title: St. Louis Encephalitis virus mosquito vectors dynamics in three different environments in relation to remotely sensed environmental conditions.
abstract: In Argentina the St. Louis Encephalitis virus (SLEV) is an endemic and widely distributed pathogen transmitted by the cosmopolitan mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus. During two outbreaks in Córdoba city, in 2005 and 2010, Culex interfor was also found infected, but its role as vector of SLEV is poorly known. This mosquito species is distributed from central Argentina to southern Brazil. The primary aim of this study was to analyze the population dynamic of Cx. interfor and Cx. quinquefasciatus in three different environments (urban, suburban and non-urban) in relation to remotely sensed environmental data for vegetation (NDVI and NDWI) and temperature (brightness temperature). Cx. quinquefasciatus and Cx. interfor were found at the three sampled sites, being both the most abundant Culex species, with peaks in early and midsummer. Temporal distribution patterns of both mosquito species were highly correlated in a non-urban area of high SLEV risk transmission. Cx. quinquefasciatus and Cx. interfor were associated with the most urbanized site and the non-urban environment, respectively; high significant correlations were detected between vegetation indices and abundance of both mosquito species confirming these associations. These data provide a foundation for building density maps of these two SLEV mosquito vectors using remotely sensed data to help inform vector control programs.
authors: Instituto de Ambientes de Montaña y Regiones Áridas, Universidad Nacional de Chilecito, Sede Los Sarmientos, Ruta Camino Los Peregrinos s/n, CP F5360 Chilecito, Argentina; Instituto de Virología "Dr. José M. Vanella", Facultad Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Enfermera Gordillo Gómez s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, CP X5016GCA Córdoba, Argentina. Electronic address: gonzalobatallan@gmail.com.
authors: Gonzalo P
authors: GP
authors: Batallán
authors: Centro de Investigaciones Entomológicas de Córdoba, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas, CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Av. Vélez Sarsfield 1611, Ciudad Universitaria, CP X5016GCA Córdoba, Argentina.
authors: Elizabet L
authors: EL
authors: Estallo
authors: Instituto de Virología "Dr. José M. Vanella", Facultad Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Enfermera Gordillo Gómez s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, CP X5016GCA Córdoba, Argentina.
authors: Fernando S
authors: FS
authors: Flores
authors: Centro de Investigaciones Entomológicas de Córdoba, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas, CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Av. Vélez Sarsfield 1611, Ciudad Universitaria, CP X5016GCA Córdoba, Argentina.
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Sartor
authors: Instituto de Virología "Dr. José M. Vanella", Facultad Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Enfermera Gordillo Gómez s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, CP X5016GCA Córdoba, Argentina.
authors: Marta S
authors: MS
authors: Contigiani
authors: Centro de Investigaciones Entomológicas de Córdoba, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas, CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Av. Vélez Sarsfield 1611, Ciudad Universitaria, CP X5016GCA Córdoba, Argentina.
authors: Walter R
authors: WR
authors: Almirón
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001118:Argentina; D003465:Culex / Q000821:virology*; D004665:Encephalitis Virus, St. Louis; D004674:Encephalitis, St. Louis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D004777:Environment; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000821:virology*; D011157:Population Dynamics; D058998:Remote Sensing Technology; D012424:Rural Population; D013383:Suburban Population; D014505:Urban Population
keywords: Culex interfor; Culex quinquefasciatus; Mosquito population dynamic; Remote sensing; SLEV vectors