Effects of land use changes and climate change caused by anthropogenic activities on dengue virus transmission

Abstract

Aedes aegypti is an urbanized species, which presents a challenge due to urban sprawl and population growth, favoring its spread and thus increasing the risk of arboviral disease transmission. Furthermore, rising temperatures have been observed to favor the proliferation and expansion of Ae. aegypti by accelerating its life cycle and allowing for more generations in less time. This effect, along with rainfall variability, modifies the availability of habitats for the mosquito's immature stages, also influencing land cover and land use. On the other hand, changes in land use have facilitated the expansion of mosquito habitats, exacerbating the problem of arthropod-borne diseases, as factors such as deforestation, urbanization, and agricultural development have been key in the reemergence of diseases like dengue and yellow fever. In response, studies have been conducted to assess the impact of land-use changes and climate change on the distribution and abundance of Ae. aegypti. However, ecological niche modeling (ENM) is an important tool for predicting habitat suitability for these species, as it allows for the observation of distribution patterns over time.