Biodiversity of Culicidae and its interaction with arboviruses and malaria in the Atlantic Forest

Abstract

Introduction - Complex interactions are present between biodiversity of mosquitoes (Diptera, Culicidae) and the dynamics of vector-borne arboviruses and malaria-parasites, which are infectious agents that can cause diseases in humans and other animals. Objectives - to apply habitat-suitability modelling for arboviral and malarial mosquito vectors in Vale do Ribeira, southeastern São Paulo state, sub-region of Serra do Mar of Atlantic Forest. In a local scale of this region, to relate the spatial heterogeneity with biodiversity and the role of this with dynamics of malarial transmission in the Parque Estadual da Ilha do Cardoso. Methods - Potential distribution maps were generated for the vectors of arboviruses, such as Aedes serratus, Aedes scapularis and Psorophora ferox. Distribution maps generated for Anopheles cruzii, Anopheles bellator and Anopheles marajoara were correlated with spatial distribution of human malaria. Regression models were applied to correlate the spatial heterogeneity with biodiversity of mosquitoes. It was elaborated a mathematical model to explain the effect of biodiversity on the transmission of Plasmodium. Results - People are more exposed to bites of Ae. serratus, Ae. scapularis and Ps. ferox in warmer and wetter areas. Correlations between An. marajoara and spatial pattern of malaria were positive and significant, while An. cruzii and An. bellator were not important. Spatial heterogeneity was positively associated with biodiversity of mosquitoes. Higher levels of biodiversity of both mosquitoes and vertebrates (birds and mammals) was associated with low risk of Plasmodium transmission. Conclusions - Habitat-suitability modelling is a tool for the surveillance of vector-borne arboviruses. It is recommended greater attention to An. marajoara which can be a potential secondary vector of Plasmodium parasites in natural or deforested open areas of the Atlantic Forest. Plant diversity could increase spatial heterogeneity which can be associated with higher mosquito diversity. Higher levels of mosquito, avian and mammalian diversities may decrease the number of infectious bites of An. cruzii. Future research on the epidemiology of malaria and arboviruses should include the following combinations of subjects: climate change and arboviruses, mosquito and spatial heterogeneity, and biodiversity and malaria. Descriptors: Environment and Public Health; Epidemiology; Atlantic Forest; Ecology; Biodiversity; Spatial distribution; Statistical model; vivax-malaria; Arboviruses; Disease vectors. (AU)