The first detection of a population of Aedes aegypti in the Atlantic Forest in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Abstract

Aedes aegypti is almost completely restricted to human-modified environments, especially urban areas, and rarely invades forests. Ovitraps were utilized in a reserve (Bom Retiro) in Rio de Janeiro state. Eggs of A. aegypti, genetically not differentiable from those of urban mosquitoes, were obtained at a location more than 700 m inside the border of the forest and 900 m away from a trail at the entrance to the forest. The presence of A. aegypti in a primary forest indicates its ability to adapt to sylvatic environments in Brazil, suggesting great potential for the transmission of several arboviruses due to the difficulty in controlling these mosquitoes.