Temporal changes in rainfall, mosquitoes, and dengue.

<p>Panel A shows changes in adjusted rainfall (mm), number of <i>Aedes aegypti</i> females per BG-Sentinel trap per day, number of eggs per CDC ovitrap per day, and adjusted dengue incidence (cases per 100000 inhabitants) in “El Comandante” (EC) and Panel B shows these parameters in “Villa Carolina” (VC), San Juan city, Puerto Rico from October 2007 to December 2008.</p

Weather variables at Muñoz-Marin International Airport in 2008, San Juan, Puerto Rico.

<p>Panel A shows mean monthly temperature and adjusted temperature. Adjusted temperature is the average of daily mean temperature for 21 days before mosquito sampling. Panel B shows monthly rainfall and adjusted rainfall. Adjusted rainfall is the accumulated rainfall during the third and second weeks before each mosquito sampling, which was conducted every three weeks.</p

Map of the study areas.

<p>The map shows the municipalities of San Juan city, Puerto Rico and the location of the airport in relation to the two neighborhoods investigated. Each neighborhood is composed of two adjacent census tracts.</p

Composition and abundance of adult mosquito species captured in BG traps.

<p>Composition and abundance of adult mosquito species captured in BG traps.</p

Relationships between dengue incidence and mosquitoes.

<p>Panel A presents dengue incidence (cases per 100000 inhabitants) as a function of the number of female <i>Ae. aegypti</i> per BG-Sentinel trap per day for each sampling date in “El Comandante” (EC) and “Villa Carolina” (VC), San Juan city, Puerto Rico, and Panel B shows dengue incidence as a function of the number of eggs per CDC ovitrap per day in each neighborhood. The corresponding correlation coefficients and Type I error probabilities are presented next to the location.</p

Relationships between mosquitoes and rainfall.

<p>Panel A presents the number of female <i>Ae. aegypti</i> per BG-Sentinel trap per day versus adjusted rainfall (mm) for each sampling date in “El Comandante” (EC) and “Villa Carolina” (VC), San Juan city, Puerto Rico, and Panel B shows the number of eggs per CDC ovitrap per day versus adjusted rainfall in each neighborhood. The corresponding correlation coefficients and Type I error probabilities are presented next to the location.</p

Comparison of Vector Competence of <i>Aedes mediovittatus</i> and <i>Aedes aegypti</i> for Dengue Virus: Implications for Dengue Control in the Caribbean

<div><p>Background</p><p><i>Aedes mediovittatus</i> mosquitoes are found throughout the Greater Antilles in the Caribbean and often share the same larval habitats with <i>Ae. Aegypti</i>, the primary vector for dengue virus (DENV). Implementation of vector control measures to control dengue that specifically target <i>Ae. Aegypti</i> may not control DENV transmission in Puerto Rico (PR). Even if <i>Ae. Aegypti</i> is eliminated or DENV refractory mosquitoes are released, DENV transmission may not cease when other competent mosquito species like <i>Ae. Mediovittatus</i> are present. To compare vector competence of <i>Ae. Mediovittatus</i> and <i>Ae. Aegypti</i> mosquitoes, we studied relative infection and transmission rates for all four DENV serotypes.</p><p>Methods</p><p>To compare the vector competence of <i>Ae. Mediovittatus</i> and <i>Ae. Aegypti</i>, mosquitoes were exposed to DENV 1–4 <i>per os</i> at viral titers of 5–6 logs plaque-forming unit (pfu) equivalents. At 14 days post infectious bloodmeal, viral RNA was extracted and tested by qRT-PCR to determine infection and transmission rates. Infection and transmission rates were analyzed with a generalized linear model assuming a binomial distribution.</p><p>Results</p><p><i>Ae. Aegypti</i> had significantly higher DENV-4 infection and transmission rates than <i>Ae. mediovittatus</i>.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>This study determined that <i>Ae. Mediovittatus</i> is a competent DENV vector. Therefore dengue prevention programs in PR and the Caribbean should consider both <i>Ae. Mediovittatus</i> and <i>Ae. Aegypti</i> mosquitoes in their vector control programs.</p></div

Transmission efficiency of dengue virus infected <i>Aedes mediovittatus</i> and <i>Aedes aegypti</i> mosquitoes at 14 days.

<p>DENV artificial transmission for mosquitoes infected with dengue-1 (DENV-1) (HAW), DENV-2 (New Guinea C), DENV-3 (H87), DENV-4 (H241) <i>per os</i>.</p><p>* Statistically significant differences for comparisons between serotypes DENV-1 >DENV-3 using Sidak’s method for multiple comparisons with simultaneous 95% confidence intervals.</p><p>^# Statistically significant differences for comparisons between serotypes DENV-4 > DENV-2 andDENV-3 using Sidak’s method for multiple comparisons with simultaneous 95% confidence intervals.</p><p>Transmission efficiency of dengue virus infected <i>Aedes mediovittatus</i> and <i>Aedes aegypti</i> mosquitoes at 14 days.</p

Infection rates and body titers of <i>Aedes mediovittatus</i> and <i>Aedes aegypti</i> mosquitoes 14 days post bloodmeal.

<p>Mosquitoes were exposed to dengue-1 (DENV-1) (HAW), DENV-2 (New Guinea C), DENV-3 (H87), DENV-4 (H241) <i>per os</i>.</p><p>Infection rates and body titers of <i>Aedes mediovittatus</i> and <i>Aedes aegypti</i> mosquitoes 14 days post bloodmeal.</p

Body (infection) and saliva (transmission) titers of dengue virus-infected <i>Aedes mediovittatus</i> and <i>Aedes aegypti</i> mosquitoes 14 days after oral challenge with dengue-1 (DENV-1) (HAW), DENV-2 (New Guinea C), DENV-3 (H87), DENV-4 (H241).

<p>Non-zero mean titer, 25 percentile titer, and 75 percentile titers are indicated on the graphs.</p