Aedes aegypti (I.) population in an endemic area of dengue in the Southeast Brazil

Objective A Aedes aegypti population from an area of dengue transmission wa s studied to determine mosquito's frequency. spatial distribution, parity i ts ovarian development and midgut contents. Methods The study carried out in Sao Jos do Rio Preto country, Sao Paulo, S P Brazil. Low and intermediate socioeconomic level regions were chosen to t he study, which was carried out 1996 and 1997. Using a manual electric aspi rator, captures were performed inside and outside the houses. Dissections w ere conducted to allow classify female mosquitoes according to their physio logic state. Results One hundred and eighty-eight males and 189 females were captured in both regions. A general index of 0.46 Ae. aegypti females per house was de termined. Of the total sample, 82.4% Of Males and 87.3% of females were col lected indoors. Greater proportions of females were found in the region of low socioeconomic level, and higher population density. One hundred and for ty-eight female mosquitoes were analyzed: 27.0% were nulliparous and 10.1% parous. The rest were classified as Christophers and Mer's (C&M)plzases III to V, 28.0% of which had red blood in their midgut. Of the total female po pulation, 87.9% had bloodmeals. Conclusions The mosquito species revealed a high degree of endophily. There was a higher proportion of nulliparous mosquitoes, although the majority o f the females were classified as C&M's phases III to V These results highli ght both the great number of females who had had bloodmeals, and the lack o f gonotrophic concordance.