Evidence map of strategies for preventing and controlling Aedes aegypti infestation and related viral infections.

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to develop an evidence map on the strategies for preventing and controlling Aedes aegypti infestation and related viral infections.

Methods: The evidence map was created according to the methodology of the Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information (BIREME). Publication searches were performed in MEDLINE/PubMed and the Virtual Health Library, filtered for systematic reviews (SRs) only. The methodological quality of the SR was accessed using the AMSTAR2 tool, and Tableau software was used to construct the evidence map.

Results: A total of 44 SRs on the prevention and control of A. aegypti infestation and related viral infections (dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever viruses) were included in the map. The evidence map indicates 130 associations between 59 interventions and 18 outcomes. The reported interventions were categorized into 10 groups, including community/educational actions, use of repellents, immunization, individual protection, diagnostics, biological and chemical control of the vector, epidemiological surveillance, environmental actions, and combined interventions. The described outcomes were grouped as mosquito infestation, behavior change, prevention and control, immunological response, safety, and epidemiological surveillance.

Conclusion: The elaborated map highlighted strong evidence supporting the effectiveness of vaccination, DEET repellents, community participation, chemical control of the vector, and combined housing interventions in protecting against the vector and transmitted viruses. Nonetheless, several evidence gaps remain in the knowledge of how to best prevent and control the vector and its related viral infections, underscoring the need for high-quality SRs and primary studies.