Abstract

BERNUES BANERES, Alberto; BUENO MARI, Rubén; CHORDA OLMOS, Francisco Alberto  and  JIMENEZ PEYDRO, Ricardo. Eco-epidemiological risk factors in the emergence of arboviruses in the Valencian autonomous region´s wetlands. Valencia, España . Bol Mal Salud Amb [online]. 2012, vol.52, n.2, pp.257-268. ISSN 1690-4648.

The present work analyses the possibility of the emergence of West Nile virus in the Valencian Autonomous Region’s wetlands (Eastern Spain), with the aim of inferring what kind of wetland possesses the necessary characteristics to cause a West Nile epidemiological outbreak. A seasonal sampling program of mosquito larvae (Diptera: Culicidae) was carried out. Larvae were captured by "dipping" technique, and a Consort C535 laptop system was used to measure physical and chemical wáter bodies characteristics. Data was statistically analyzed with JMP 7 statistical program. A total of 3418 individuals were collected; obtaining a total of 6 mosquito species: Aedes albopictus (n= 10), Culex modestus (n= 62), Culex pipiens (n= 2246), Culex theileri (n= 2), Culiseta annulata (n= 94) and Ochlerotatus caspius (n= 330). These results represent the possibility of transmission of West Nile and other flaviviruses like Sindbis, Usutu or Tahyna. The design of contingency mosaics revealed that wetlands with the greatest capacity to produce a disease outbreaks in the Valencian Autonomous Region, are lagoons, pocosins and saltmarshes.

Keywords : Culicidae; Communicable diseases; Arboviruses; Epidemiology; West Nile Virus; Spain; Valencia.

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