Esmeraldas Province Research Articles

Impact of information and communication technologies in ancestral communities of San Lorenzo, Ecuador

In the canton of San Lorenzo, province of Esmeraldas, 15 ancestral communes received legal personality from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, constituted with more than fifty inhabitants, represented by the official body called Cabildo, composed of the president, vice-president, treasurer, trustee and secretary. The purpose of this research is to analyze the impact of information and communication technologies ICT in ancestral communities of San Lorenzo, this research followed the rules of Prisma study systematic reviews for the identification, analysis and evaluation of scientific articles. At the end of the study it was found, among other considerations, that the ancestral communities located in the canton of San Lorenzo may face difficulties in accessing relevant information due to existing weaknesses in issues related to the implementation and use of ICT, this visualized from the knowledge of their rights, educational opportunities, development programs, technological advances and other aspects that could benefit their welfare and development.

Impact of dengue fever on depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms in Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador: a prospective cohort study

BackgroundPhysical symptoms of dengue have been documented extensively, but knowledge gaps on dengue-associated mental health hazards remain. We investigated the frequency of psychiatric symptoms (depression, anxiety, and stress) and neurocognitive performance during the first year after a dengue episode.MethodsUsing DASS-21 scores at 3, 6, and 12 months, we assessed depression, anxiety, and stress in anti-dengue IgM-positive adults and matched controls during the 2021 dengue season in Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador. Patients with DASS-21 scores ≤ 4 were considered normal; those with scores of 5–7, 8–10, and ≥ 11 indicated mild, moderate, and severe depression, respectively; cutoff scores for anxiety and stress were ≥ 5 and ≥ 9, respectively. We also assessed ‘delayed matching to sample’ (DMS) and ‘spatial working memory’ (SWM) using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery.ResultsWe enrolled 102 cases and 78 controls. At 3 months, 90 cases and 70 controls were available for follow-up, among these 40/90 (44.4%) cases and 12/70 (17.1%) controls had DASS-21 scores ≥ 5 (RR 2.7, 95% CI [1.5–4.7]). Dengue remained a predictor for depression after adjusting for age, sex, and COVID-19 status. We observed no difference in anxiety between the groups, but stress scores increased at month 3 (RR 1.87, 95% CI [1.01–3.4]). DASS-21 scores normalized during follow-up. DMS and SWM did not differ between groups at 3 and 6 months. At month 12, cases had lower SWM than controls did (p value < 0.001).ConclusionsCare providers should be aware of dengue-associated mood disorders and facilitate timely referral to mental health services. Future longitudinal studies are warranted to validate our observations regarding the impact of dengue on mental health and neurocognitive status in affected patients.

Diversity and use of Plants in Carlos Concha, Esmeraldas, Ecuador

In Carlos Concha, Esmeraldas province, a survey was conducted in order to determine the level of use of local plants by the local population. It was determined that 49 species, belonging to 28 botanical families are used. Most of the latter belong to the Asteraceae, Cucurbitaceae, Fabaceae, Piperaceae, and Solanaceae families, which include 17.85% of all reported species. All collected plants were collected in the field, pressed, dried, and mounted as herbarium samples. Most of the inhabitants of Carlos Concha practice subsistence agriculture with cacao (Teobrama cacao), maize (Zea mays), cassava (Manihot esculenta), plantains (Musa paradisiaca), and bananas (Musa acuminata) the principal crops. Of the plants reported as useful, 50.1% are used as medicine, insect repellent, and wound healing. As much as 24.4% of the reported species are used as food, three species are used as construction materials, whereas uses related to handicraft manufacturing and ritual activities are less frequent, with only one species used for these purposes. Additionally, 9 species were reported to be used for other purposes, including fuel (coal), forage and ornamental uses.

Identification of the predominant gastronomic culture in Isla Trinitaria - South of Guayaquil

Guayas, generally one of the most populated provinces on the Ecuadorian coast, has a diverse gastronomy influenced by customs and traditions rooted throughout generations. Guayaquil is the capital of the province, an epicentre that highlights an amalgam of customs, traditions, culture, tourism and gastronomy distinctive of its main canton. The city is divided into four main sectors: North, South, East and West. In the southern sector of Guayaquil is the Trinitaria Island, where the gastronomic fair "La Sazón de Mis Ancestros" is held annually. This event emphasizes the rich gastronomy of Esmeraldas, with a group of ladies willing to undertake in the preparation of different dishes of the province of Esmeraldas, that is to say, to introduce these typical dishes in the Trinitaria Island, such as encocao of fish and seafood, the casserole of fish and seafood, shrimp salad, among others. This representation gives us access to appreciate the gastronomic culture prevailing in this specific area.

