Abstract
The primary dengue virus vectors, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, are primarily daytime biting mosquitoes. The risk of infection is suspected to be considerable in urban parks due to visitor traffic. Despite the importance of vector control for reducing dengue transmission, little information is available on vector populations in urban parks. The present study characterized mosquito habitats and estimated vector densities in the major urban parks in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and compared them with those in adjacent residential areas. The prevalences of habitats where Aedes larvae were found were 43% and 9% for the parks and residential areas, respectively. The difference was statistically significant (prevalence ratio [PR]: 5.00, 95% CI: 3.85-6.49). The prevalences of positive larval habitats were significantly greater in the parks for both species than the residential areas (PR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.04-2.22 for A. aegypti, PR: 10.10, 95% CI: 7.23-14.12 for A. albopictus). Larvae of both species were positively associated with discarded containers and planters. Aedes albopictus larvae were negatively associated with indoor habitats, but positively associated with vegetation shade. The adult density of A. aegypti was significantly less in the parks compared with the residential areas (rate ratio [RR]; 0.09, 95% CI: 0.05-0.16), while the density of A. albopictus was significantly higher in the parks (RR: 9.99, 95% CI: 6.85-14.59). When the species were combined, the density was significantly higher in the parks (RR: 2.50, 95% CI: 1.92-3.25). The urban parks provide suitable environment for Aedes mosquitoes, and A. albopictus in particular. Virus vectors are abundant in the urban parks, and the current vector control programs need to have greater consideration of urban parks.
Highlights
According to the WHO, over the last two decades 100 to 400 million dengue virus infections occurred annually, and the number of cases increased eight-fold [1]
The primary dengue virus vectors, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, are primarily daytime biting mosquitoes and the risk of infection may be considerable in urban parks due to human foot traffic
The present study addressed four hypotheses comparing the populations of A. albopictus and A. aegypti in the major parks and the adjacent residential areas in Ho Chi Minh City
Summary
According to the WHO, over the last two decades 100 to 400 million dengue virus infections occurred annually, and the number of cases increased eight-fold [1]. Dengue is primarily an urban disease, and the recent increase is likely associated with the rapid expansion of urban areas [2]. The dense human populations of urban areas increase vector-human contact, and dengue virus (DENV) circulates more efficiently [2]. Recent seroprevalence studies showed that rural populations have been exposed to DENV as much as urban populations [4,5]. The high seropositive rate in rural areas is likely due to an increase of mobile populations infected with DEMV from urban areas, and transitions of rural areas toward urban areas
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