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Medical, Urban, and Veterinary Entomology

10-Minute Paper

MUVE: Mosquito and Other Fly Vectors Ecology and Behavior On-Demand Presentations

Cluster randomized entomological survey to determine the role of cisterns in the production of Aedes aegypti in the US Virgin Islands

On-Demand
On-Demand

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Marianyoly Ortiz

    Associate Director
    Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust
    San Juan, Puerto Rico

    • Co-Author(s)

  • RS

    Rafael Saavedra

    Puerto Rico Vector Control Unit
    Ponce, Puerto Rico

  • EB

    Eduardo Burgos

    Abexus, LLC
    San Juan, Puerto Rico

  • KS

    Krystal Seger

    US Virgin Islands Department of Health
    Christiansted, Virgin Islands

  • RH

    Ryan R. Hemme

    Research Biologist
    CDC
    San Juan, Puerto Rico

  • Roberto Barrera

    Research Entomologist
    US CDC
    San Juan, Puerto Rico

  • GB

    Grayson Brown

    Executive Director
    Puerto Rico Science, Technology, and Research Trust
    San Juan, Puerto Rico

  • BE

    Brett Ellis

    US Virgin Islands Department of Health
    Christiansted, Virgin Islands

Aedes aegypti is commonly found in urban and suburban areas in the US Virgin Islands (USVI) and is the vector of dengue, Zika, and chikungunya viruses. Given the limited potable water supply in the islands, most residents use cisterns to collect rainwater and store it for their everyday needs. A survey conducted in 2019 found that 46% of the cisterns contained mosquitoes (unpublished). A follow-up entomological survey was designed to determine their role as producers of Ae. aegypti mosquitoes as well as understanding the factors that influence productivity.  Three funnel traps were installed inside each cistern sampled, and exit traps were installed in the cisterns' intake spouts and overflown pipes, when possible. Cistern physical and chemical characteristics were also recorded.

A total of 1,769 households were visited with a response rate of 25%. Of those, only 76% of cisterns met protocol criteria, resulting in 342 cisterns sampled.

Preliminary results indicate that 49.1% of the cisterns surveyed were positive for immature mosquitoes. When divided by district, a higher percentage was observed for St. Thomas/St. John district (57.3%) as compared with St. Croix (40.9%).

However, on average, only 5.8% of the exit traps captured adult mosquitoes, with St. Thomas/St. John district showing a higher capture than St. Croix (6.4% versus 5.3%, respectively). Most mosquitoes collected (81.1%) were identified as Ae. aegypti.

Based on the results from this study, vector management strategies will be developed to reduce the impact of cisterns as breeding sites for Ae. aegypti.