Cross-sectional entomological monitoring combined with professional qualifications in transition areas for yellow fever and autochthonous malaria in the Atlantic Forest in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Background: The Atlantic Forest harbours a rich mosquito assemblage, including vectors for diverse arbovirus. Mosquito species adapt to urban-forest landscape changes, acting as bridge vectors for pathogens.

Objectives: This study evaluated different collection methods for immature and adult mosquitoes combined with improving field personnel qualifications in a transition area between urbanised and sylvatic environments.

Methods: Immature and adult mosquitoes were collected from 33 collection points established in urban and peri-urban, sylvatic and transitional areas using different capture methods. During the course, 107 professionals were qualified.

Findings: Vectors (Anophelinae and Culicinae) were dominant in the urban/peri-urban environment (51.49%), followed by the transitional (26.69%) and sylvatic (21.82%) environments. Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse), Ae. (Ochlerotatus) scapularis (Rondani), Ae. (Stg.) aegypti (Linnaeus), Haemagogus (Conopostegus) leucocelaenus (Dyar & Shannon), undetermined Culex, Cx. (Melanoconion) pilosus (Dyar and Knab), Cx. (Carrollia) urichii (Coquillett), and Sabethes (Sabethes) albiprivus Theobald were most abundant, with Ae. albopictus collected from all ecotopes. Ovitrap provided a robust sample of the immature stages (92.8%), whereas other methods contributed 3.59% of total immatures, but greatest species richness (14 species). For adult mosquitoes, Shannon light trap resulted in greatest abundance (86.16%).

Main conclusions: The use of varied sampling techniques led to collection of a high mosquito species richness, which, combined with programs for training local professionals, should be an integral part of health surveillance for monitoring the risk of vector-borne diseases.