnicas, sugestão de atualização de conteúdos e proposta de uso racional de metodologias e/ou tecnologias em planos de contingência para controle de mosquitos vetores de arboviroses urbanas / Review of the Ministry of Health manuals for the control of Aedes aegypti: survey of technical gaps, suggestion of updating contents and proposal of rational use of methodologies and/or technologies in contingency plans for the control of mosquito vectors of urban arboviruses

Esse trabalho pretende uma revisão da bibliografia sobre aspectos específicos da biologia do Aedes aegypti com relevância para ações de controle, com base nos manuais do Ministério da Saúde (MS). Procuramos lacunas técnicas frente ao conhecimento atual desse vetor na literatura especializada, tentando fornecer um quadro de referências e diretrizes técnicas para o planejamento e implementação de ações de vigilância, prevenção e controle de Ae. aegypti com base na estratificação de risco para apoiar a construção de possíveis cenários operacionais em nível local. Os cenários operacionais servem como referência para a seleção das ferramentas de controle de vetores mais apropriadas, visando tornar seu uso mais eficiente. A revisão dos manuais do MS pode permitir a sua atualização no futuro, com uma análise crítica dos novos conhecimentos e metodologias que ficaram disponíveis nos últimos anos. Para essa revisão foram escolhidos cinco tópicos chave: Bioecologia de Ae. aegypti e sua importância para fins de vigilância e controle; Vigilância entomológica; Controle vetorial; Cenários operacionais para abordar a vigilância e controle de Ae. aegypti; Estratificação de risco nos cenários. O conhecimento atual sobre esses tópicos foi levantado em diferentes bases de dados (Web of Science, SciELO e PUBMED). Além disso, os manuais do MS e da Fundação Nacional de Saúde (FUNASA), que são antigos e não possuem versão digital, foram digitalizados e serão disponibilizados para o público em site do ProgramaEssa revisão, bem como seus desdobramentos, visa, principalmente: sugerir aos gestores levarem em conta cenários operacionais que se formam nas ocorrências de vetores; utilizar esses cenários como referência para a seleção das ferramentas de controle de vetores mais apropriadas e seu uso mais eficiente, baseados em fatos entomológicos e epidemiológicos locais; orientar os profissionais da ponta a colaborar na tomada de decisão dos gestores municipais quanto a efetividade do uso das melhores metodologias e tecnologias disponíveis, que mais se adequem à situação de risco apresentada e à disponibilidade de recursos, de forma racional, acarretando melhor custo/benefício para os municípios e em prol da saúde de sua população. (AU)

In this work we proposed the literature review on specific aspects of Aedes aegypti biology that are relevant to control actions, based on the Brazilian Ministry of Health manuals. We looked for technical gaps in relation to the current knowledge on this vector in the specialized literature and provided a reference framework and guidelines in techniques for the planning and implementation of surveillance, prevention, and control actions against Ae. aegypti that are based on risk stratification to support the construction of possible local operational scenarios. Operational scenarios may serve as a reference for selecting the most appropriate vector control tools and their most efficient use. The revision of the Ministry of Health manuals suggested a necessity for updating them in the future, with a critical analysis of the new knowledge and methodologies that became available in the recent years. For this review five key topics were chosen: Aedes aegypti Bioecology and its importance for surveillance and control purposes; Entomological surveillance; Vector control; Operational scenarios for addressing Aedes aegypti surveillance and control; Risk stratification in scenarios. Current knowledge on these topics was gathered from different databases (Web of Science, Scielo and PUBMED). In addition, the manuals of Brazilian Ministry of Health and FUNASA (National Health Foundation), which exist only in print, were scanned, and will be made digitally available to the public on a website. This review, as well as its developments, suggests that field agents may take into account operational scenarios that form in vector occurrences. These scenarios may serve as a reference for the selection of the most appropriate vector control tools and their best use based on local entomological and epidemiological factsThis may improve decision-making to use the best available methodology and technology, which suit better their risk situation and resource availability, in a rational, cost-effective strategy for the health improvement of different urban populations.(AU)