Spatial distribution of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) in the rural area of two municipalities of Cundinamarca, Colombia

Abstract

Introduction: It is difficult to adapt or create new strategies for dengue control in rural areas due to the dispersion of homes and the lack of knowledge about the presence and behavior of the vector in these areas. Spatial data analysis could help understand time and space dynamics related to the transmission of vector-borne diseases in rural areas and, thus, contribute to the prevention and control of dengue. Objective: To determine the probability of the presence of the dengue vector Aedes aegypti in the rural area of the municipalities of Anapoima and La Mesa, in the central area of Colombia. Materials and methods: The probability of the presence or absence of the vector in the study area was determined by means of the kriging spatial interpolation method. Results: The region with the highest probability of the presence of the vector was located in the central part, close to the urban centers of both municipalities. Conclusion: This study shows the importance of geostatistics for the surveillance of vector-borne diseases and the analysis of time and space dynamics of vector insects and of diseases transmitted by them.

Keywords

• Aedes aegypti
• dengue
• spatial analysis
• public health
• disease vectors
• Colombia