P-23 - A novel snapshot approach to surveillance of urban mosquitoes across the Caribbean

Abstract: Diverse mosquitoes occur throughout the Caribbean, but the most significant to human health are urban populations of Aedes aegypti. Systematic surveillance and control vary among various countries and municipalities, leaving gaps in protection of human populations. Seeking innovative methods to conduct broad surveillance with low cost, we developed a novel approach utilizing commercial cruise ships for transportation coupled with limited personnel and inexpensive equipment. Upon arrival at each port, two workers spend three hours examining potential sites for breeding and feeding. Adults are collected by human landing catch; larvae are collected with a standard dipping device or valved basting bulb; all are viewed with hand-held microscopes for identification. After examination all mosquitoes are discarded on site; none are returned to the ship. Our survey included 20 urbanized areas on 19 islands across the Caribbean. We found active breeding populations of Aedes aegypti in 7 urban areas: George Town, Cayman Islands; Roatan, Honduras; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Basseterre, St. Kitts; and Costa Maya, Mexico. We failed to find mosquitoes in 13 sites despite multiple visits to some: Nassau; Freeport; Berry Islands, The Bahamas (3 islands); Labadee, Haiti; Cozumel, Mexico; Philipsburg, Sint Maarten; Marigot, Saint Martin; Oranjestad, Aruba; Kralendijk, Bonaire; Willemstad, Curaçao; St. John’s, Antigua; Castries, St. Lucia; and Bridgetown, Barbados. Larvae occurred in street drains, water meter wells, flowerpots, decorative fountains, rubbish cans, and automobile tires. Mosquitoes usually occurred in large numbers in areas shared with dense human populations, thus constituting with high risk for potential disease transmission. Since all could be easily and inexpensively remedied, we plan to develop this procedural model further with the aim of alerting local officials and thereby improving local conditions for health. Further research applications of this approach are also being considered.