STUDY OF THE SURVIVAL RATE, RELATIVE DENSITY, AND INFECTION-RATE OF A POPULATION OF THE SYLVATIC YELLOW-FEVER VECTOR HAEMAGOGUS-JANTHINOMYS DYAR (DIPTERA, CULICIDAE), FROM WHICH THE YF VIRUS WAS ISOLATED IN BRAZILIAN AMAZONIA

The conditions of maintenance of YF virus in brazilian Amazonia are not yet elucidated. Generally, the presence of the virus is attested by human cases of sylvatic origin. During a survey done at the exact place where a man have probably been contaminated, it was possible for the first time in South America, to estimate the mean parity rate of a population of the potential vector Haemagogus janthinomys, from which the YF virus was actually isolated. The survival rate (Ts = 0.96), the biting rate (0,60 mosquitoes/man x hour), and the infection rate (1.71 %) were also determinated for the same mosquitoes and have values compatible with the probable conditions of the human contamination. However, more data are needed, in particular in relation with other possible human contaminations and/or circulation of the YF virus in the monkey population (extension and duration of the epizootic episode), in order to know what maintenance cycle is prevalent in this region: a low level transmission, with the mosquito being a << vector-reservoir >>, or a << constantly moving epizootic wave >>.