Assessing dengue vector breeding in diverse environments for targeted interventions: Case studies from Colombia and Nepal

Dengue and other Aedes-borne diseases are increasing globally, with vector control being the primary prevention strategy in the absence of an effective vaccine. Because mosquitoes breed in domestic water containers, identifying the most productive container types is essential for targeted interventions. This study compared pupal productivity of Aedes spp. and productive container types in two settings in Colombia and Nepal with distinct environmental, epidemiological, and water storage characteristics. A pupal/demographic survey was conducted in Valledupar, Colombia, and Triyuga Municipality, Nepal, including 300 and 121 households, respectively. Pupal counts were used as a proxy for adult mosquito production. In Colombia, 16 of 506 containers were productive, with large water storage containers accounting for over 90% of pupae. In Nepal, 34 of 396 containers were productive, with containers such as barrels and flower vases contributing most pupae. In both locations, pupal production was highly clustered in a small number of containers. These findings show that the most productive breeding sites differ between places, with large containers dominating in Colombia and smaller containers in Nepal. Targeted vector control strategies should therefore, focus on the specific container types responsible for most pupal production in each context. Context-specific interventions guided by pupal/demographic surveys are essential for efficient dengue control.