Spatiotemporal patterns of Aedes aegypti populations in Cairns, Australia: assessing drivers of dengue transmission

Duncombe, Jennifer, Clements, Archie, Davis, Joe, Hu, Wenbiao, Weinstein, Philip, and Ritchie, Scott (2013) Spatiotemporal patterns of Aedes aegypti populations in Cairns, Australia: assessing drivers of dengue transmission. Tropical Medicine and International Health, 18 (7). pp. 839-849.

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Abstract

Objectives: To identify the meteorological drivers of dengue vector density and determine high- and low-risk transmission zones for dengue prevention and control in Cairns, Australia.

Methods: Weekly adult female Ae. aegypti data were obtained from 79 double sticky ovitraps (SOs) located in Cairns for the period September 2007–May 2012. Maximum temperature, total rainfall and average relative humidity data were obtained from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology for the study period. Time series–distributed lag nonlinear models were used to assess the relationship between meteorological variables and vector density. Spatial autocorrelation was assessed via semivariography, and ordinary kriging was undertaken to predict vector density in Cairns.

Results: Ae. aegypti density was associated with temperature and rainfall. However, these relationships differed between short (0–6 weeks) and long (0–30 weeks) lag periods. Semivariograms showed that vector distributions were spatially autocorrelated in September 2007–May 2008 and January 2009–May 2009, and vector density maps identified high transmission zones in the most populated parts of Cairns city, as well as Machans Beach.

Conclusion: Spatiotemporal patterns of Ae. aegypti in Cairns are complex, showing spatial autocorrelation and associations with temperature and rainfall. Sticky ovitraps should be placed no more than 1.2 km apart to ensure entomological coverage and efficient use of resources. Vector density maps provide evidence for the targeting of prevention and control activities. Further research is needed to explore the possibility of developing an early warning system of dengue based on meteorological and environmental factors.

Item ID: 28714
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1365-3156
Keywords: dengue, Aedes aegypti, spatial, temporal, Cairns
Funders: National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC)
Date Deposited: 07 Aug 2013 05:30
FoR Codes: 11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1117 Public Health and Health Services > 111799 Public Health and Health Services not elsewhere classified @ 100%
SEO Codes: 92 HEALTH > 9204 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) > 920404 Disease Distribution and Transmission (incl. Surveillance and Response) @ 100%
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