Bioremediation of Soil Samples Contaminated with Crude Oil using Rice Husk-based Biocarbon (Oryza Sativa)

This research consisted of the bioremediation of four soil samples contaminated with oil using biochar made from rice husks. For this, fourth samples of soil Balao (B), Tachina (T), Refinería (R), and Winchele (W), from the province of Esmeraldas, Ecuador, previously contaminated with oil from a refinery in the country. The rice husk (Oryza sativa) was characterized to determine its ash, organic matter, and moisture content. The soil samples were characterized to know their cation exchange capacity, pH, temperature, humidity, organic carbon, ash, organic matter, density, porosity, and texture. The crude oil used as a soil contaminant agent was determined by API, temperature, Conradson carbon, density, ash, organic matter, and viscosity of the crude oil. Each sample was contaminated, and the bioremediation process was evaluated for 90 days. In the zero analysis, the content of total hydrocarbons (TPH) in sample B was 2,691.78 mg/Kg, 2,505.99 mg/Kg for T, 2,950.99 mg/Kg in R and W with 2,708.24 mg /Kg. Once the biochar was obtained, its pH, initial yield, density, ash content, organic matter, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium were known. After bioremediation, concentrations of 475.61mg/Kg, 209.65mg/Kg, 136.66mg/Kg, and 578.05mg/Kg of TPHs were reached for B, T, R, and B, achieving compliance with the permissible limit established in local legislation for contaminated soils. The results obtained indicate that the process used can be an alternative to soil bioremediation processes.

Primary care medical brigades in the Parish of San Mateo in the province of Esmeraldas: a strategy for corporate social responsibility

Introduction: the medical health care brigades are a strategy to address the health problems of communities from a perspective of social construction, in which people are recognized as subjects of rights and key actors in the process of building with solid foundations through the establishment of strategic alliances with companies committed to corporate social responsibility that allow the strengthening of governance processes to develop a culture of quality that promotes the sustained improvement of the provision of health services. Method: this study has a cross-sectional and descriptive approach, from the registration of a database in Excel with the total number of attendances and anonymized data of the direct beneficiaries of the project. Results: a total of 915 residents of the communities of Tabete, La Victoria, Timbre Commune, Tatica and Cantonal Seat of the San Mateo parish of the city and province of Esmeraldas benefited, achieving a total of 1059 visits in general or family medicine, obstetrics and dentistry, from which the 10 main morbidities of the beneficiaries were obtained, the most prevalent being intestinal parasitosis without other specification with 60 %. atopic dermatitis with 25 % and acute vaginitis with 21 %. Primary essential hypertension, acute rhinopharyngitis, type 2 diabetes mellitus with other specified complications, urinary tract infection of unspecified site, acute tonsillitis and other gastroenteritis and colitis of infectious origin account for less than 10 % each. Conclusions: corporate social responsibility strategies through medical brigades are a mechanism to highlight and reaffirm the concept of improving health care gaps, which allows the participation of the community in health promotion and prevention and minimizes the occurrence of chronic non-communicable and communicable diseases and their sequelae

Risks to Human Health from the Consumption of Water from Aquifers in Gold Mining Areas in the Coastal Region of Ecuador

Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) is a source of supply in many areas of the world, especially in developing countries. This is often carried out illegally using toxic substances such as mercury. Mercury, due to its chemical–physical properties and the transport factors involved between the different environmental matrices, can percolate through soil and from surface water to groundwater. The objective of this study was to conduct a human health risk assessment. For this purpose, a screening of mercury concentrations was carried out, collecting 67 water samples at selected points, and a risk assessment was performed applying both a deterministic and a probabilistic approach. A deterministic approach is a specific analysis based on determining the values of the risk quotient (HQ) and the risk index (HI) for each receptor category (adults and children) and scenario (residential and recreational) considered; a probabilistic approach is based on stochastic simulation techniques and the evaluation of the statistical quantities. There was found to be a discrepancy between the results provided by the two approaches, with the deterministic approach suggesting a more worrisome picture. However, in general, the results showed a greater exposure in the provinces of El Oro and Esmeraldas, and a greater vulnerability of child receptors.

Analysis of the Principal Factors that Affect the English Language Learning Process of 8th-Grade Students

A descriptive study was developed to analyze the principal factors that affect the English language learning process focused on the Speaking ability. The methods used were Analysis and Synthesis, Hermeneutics, Descriptive Statistics, and Inductive-Deductive, through the application of tests, questionnaires, and an observation guide to the 8th grade-students and their teacher of English at Muisne High School in Esmeraldas province, in 2023. The principal results were that the Sociocultural factors present in these students were Affectivity, Motivation, Linguistics and Familiar ones . The teacher's pedagogical strategies were reduced to apply the Cooperative Learning Method and the use of flashcards as a material aid. The 8th-grade students' age range corresponds to adolescence human developmental stage (i.e. individuals normally experience biological and psychological changes that can affect their learning process, including low self-esteem and lack of motivation). On the other hand, their learning styles revealed their interest in communicative aspects, which coincided with some authors mentioned in the report. The study concluded that Sociocultural factors, pedagogical strategies, and students' characteristics and learning styles all play a crucial role in the Teaching-learning process of the English language. Teachers must adapt their teaching methods and materials to enhance the needs of their students, considering their differences and backgrounds. Additionally, teachers must consider the ethical aspect of teaching and build positive relationships with their students to ensure a successful learning environment.

Activities Based on Sustainable Education to Foster Students’ English Language Speaking Skills

A quantity- qualitative research was developed at San Daniel Comboni School in the province of Esmeraldas in 2023, with the main aim of the investigating on some activities based on sustainable education to foster students’ English language speaking skills. The methos used were the documentary and explanatory study based on the socio-pedagogical project model with a quantitative approach, also it was used the Inductive – Deductive Metho, Analysis and Synthesis and Statistical one. The technique applied was the survey and the instrument was a questionnaire, and a sample of 46 students in the sixth year of Basic Education and 6 teachers of the mentioned school. The results obtained determined that in the classroom teachers are interested in applying tools focused on sustainable education so that students can strengthen the oral expression of the English language. Therefore, it is concluded that some activities based on sustainable education to foster students’ English language speaking skills in the sixth year of Basic Education students at the San Daniel Comboni School, located in Esmeraldas, in the period 2023. This fact is due to the fact that, through the use of teaching strategies, techniques and teaching resources, it is possible to encourage students to communicate in a natural and simple way in English, and being aware of what is happening around them.

Seroprevalence of trypanosomosis and associated risk factors in cattle from coast and amazonian provinces of Ecuador.

Trypanosomosis is a tropical disease caused by various protozoan haemoparasites, which affects wild and domestic animals, the latter ones related to worldwide livestock production systems. Species such as Trypanosoma vivax and Trypanosoma evansi have been described using serological and molecular tools in several countries from South and Central America. However, Ecuador presents a relevant knowledge gap in the associated general epidemiology and risk factors of the disease. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of trypanosomosis in cattle from different regions of Ecuador. 745 serum samples from 7 Coastal and 3 Amazon provinces were screened for IgG anti-Trypanosoma spp. antibodies, using an in-house indirect ELISA. The seropositivity was explored and associated with several variables such as sex, age, breed, region, management, and province, using statistical tools. The general seroprevalence of trypanosomosis was 19.1% (95% CI: 16.30-22.1%). The Amazonian provinces of Sucumbíos and Napo and the Coastal province of Esmeraldas presented the highest seroprevalence values of 36.7% (95% CI: 27.67-46.47%), 23.64% (95% CI: 16.06-32.68%) and 25% (95% CI: 15.99-35.94%), respectively. Statistical significance was found for the region, province, and management variables, indicating as relevant risk factors the extensive management and Amazon location of the cattle analyzed. Specific actions should be taken to identify the exact species on reservoirs and susceptible hosts, evaluate the implication of farm management and cattle movement as risk factors, and implement surveillance and treatment plans for affected herds.

