Socio-environmental assessment of Aedes aegypti distribution and risk of chikungunya in vulnerable community

@article{cruz2026socioenvironmental,
  title = {{Socio-environmental assessment of Aedes aegypti distribution and risk of chikungunya in vulnerable community}},
  author = {Jaqueline S. Cruz and Hernan D. Argibay and Nivison Nery and Hammed Mogaji and Thiago da M. Barreto and Lorena Ellen S. Batista and Lara R. S. Silva and Victor Kaua Nery and Victoria C. Dedavid Ferreira and Ianei de O. Carneiro and Yeimi A. Alzate López and Mitermayer G. Reis and Albert I. Ko and Petter Diggle and Michael Begon and Federico Costa and Hussein Khalil},
  journal = {PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1371/journal.pntd.0014776},
  url = {https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0014776},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Socio-environmental assessment of Aedes aegypti distribution and risk of chikungunya in vulnerable community
AU  - Jaqueline S. Cruz
AU  - Hernan D. Argibay
AU  - Nivison Nery
AU  - Hammed Mogaji
AU  - Thiago da M. Barreto
AU  - Lorena Ellen S. Batista
AU  - Lara R. S. Silva
AU  - Victor Kaua Nery
AU  - Victoria C. Dedavid Ferreira
AU  - Ianei de O. Carneiro
AU  - Yeimi A. Alzate López
AU  - Mitermayer G. Reis
AU  - Albert I. Ko
AU  - Petter Diggle
AU  - Michael Begon
AU  - Federico Costa
AU  - Hussein Khalil
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/12
JO  - PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
DO  - 10.1371/journal.pntd.0014776
UR  - https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0014776
AB  - Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, poses a major public health challenge in tropical regions. In Brazil, its incidence has increased, especially in socioeconomically vulnerable areas, where environmental conditions favor the proliferation of vectors. Our objective was to assess the socioeconomic and environmental vulnerabilities associated with the spatial distribution of a) Ae. aegypti and b) resident exposure to CHIKV in a low-income community. Identifying key exposure hotspots, our work improves our understanding of CHIKV transmission in informal settlements and facilitates community-based interventions to mitigate CHIKV risk. We monitored Ae. aegypti using ovitraps and conducted a serological survey from October 2021 to June 2022 in a vulnerable informal community in Salvador, Brazil. Blood samples and sociodemographic, household, and environmental data were collected from residents aged ≥5 years. CHIKV serology was performed, and spatial models using Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation assessed vector distribution, seropositivity, and associated factors. Among 194 ovitraps, posterior estimates indicated higher egg counts in peridomicile locations (IRR = 1.99; CrI:1.31-3.06); households experiencing food insecurity (IRR = 1.77; CrI:1.05 - 2.99), properties with unpaved yards (IRR = 3.76; CrI:2.31-6.18), and areas with greater garbage density (IRR = 1.25; CrI:1.01 -1.56). Among 888 participants, Bayesian spatial modeling identified factors associated with CHIKV seropositivity: elderly (OR= 2.24; CrI:1.16-4.35), uncovered brick walls (OR=2.29; CrI:1.16-4.55), the presence of yards, either paved (OR=2.06; CrI:1.30-3.00) or unpaved (OR=2.71; CrI:1.73-4.25), and self-reported mosquito sightings (OR=1.94; CrI:1.19-3.18). In addition, remotely sensed Land Surface Temperature (OR=1.33; CrI:0.98-1.83) and the spatial ovitraps egg counts (OR=1.14; CrI:0.87-1.52) were relevant variables. Our high-resolution study identified fine-scale vulnerabilities linked to both Ae. aegypti abundance and heightened risk of CHIKV transmission. Based on our findings, effective control strategies should not only focus on traditional methods such as enhancing basic urban infrastructure and services and promoting community awareness, but also target specific breeding sites around homes, address garbage accumulation, and consider the influence of micro-scale temperature variations. These results emphasize the importance of tailored, neighborhood-specific interventions to effectively reduce chikungunya transmission in high-risk communities. Author summary: Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection is an increasing public health concern in Brazil, particularly in socioeconomically vulnerable urban communities where environmental conditions favor the proliferation of Aedes mosquitoes. Despite this, much of the existing evidence on CHIKV transmission relies on aggregated data at neighborhood or city scales, which may overlook important heterogeneity in exposure risk within informal settlements. Given the strong influence of household conditions and local environments on mosquito breeding and virus transmission, fine-scale investigations are essential to better understand CHIKV dynamics in these settings. In this study, we examined the spatial distribution of Aedes aegypti and human exposure to CHIKV in a low-income community in Salvador, Brazil. We conducted entomological surveillance using ovitraps and a serological survey among community residents, alongside the collection of sociodemographic, household, and environmental information. By integrating high-resolution field data with spatial modeling approaches, this study aimed to characterize how social and environmental vulnerabilities shape mosquito distribution and CHIKV exposure at small spatial scales. This work seeks to inform more precise, locally tailored strategies for chikungunya prevention and control in vulnerable urban communities.
SN  - 1935-2735
SN  - 1935-2727
ER  -