Environmental characteristics of the cemeteries of Buenos Aires City (Argentina) and infestation levels of Aedes aegypti (Diptera : Culicidae)

Cemeteries with many water-filled containers, flowers. sources of human blo od, and shade are favorable urban habitats for the proliferation of Aedes a egypti, a vector of yellow fever and dengue. A total of 22,956 containers w as examined in the five cemeteries of the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The vector was found in four cemeteries that showed an average infestation level of 5.5% (617 positive out of 11,196 water-filled containers). The fou r cemeteries positive for Ae. aegypti showed significantly different (p<0.0 1) infestation levels. Vegetation cover and percentage of infestation were significantly correlated (p<0.01), but neither cemetery area nor number of available containers were significantly related to the proportion of positi ve vases. Our results suggest that the cemeteries of Buenos Aires represent a gradient of habitat favorableness for this vector species, some of which may act as foci for its proliferation and dispersal.