A first insight into tuberculosis transmission at the border of Ecuador and Colombia: a retrospective study of the population structure of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Esmeraldas province.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health concern in Ecuador and Colombia, considering that both countries are high-burden TB settings. Molecular epidemiology is crucial to understand the transmission dynamics of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) and to identify active transmission clusters of regional importance. We studied the potential transmission of TB between Colombia and Ecuador through the analysis of the population structure of MTBC lineages circulating in the Ecuadorian province of Esmeraldas at the border with Colombia. A total of 105 MTBC strains were characterized by 24-loci MIRU-VNTR and spoligotyping. MTBC lineage 4 is only present in Esmeraldas; no MTBC strains belonging to Lineage 2-sublineage Beijing were found despite its presence in other provinces of Ecuador and, in Colombia. Genotyping results revealed a high degree of diversity for MTBC in Esmeraldas: Neither active transmission clusters within this province nor including MTBC strains from Colombia or other provinces of Ecuador were found. Our data suggest that tuberculosis dynamics in this rural and isolated area may be not related to highly transmitted strains but could be influenced by other health determinants that favor TB relapse such as poverty and poor health system access. Further studies including a larger number of MTBC strains from Esmeraldas are necessary to test this hypothesis.

Quo vadis, smallholder forest landscape? An introduction to the LPB-RAP model.

The impacts of the Anthropocene on climate and biodiversity pose societal and ecological problems that may only be solved by ecosystem restoration. Local to regional actions are required, which need to consider the prevailing present and future conditions of a certain landscape extent. Modeling approaches can be of help to support management efforts and to provide advice to policy making. We present stage one of the LaForeT-PLUC-BE model (Landscape Forestry in the Tropics-PCRaster Land Use Change-Biogeographic & Economic model; in short: LPB) and its thematic expansion module RAP (Restoration Areas Potentials). LPB-RAP is a high-resolution pixel-based scenario tool that relies on a range of explicit land use types (LUTs) to describe various forest types and the environment. It simulates and analyzes future landscape configurations under consideration of climate, population and land use change long-term. Simulated Land Use Land Cover Change (LULCC) builds on dynamic, probabilistic modeling incorporating climatic and anthropogenic determinants as well as restriction parameters to depict a sub-national regional smallholder-dominated forest landscape. The model delivers results for contrasting scenario settings by simulating without and with potential Forest and Landscape Restoration (FLR) measures. FLR potentials are depicted by up to five RAP-LUTs. The model builds on user-defined scenario inputs, such as the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP) and Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP). Model application is here exemplified for the SSP2-RCP4.5 scenario in the time frame 2018-2100 on the hectare scale in annual resolution using Esmeraldas province, Ecuador, as a case study area. The LPB-RAP model is a novel, heuristic Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) tool for smallholder-dominated forest landscapes, supporting near-time top-down planning measures with long-term bottom-up modeling. Its application should be followed up by FLR on-site investigations and stakeholder participation across all involved scales.

Microorganisms in water for daily consumption on Luis Vargas Torres Island in the city of Esmeraldas

Introduction: microbiological analysis of water involves evaluating water quality in terms of identification and presence of pathogenic and non-pathogenic agents to ensure that the water is safe for daily human use and consumption. Objetive: to identify the microorganisms in the water for daily consumption in the families living on Luis Vargas Torres Island in the city and province of Esmeraldas. Method: a cross-sectional quantitative analytical study was carried out on 121 water samples from reservoirs and taps selected through simple random probability sampling using sterile Whirl-Pak® bags with sodium thiosulfate for sample collection. In the laboratory analysis, the membrane filtration technique with a uniform diameter of 0.45 μm was used to obtain the bacteria on the surface of the membrane filter, which were inoculated in differential culture media for fungi and bacteria and in all cases the count was performed by the Most Probable Number (MPN) method. The final data were consolidated in an Excel table for the final elaboration of frequency tables and graphs. Results: of the total samples analyzed, E. coli was identified in 20 %, Salmonella spp. 10 % and Shigella spp. 4 %; and total coliforms such as Citrobacter spp. and Klebsiella spp. present in 8 %, Enterobacter spp. in 6 % and Pseudomona spp. 2 % indicators of fecal contamination and fungi such as Mucor spp. represents 2 %, Penicilum spp. and Aspergillus fumigatus 3 % and Alternaria alternata and Absidia spp. 4 % and 5 % respectively. Conclusions: research on microbiological water contamination in unplanned urban communities reveals the presence of pathogens and drinking water quality indicators, such as fungi, total coliforms, and species-specific species such as E. coli, Salmonella spp., and Shigella spp., indicating fecal contamination. These findings highlight the urgent need for sanitation and hygiene interventions in this community to effectively manage water quality and health risks

Socioeconomic analysis of the cocoa production chain in Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador

This research aims to conduct a socioeconomic study of the cocoa production chain in the province of Esmeraldas through a descriptive analysis from 2016 to 2021, using primary sources from the Agricultural Public Information System (SIPA) database. According to the type of study, it was carried out in a cross-sectional manner since the data of variables obtained in a specific period of time were analyzed to establish fundamental particularities such as: standard deviation, kurtosis, and ranges. To determine the price and production of cocoa, it was developed through histograms, time series, and correlations to obtain detailed data and thus know the link between the variables under study.

