Culicidae mosquitoes are potential vectors of pathogens that affect human health. The correct species identification, as well as the discovery and description of cryptic species, is important in public health for the control and management of specific vectors. In the present study, the diversity of anthropophagous mosquitoes in Quintana Roo, at the border between Mexico and Belize, was evaluated using morphological and molecular data (COI‐DNA Barcoding). A total of 1,413 adult female specimens were collected, belonging to eight genera and 31 morphospecies. Most species formed well‐supported clades. Intraspecific Kimura 2 parameters (K2P) distance average was 0.75%, and a maximum distance of 4.40% was observed for Anopheles crucians s.l. ABGD method identified 28 entities, while 32 entities were identified with the BIN system. In Culex interrogator and Culex nigripalpus a low interspecific genetic distance of 0.1% was observed. One undescribed species belonging to the genus Aedes ( Aedes n. sp.) was discovered, but no clear genetic divergence was found between this species and the closely related species Aedes angustivittatus . An intraspecific K2P distance greater than 2.7% was observed in Aedes serratus (3.9%), Anopheles crucians s.l. (4.4%), Culex taeniopus (3.7%), Haemagogus equinus (3.9%), Culex erraticus (5.0%), Psorophora ferox (4.5%), and in Anopheles apicimacula (8.10%); therefore, evidences of cryptic diversity are shown in these species. This study showed that DNA barcodes offer a reliable framework for mosquito species identification in Quintana Roo, except for some closely related species for which it is recommended to use additional nuclear genetic markers such as ITS2, in order to resolve these small discrepancies.

Objective Novel, inexpensive solutions are needed for improved management of vector-borne and other diseases in resource-poor environments. Emerging free software providing access to satellite imagery and simple editing tools (e.g. Google Earth™) complement existing geographic information system (GIS) software and provide new opportunities for: (i) strengthening overall public health capacity through development of information for city infrastructures; and (ii) display of public health data directly on an image of the physical environment. Methods We used freely accessible satellite imagery and a set of feature-making tools included in the software (allowing for production of polygons, lines and points) to generate information for city infrastructure and to display disease data in a dengue decision support system (DDSS) framework. Findings Two cities in Mexico (Chetumal and Merida) were used to demonstrate that a basic representation of city infrastructure useful as a spatial backbone in a DDSS can be rapidly developed at minimal cost. Data layers generated included labelled polygons representing city blocks, lines representing streets, and points showing the locations of schools and health clinics. City blocks were colour-coded to show presence of dengue cases. The data layers were successfully imported in a format known as shapefile into a GIS software. Conclusion The combination of Google Earth™ and free GIS software (e.g. HealthMapper, developed by WHO, and SIGEpi, developed by PAHO) has tremendous potential to strengthen overall public health capacity and facilitate decision support system approaches to prevention and control of vector-borne diseases in resource-poor environments.

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Sensitivity of monitoring Aedes aegypti (L.) populations was determined to identify the distribution of dengue virus (DENV) during epidemics in Quintana Roo. From September to November 2012, we used a motorized aspirator to collect 2,144 female Ae. aegypti from 569 homes. These were grouped into 220 to use semi-nested RT-PCR for DENV, and positive groups were analyzed individually. Five groups (2.27%) were positive for DENV. Individual analysis yielded eight groups that tested positive, six with DENV-2, one DENV-1, and one DENV-4. The latter was not reported by the surveillance system that year. The mean number of female mosquitoes per household was 3.77 ± 5.71, and the rate of viral infection of Ae. aegypti was 0.4%. Most infected mosquitoes (49%) were concentrated in 10% of the houses. Monitoring Ae. aegypti infected with DENV has the potential to complement the current system of clinical and entomological surveillance.Resumen. Se determinó la sensibilidad del monitoreo de poblaciones Ae. aegypti para identificar la circulación de DENV durante epidemias en Quintana Roo. De Septiembre a Noviembre del 2012, en 569 viviendas se colectaron 2,144 hembras Ae. aegypti con un aspirador motorizado. Se agruparon en 220 lotes para realizar la RT-PCR semi-anidada para DENV y los lotes positivos se analizaron individualmente. Cinco lotes (2.27%) fueron positivos para DENV. El análisis individual de los lotes arrojó ocho mosquitos positivos: seis DENV-2, uno DENV-1, y uno DENV-4. Este último no fue reportado por el sistema de vigilancia epidemiológica en ese año. El promedio de hembras colectadas por casa fue 3.77 ± 5.71 y la tasa de infección viral de Ae. aegypti 0.4%. La mayoría (49%) se concentró en el 10% de las casas. Monitorear Ae. aegypti infectados a DENV tiene ________________________

Leishmaniasis, a vector‐borne disease transmitted to humans through the bite of phlebotomine sand flies, is of public health significance in southeastern Mexico. Active and continuous monitoring of vectors is an important aspect of disease control for the prediction of potential outbreaks. Thus, the correct identification of vectors is paramount in this regard. In this study, we employed DNA barcoding as a tool for identifying phlebotomine sand flies collected in localized cutaneous leishmaniasis endemic areas of Quintana Roo, Mexico. Specimens were collected using CDC light and Shannon traps as part of the Mexican Ministry of Health surveillance program. DNA extraction was carried out using a nondestructive protocol, and morphological identification based on taxonomic keys was conducted on slide‐mounted specimens. Molecular taxonomic resolution using the 658‐bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene was 100% congruent with the morphological identification. Seven species were identified: Lutzomyia cruciata (Coquillett 1907), Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva 1912), Psathyromyia shannoni (Dyar 1929), Dampfomyia deleoni (Fairchild & Hertig 1947), Dampfomyia beltrani/steatopyga (Vargas & Díaz‐Nájera 1951), Bichromomyia olmeca olmeca (Vargas & Díaz‐Nájera, 1959), and Brumptomyia mesai (Sherlock 1962). Mean intraspecific divergence ranged from 0.12% to 1.22%, while interspecific distances ranged from 11.59% to 19.29%. Neighbor‐joining (NJ) analysis using the Kimura 2‐parameter model also showed specimens of the same species to be clustered together. The study provides the first cox1 sequences for three species of sand flies and indicates the utility of DNA barcoding for phlebotomine sand flies species identification in southeastern Mexico.