Associadas a fatores bióticos, climáticos e culturais que favorecem a proliferação do Aedes aegypti em ecossistemas urbanos, adaptações evolutivas à hematofagia freqüente e quase exclusiva em humanos e à colonização de tipos infinitos de habitats, fazem deste mosquito um disseminador extremamente eficiente de patógenos ao homem. Estudos utilizando métodos sensíveis de monitoramento demonstram que os métodos de vigilância usados no programa brasileiro não revelam as elevadas intensidades da infestação das cidades por este vetor. Para ampliar a capacidade do setor de saúde novos instrumentos são necessários à prática da vigilância, incorporando aspectos do vetor, do lugar e das pessoas do lugar. Apresentamos aqui o SMCP-Aedes - Sistema de Monitoramento e Controle Populacional do Ae. aegypti, cuja meta é a instrumentalização da vigilância entomológica como base para a vigilância epidemiológica da dengue. Para isso ele se apóia em tecnologias da informação espacial baseadas no uso intensivo da web e de software livre para coletar, armazenar, analisar e disseminar informações relativas à distribuição espaço-temporal da densidade estimada para a população do Aedes, com base em amostras obtidas continuamente com ovitrampas. Intervenções de controle planejadas e intensificadas onde e quando indicado pela vigilância entomológica, são pactuadas com os habitantes, apoiando-se na mobilização social permanente.

Aedes aegypti is a very efficient disseminator of human pathogens. This condition is the result of evolutionary adaptations to frequent haematophagy, as well as to the colonization of countless types of habitats associated with environmental and cultural factors that favor the proliferation of this mosquito in urban ecosystems. Studies using sensitive methods of monitoring demonstrate that the methods of surveillance used in the Brazilian program do not show the high degrees of the infestation of cities by this vector. To increase the capacity of the health sector, new tools are needed to the practice of surveillance, which incorporate aspects of the vector, place and human population. We describe here the SMCP-Aedes - Monitoring System and Population Control of Aedes aegypti, aiming to provide an entomological surveillance framework as a basis for epidemiological surveillance of dengue. The SMCP-Aedes is uphold in the space technology information, supported by the intensive use of the web and free software to collect, store, analyze and disseminate information on the spatial-temporal distribution of the estimated density for the population of Aedes, based on data systematically collected with the use of ovitraps. Planned control interventions, intensified where and when indicated by the entomological surveillance, are agreed with the communities, relying on the permanent social mobilization.

This study aimed to analyze the final fermentation culture of Bacillus sphaericus 2362, standardize it and develop an active tablet formulation for use in urban mosquito breeding sites. It was performed in three phases: analysis and standardization of a B. sphaericus fermented culture; physical, chemical, and biological analysis of the active powder (solubility, residual humidity, particle size, resting angle, flowing off time, compacted density, and biological activity against Culex quinquefasciatus larvae); and the development of fast-disintegrating tablets. Five formulations with differing compositions were developed and a UV protector was added to the selected formulation. The formulation products with or without UV protector, as well as the active powder caused 100% larval mortality from 1 day to 2 months after a single treatment under simulated field conditions. These results show that the UV protector does not affect the initial larvicide activity of B. sphaericus, nor its persistence over a period of two months.

Wuchereria bancrofti in Pernambuco was first documented in 1952 (Azevedo & Dobbin 1952), and since then it has been reported in surveys carried out in selected areas of Recife. Several surveys were carried out from 1981 to 1991 by SUCAM. In the 1985 SUCAM's report the disease is considered under control. The CPqAM Filariasis Research Program was established in 1985 and a filarial survey was carried out in the town of Olinda, Greater Recife. In order to verify the real epidemiological situation, a study was conducted in the city of Recife. 21/36 of the Special Zones of Social Interest (ZEIS), were randomly selected for the present study. From 10,664 persons screened, 683 were positive and the prevalence rate for microfilaraemia (mf) varied from 0.6% to 14.9%. A mean mf prevalence of 6.5%, showed that the infection occurs in a wide geographic distribution in Greater Recife and that the intensity of transmission is a real and potential threat to public health in affected communities. Mf rate among males and females differed significantly. Due to the rapid increase in population, unplanned urban settlements, poor sanitary facilities and the favorable geographical conditions to the development of the vector, filariasis may actually be increasing in Recife.