Five years on the road

We have reached our fifth edition, marking five years of disseminating information about the mammals of Ecuador. The cover of this edition portrays the long-tailed weasel (Neogale frenata), one of the smallest carnivores of the continent and a little-known species in Ecuador. The cover symbolizes our central theme, as we include three publications related to this species in this edition. The first is the report of a confirmed record in the southern region of the province of Esmeraldas, which opens the debate on whether this species, which is typically Andean in this country, may naturally inhabit the humid forests of the Chocó. This hypothesis had been mentioned previously (Parker III &amp; Carr, 1992) but had not been confirmed. To complement this topic, we add two scientific notes that contribute to our knowledge of the natural history of Neogale frenata. One deals with its swimming ability, a behavior that had only been documented in the northern part of its distribution, in North America (Sheffield &amp; Thomas, 1997); the other provides details of an attack on a poultry farm, a behavior previously attributed to this species but poorly documented in the scientific literature. This edition also brings two contributions to the little-known natural history of the country's bats. One is the first catalog of ectoparasites (Diptera: Streblidae and Nycteribiidae) found on 22 bat species in coastal Ecuador. The other is a note on the capture of a sucker bat (Thyroptera tricolor) in a web of Eriophora sp. (Araneae: Araneidae) in Yasuní National Park, in the Ecuadorian Amazon. We also include an article on research trips designed for listening to humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the southeastern Pacific region and two articles that contribute to the knowledge of the species richness of two little-studied areas: the Cordillera Chongón Colonche, in the central-coastal region of the country, and the Reserva Biológica Tapichalaca, in the province of Zamora Chinchipe, in southeastern Ecuador. This fifth issue of Mammalia aequatorialis is the most extensive that we have published since the birth of the journal, motivating us to continue with the belief that we will be able to publish two issues per year in a short time. Thank you very much for joining us during these first five years. Diego G. Tirira Editor-in-chief

Work performance, physiological and hemato-biochemical responses in working buffalo with different load weights

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the weight of different loads on work performance and physiological, biochemical, and hematological responses in working buffaloes. The study was carried out in the province of Esmeraldas, Cantón Quinindé, Ecuador. During the study, the area maintained an average temperature of 24.4 °C and a humidity of 91.7%. Twelve male working buffaloes 7 to 10 years old (782.16±21.62 kg) were evaluated while transporting African oil palm fruits in metal baskets placed on the back. The weights of the loads were 200, 300, and 500 kg. The work was carried out from 7:00 to 15:00 h. Buffaloes had five years of previous experience performing the same activities in the production unit. The animals always had access to water and natural shade from the African palm. Different variables related to work performance, physiological indicators, and biochemical and hematological responses were recorded 30 minutes before the start of work, immediately after work, and in the morning on the rest day, except for work performance variables, since it was measured immediately after work. All variables were compared with a mixed model for repeated measures, considering the factors time and load weight and Time x Load weight interactions as fixed effects, with the animal in each group as a random effect. The Tukey test with a probability level set at p&lt;0.05 was used to make multiple comparisons. Results indicated that buffaloes that transported loads of 500, followed by 350 and 200 kg moved slower (3.40, 3.45, 3.52 km/h, p=0.0164), worked less time (2.39, 2.55, 2.79 h; p&lt;0.0001), traveled less distance (7.29, 8.71, 9.75 km, p&lt;0.0001) and made fewer trips (8.27, 10.94, 16.61, p&lt;0.0001), respectively. However, the total weight of the load was greater (4,138.88, 3,830.55, 3,322.22 kg, p=0.0281), and they were stopped longer (5.59, 5.44, 5.20 h, p&lt;0.0001), respectively. Physiological (respiratory rate, pulse, heart rate, and rectal temperature) and biochemical (glucose, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, and total protein) parameters, as well as blood cell count (white blood cell, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils), increased after work regardless of weight load (p&lt;0.001). In contrast, red blood cell counts, hemoglobin, and hematocrit were decreased after work (p&lt;0.001). Likewise, these changes were more pronounced when the load was 500 kg compared to 200 kg (p&lt;0.05). However, all changes remained within the physiological ranges reported for the buffaloes. Therefore, it is concluded that heavier loads increase work efficiency but generate greater physiological and metabolic demand. Further studies are needed to understand the long-term effects on the welfare of working buffaloes destined for rural activities.

Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Method for the Detection of Onchocerca volvulus in Post-Elimination Surveillance of Onchocerciasis in Ecuador.

Onchocerciasis has been declared eliminated in Ecuador and surveillance measures are of great interest. In this study, we examined the infectivity rates of Simulium exiguum by Onchocerca volvulus in previously hyperendemic areas in Esmeraldas province of Ecuador. These areas had previously undergone mass administration of ivermectin, which led to the interruption of transmission in 2009 and the certification of elimination in 2014. The study included three communities in Río Cayapas and one in Río Canandé, and a total of 2,950 adult S. exiguum were collected in 2018. We used quantitative polymerase chain reaction with O. volvulus O-150 plasmid control DNA to analyze 59 pools. Our findings revealed that the infectivity rates were zero, indicating that the transmission of O. volvulus remained suspended in the area.

Questioning development from Black feminisms in Ecuador and moving towards a Black feminist political ecology in the Americas

This article critically explores tensions concerning development from contemporary feminist thought and praxis in Latin America. In Ecuador, development is seen as an outdated and irrelevant theoretical framework from a variety of feminist perspectives, including feminist political ecology and decolonial feminisms. Nevertheless, development discourse and practices persist and are central to public policy with a gender focus throughout the country. This results in tensions between governmental and autonomous feminist perspectives that are present in local spaces, such as the province of Esmeraldas in Northern Ecuador. Drawing on research conducted with Afro-Ecuadorian peer researchers, including interviews, oral histories and social-cartography methods, this article will demonstrate how Afro-Ecuadorian women are challenging dominant ideas and practices of development from the emerging ideas of Black feminism in Ecuador and moving towards a Black feminist political ecology in the Americas.

Tourism perspective on insecurity in Esmeraldas, Ecuador

Tourism is an industry that has been growing throughout the world, and has been an important engine for the economic development of many regions and countries; it constitutes an important source of income for many regions of the world, including the province of Esmeraldas in Ecuador. However, insecurity can negatively affect the socio-economic development of the tourism sector. This article analyzes the economic perspective of tourism in the face of insecurity in the Esmeraldas canton, Esmeraldas province, Ecuador. To achieve this objective, a study was carried out with a sample of tourists who visited the region, and theimpact of insecurity on the perception and behavior of tourists was analyzed. An extensive literature review and analysis of secondary data was carried out to assess the impact of insecurity on local tourism. It was concluded that insecurity negatively affects tourism in the region, producing significant economic losses. Therefore, strategies are suggested to improve security and promote tourism in the area.

Validity of Self-Reported Mosquito Bites to Assess Household Mosquito Abundance in Six Communities of Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador.

Mosquito-borne diseases are a global burden; however, current methods of evaluating human-mosquito contact rates are expensive and time consuming. Validated surveys of self-reported mosquito bites may be an inexpensive way to determine mosquito presence and bite exposure level in an area, but this remains untested. In this study, a survey of self-reported mosquito bites was validated against household mosquito abundance from six communities in Esmeraldas, Ecuador. From February 2021 to July 2022, households were interviewed monthly, and five questions were used to ask participants how often they were bitten by mosquitoes at different times during the day. At the same time, adult mosquitoes were collected using a Prokopack aspirator. Species were identified and counted. Survey responses were compared with the total number of mosquitoes found in the home using negative binomial regression. More frequent self-reported mosquito bites were significantly associated with higher numbers of collected adult mosquitoes. These associations were driven by the prevalence of the dominant genera, Culex. These results suggest that surveys of perceived mosquito bites relate to actual mosquito presence, making them a potentially useful tool for determining the impact of vector-control interventions on community perceptions of risk but less useful for assessing the risk of nondominant species such as Aedes aegypti. Further work is needed to examine the robustness of these results in other contexts.