Ecology of Anopheline (Diptera, Culicidae), malaria vectors around the Serra da Mesa Reservoir, State of Goiás, Brazil: 1 - Frequency and climatic factors

Abstract

The ecology of anopheline species (Diptera, Culicidae) was studied in the vicinity of the Serra da Mesa Reservoir, State of Goiás, Brazil. Climatic factors and frequency of anopheline populations were analyzed. Bimonthly human-bait and Shannon trap captures were conducted for 36 consecutive months (January 1997 through December 1999). A total of 5,205 adult anophelines belonging to five species were collected. Anopheles darlingi was the most frequently collected anopheline (61.4%), followed by An. albitarsis s.l. (35.4%), An. triannulatus. (2.5%), An. oswaldoi (0.4%), and An. evansae (0.2%). The water level and vegetation along the banks of the reservoir were crucial to the frequency of the various anopheline species. Climatic factors had a secondary influence. The reservoir's water-level stability, increased frequency of An. darlingi, and the arrival of gold prospectors were responsible for the increase in malaria cases.

Diverse population dynamics of three Anopheles species belonging to the Triannulatus Complex (Diptera: Culicidae)

“…triannulatus s.l. following flooding during reservoir replenishment periods have been reported in Southwest and Central Brazil (Teodoro et al 1995, Guimarães et al 2004. During flow peak and river flooding periods in Salobra, great variation in river level is observed within short periods (2 -3 days).…”

“…triannulatus s.l. have been reported during periods of flooding in the rainy season or during reservoir replenishment in Brazil (Teodoro et al 1995, Guimarães et al 2004. Seasonal distribution and biting patterns of An.…”

The second internal transcribed spacer of nuclear ribosomal DNA as a tool for Latin American anopheline taxonomy: a critical review

“…Cytogenetics has proven immensely useful for differentiating among sympatric anopheline taxa, however, with a few exceptions (Pérez & Conn 1992, Ramirez & Dessen 2000, this technique has not been applied for neotropical anophelines. Ecological (Guimarães et al 2004), behavioral (da Silva Vasconcelos et al 2002 and biochemical (Phillips et al 1988, dos Santos et al 2003) studies also provide important information for mosquito taxonomy and should be encouraged.…”

A system for environmental monitoring of hydroelectric reservoirs in Brazil

“…The Serra da Mesa Reservoir is the largest in Brazil in terms of water volume flow. During maximum flow the reservoir contains 54.4 billion m 3 and measures 1,784 km 2 (Guimarães et al, 2004). Tucuruí reservoir is located in Pará State, North Brazil and was created in November 1984 by damming the Tocantins River.…”