The aim of this study was to detect and type dengue viruses in the vector Aedes aegypti. Between December 2005 and December 2006, 8,984 mosquitoes were collected in 46 districts of the city of Manaus, covering all of the geographical zones of the city. Of these, 819 were Aedes aegypti (414 females and 405 males). The females of Aedes aegypti were grouped in pools of 1 to 10 mosquitoes, thus totaling 138 pools, of which 111 pools were positive for DENV 3 and a single pool was positive for two serotypes (DENV 1 and DENV 3). The prevalence of Aedes aegypti infected with DENV 3 in the city of Manaus was 53%. The zonal prevalence was 70% in the western central zone, 60% in the southern zone, 53% in the western zone, 47% in the southern central zone, 30% in the northern zone and 23% in the eastern zone. Monitoring of virus circulation among mosquitoes by means of the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction technique enables prior knowledge of the levels of virus spread in given areas, thus contributing towards determining the localities where prevention and control measures should be applied.
Aedes aegypti; Dengue virus; Reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction; Manaus; Brazil
