Wat'senga Tezzo, F.,  Fasine, S.,  Manzambi, E Z.,  Marquetti, MdC.,  Binene Mbuka, G.,  Ilombe, G.,  Mundeke Takasongo, R.,  Smitz, N.,  Bisset, J A.,  Van Bortel, W. & Vanlerberghe, V. 2021. ‘Important Aedes spp. density levels in Kinshasa, Demographic Republic of Congo’. Parasites & Vectors.  I.F. 3.12.

Article in a scientific Journal / Article in a Journal

BACKGROUND Dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya and Zika are among the most important emerging infectious vector-borne diseases worldwide. Besides sporadic dengue cases, yellow fever and chikungunya outbreaks have been increasingly reported in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the last decade. The main vectors of these arboviruses, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, were reported in DRC, but there is a lack of detailed information on their presence and spread hampering transmission risk assessments in the region. METHODS In 2018, two cross-sectional surveys were realized in Kinshasa province (DRC), one in the rainy (January/February) and one in the dry season (July). Four hundred houses were visited in each of the four selected communes (N’Djili, Mont Ngafula, Lingwala and Kalamu). Breedings sites were recorded, larvae and pupae collected and reared to obtain adults for genus and species identification. A subset of specimens was DNAbarcoded for validation of the morphological species identification. RESULTS The most rural commune (Mont Ngafula) had the highest density levels, with a Breteau Index of 82.2 and 19.5/100 houses in rainy and dry season, respectively. The Breteau Index in the other communes Kalamu, Lingwala and N’Djili elevated to 21.5 (4.7), 36.7 (9.8) and 41.7 (7.5) in the rainy (and dry) season. The House index was on average 27.5% and 7.6%; and the Container Index 15.0% and 10.0% in rainy and dry season, respectively. The vast majority of Aedes positive containers was found outside the houses (adjusted OR 27.4 (95%CI 14.9-50.1)). The main breeding sites were used tires, water storage containers and trash. Anopheles larvae were also found in Aedes breeding sites, especially during the rainy season. CONCLUSIONS These results show that Kinshasa is highly infested with Aedes spp. which indicates a high potential for arbovirus transmission in the area. During the dry season, the most productive containers (for Aedes pupae production) are containers used for water storage, whereas in the rainy season this is trash and tires. The present study also evidences that Aedes breeding sites are mainly located outdoors. Based on the results of this study, a contextualized Aedes control strategy can be designed for Kinshasa.