The SisaMob Information System: Implementation of Digital Data Collection as a Tool for Surveillance and Vector Control in the State of São Paulo.

Information systems are essential instruments in managing resources, in the evaluation of the epidemiological situation, and for decision-making at all hierarchical levels. Technological advances have allowed the development of systems that meet these premises. Therefore, it is recommended to consider the optimization of data entry and its immediate georeferencing in order to obtain information in real time. To meet this objective, we describe the application introduction process for the implementation of the digital collection of primary data and its integration with the database through synchronization with the SisaWeb platform (Information System for surveillance and control of Aedes aegypti), developed to meet the needs of the Arbovirus Surveillance and Control Program in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. For this purpose, the application-SisaMob-was conceived in the Android Studio development environment, Google®, following the same guidelines as the traditional collection method. Tablets equipped with the Android® operating system were used. To evaluate the implementation of the application, a semi-structured test was applied. The results highlighted that 774.9% (27) of the interviewees evaluated its use positively and, replacing the standard bulletin, 61.1% (22) of the users considered it regular to excellent. The automatic collection of geographic coordinates represented the greatest innovation in the use of the portable device, with reductions in errors and in the time taken to complete the report in the field. The integration to SisaWeb allowed obtaining information in real-time, being easily presented in tabular and graphic modes and spatially arranged through maps, making it possible to monitor the work at a distance, and allowing preliminary analyses during the data collection process. For the future, we must improve the mechanisms for assessing the effectiveness of information, increase the potential of the tool to produce more accurate analyses, which can direct actions more efficiently.

DNA Barcoding of Morphologically Characterized Mosquitoes Belonging to the Genus Mansonia from the Atlantic Forest and Brazilian Savanna.

The identification of mosquito species is necessary for determining the entomological components of disease transmission. However, identification can be difficult in species that are morphologically similar. The cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) DNA barcode region is considered a valuable and reliable diagnostic tool for mosquito species recognition, including those that belong to species complexes. Mansonia mosquitoes are found in forests near swampy areas. They are nocturnal and are highly attracted to light. Hematophagous adult females exhibit aggressive biting behavior and can become infected with and transmit pathogens during their feeding, including some epizootic viruses and avian malaria. In Brazil, twelve Mansonia species have been reported. In a recent study from the São Paulo Zoo in Brazil, three morphologically distinct species were collected and identified, namely: Mansonia (Mansonia) indubitans, Ma. (Man.) pseudotitillans and Ma. (Man.) titillans. However, confirmation of these species by molecular identification was unsuccessful due to a lack of COI sequences in the GenBank database. Thus, this research aimed to describe the COI DNA barcode sequences of some morphologically characterized Mansonia (Man.) species from Brazil and to determine their utility in delimiting species collected from the Atlantic Forest and Brazilian Savanna. Accordingly, we provide tools for the genetic identification of species that play a significant role in pathogen transmission in wildlife and potentially humans. We show that the delimitation of Mansonia species via five different approaches based on COI DNA sequences (BI, NJ, ASAP, bPTP and GMYC) yield basically the same groups identified by traditional taxonomy, and we provide the identification of specimens that were previously identified only up to the subgenus level. We also provide COI sequences from two Mansonia species that were not previously available in sequence databases, Ma. wilsoni and Ma. pseudotitillans, and thus contribute to the ongoing global effort to standardize DNA barcoding as a molecular means of species identification.

Evaluation of Methods to Collect Diurnal Culicidae (Diptera) at Canopy and Ground Strata, in the Atlantic Forest Biome.

Hand-held insect nets are the standard method for capturing vector mosquitoes of sylvatic arboviruses; however, occupational risks and biases due to individual skill and attractiveness are important limitations. The use of chemical attractants and automatic traps could be an alternative to resolve these limitations. This study compares the yields achieved using nets with those employing electrical traps with CO2 and BG-Lure®, near the ground and in the canopy strata (6.0 and 8.0 m high). The study was conducted at the Cantareira State Park, which is in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome. In the 18 collections performed, 3570 specimens of 52 taxa were obtained. The most frequent species captured near the ground were Wyeomyia confusa and Limatus durhamii, whereas Sabethes albiprivus, Sabethes purpureus, and Haemagogus leucocelaenus were the most frequent in the canopy. The nets resulted in greater species richness and abundance, followed by the trap employing CO2. The combination of CO2 traps with BG-Lure® did not improve performance. The use of BG-Lure® alone resulted in low abundance and a low number of species. Our results demonstrate that the use of traps with CO2 can be complementary to collections with nets; however, for species of epidemiological interest such as those of the genera Haemagogus and Sabethes, especially in the canopy, the net remains the method of choice.

Updating Ecological and Behavioral Aspects of the Sandfly Fauna in the Vale do Ribeira Region, São Paulo State, Brazil.

Some ecological parameters and the distribution of vectors in the municipality of Eldorado, Vale do Ribeira Region, São Paulo, were studied. Entomological surveys were carried out from September 2019 to March 2021. It was observed that a few ecological parameters, including richness, abundance, diversity, and equitability, were typical of a modified environment, where artificial ecotopes maintain the presence of sandflies throughout the year. A total of 11,668 sandflies were captured. The presence of five taxa were observed in Eldorado, with low diversity and high dominance of Nyssomyia intermedia next to Ny. neivai, which are sympatric species. The results presented reinforce the importance of these species in anthropized areas in the transmission of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) agents and the need for entomological monitoring. Psathyromyia pascalei was encountered for the first time in the municipality, expanding the known area of distribution of this species in a modified environment.

Control of Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis: A Success Case Based on Deltamethrin 4% Collars.

The effect of employing collars impregnated with deltamethrin 4% (DM4) to control canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) was evaluated. as were the individual factors associated with this infection. A cohort study that included household dogs was conducted between 2002 and 2006. The presence of pathognomonic signals, peridomiciliary sleep habits and breed were the main factors associated with the infection. The use of DM4 collars contributed to the reduction of CVL with an effectiveness of 66%, and the dogs' survival rate was greater than 90% at 50 months. In conclusion, the adoption of DM4 collars reduced the number of euthanized canines and in the incidence of CVL, and this reduction was sustained for one year after discontinuing the use of the collar.