The influence of urban heat islands and socioeconomic factors on the spatial distribution of Aedes aegypti larval habitats

Author(s)

de Azevedo, Thiago S. ^[1] ; Bourke, Brian Patrick ^[1] ; Piovezan, Rafael ^[2] ; Sallum, Maria Anice M. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Publ Hlth, Dept Epidemiol, Rio Claro, SP - Brazil

^[2] Sao Paulo State Univ Unesp, Dept Zool, Rio Claro, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: GEOSPATIAL HEALTH; v. 13, n. 1, p. 179-187, 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 2

Abstract

We addressed the potential associations among the temporal and spatial distribution of larval habitats of Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti, the presence of urban heat islands and socioeconomic factors. Data on larval habitats were collected in Santa Barbara d'Oeste, Sao Paulo, Brazil. from 2004 to 2006, and spatial and temporal variations were analysed using a wavelet-based approach. We quantified urban heat islands by calculating surface temperatures using the results of wavelet analyses and grey level transformation from Thematic Mapper images (Landsat 5). Ae. aegypti larval habitats were geo-referenced corresponding to the wavelet analyses to test the potential association between geographical distribution of habitats and surface temperature. In an inhomogeneous spatial point process, we estimated the frequency of occurrence of larval habitats in relation to temperature. The Sao Paulo State Social Vulnerability Index in the municipality of Santa Barbara d'Oeste was used to test the potential association between presence of larval habitats and social vulnerability. We found abundant Ae. aegvpti larval habitats in areas of higher surface temperature and social vulnerability and fewer larval habitats in areas with lower surface temperature and social vulnerability. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/26229-7 - Latitudinal landscape genomics and ecology of Anopheles darlingi
• Grantee: Maria Anice Mureb Sallum
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants