Avaliação do monitoramento da infestação de aedes aegypti pelo método das ovitrampas na cidade de Toritama – Pernambuco frente à covid-19

Abstract

The circulation of arboviruses and consequent infections by DENV, ZIKV and CHIKV is still a present reality in our country. With the COVID-19 pandemic, it is necessary to emphasize even more the need for care with arboviruses. Thus, this present study aimed to gather data regarding the monitoring of Aedes aegypti by the oviposition trap method, with the objective of comparing with the LIRAa method and analyzing the two methods in view of the particularities of the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of the pandemic on vector monitoring. The methodology consisted of applying the ovitrap method in a neighborhood in the city of Toritama-PE and comparing it with data from the city's LIRAa, analyzing infestation and climatological data, as well as the specificities generated in the COVID-19 pandemic. A semi-structured interview was carried out with the manager of the municipality's epidemiological and environmental surveillance sector. Therefore, the project was submitted to the Research Ethics Committee, being approved with opinion no 5.897.154. In order to obtain information about the local environmental conditions and the actions of endemic agents, structured or semi-structured observations were carried out. Meteorological data were collected at the National Institute of Meteorology (INMET) and at the Pernambuco Water and Climate Agency (APAC). For the monitoring of the ovitraps, the straws were collected for counting the eggs, in a stereoscopic microscope. After quantifying the eggs, the Ovitrap Positivity Index (OPI) and the Egg Density Index (IDO) were calculated. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to compare the level of infestation in the blocks of the neighborhood where the ovitraps were installed. The IPO and IDO were tested using Pearson's correlation. As main results obtained in the research, the inadequate disposal of garbage and the underreporting of arboviruses were verified. Regarding meteorological data, the region is considered hot for most of the year, with a climate conducive to the proliferation and survival of the Aedes vector, where it is possible to verify that in the months with the highest rainfall, the highest number of eggs was obtained, this behavior being statistically confirmed by the Mann-Whitney test (u=33 and p= 0.014851). From the results of the IPO and the IDO, it was possible to verify that the IPO was quite high throughout the study period, with the highest index being 100% and the lowest 88.88%. Regarding the IDO, it was also possible to verify a number considered high, considering that the lowest value observed was 129.09 and the highest was 519.18. In view of the results obtained in this study, we can highlight the sensitivity brought by the ovitrap method and reinforce the importance of using it, especially in situations of epidemics, pandemics, or any situation of public health importance. This study resulted in the elaboration of a participatory contingency plan for arboviruses, where a survey of actions aimed at better monitoring of the vector and strategies that can be adopted to face arboviruses during the pandemic period of COVID-19, as well as as in other peculiar situations similar to the COVID-19 pandemic.