Little is known about the
Anopheles species of the coastal areas of French Guiana, or their spatiotemporal
distribution or environmental determinants. The present study aimed to (1) document the distribution of
Anopheles
fauna in the coastal area around Cayenne, and (2) investigate the use of remotely sensed land cover data as proxies
of
Anopheles presence. To characterise the
Anopheles fauna, we combined the findings of two entomological surveys
that were conducted during the period 2007-2009 and in 2014 at 37 sites. Satellite imagery data were processed
to extract land cover variables potentially related to
Anopheles ecology. Based on these data, a methodology was
formed to estimate a statistical predictive model of the spatial-seasonal variations in the presence of
Anopheles
in the Cayenne region. Two
Anopheles species, known as main malaria vectors in South America, were identified,
including the more dominant
An. aquasalis
near town and rural sites, and
An. darlingi
only found in inland sites.
Furthermore, a cross-validated model of
An. aquasalis presence that integrated marsh and forest surface area was
extrapolated to generate predictive maps. The present study supports the use of satellite imagery by health authorities
for the surveillance of malaria vectors and planning of control strategies.
