[Distribution of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) in Nuevo León, México, 2001-2004].

OBJECTIVE To determine the distribution of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) in Nuevo Leon between 2001 and 2004. MATERIAL AND METHODS Standardized methods were used to collect 6371 samples of mosquito's larvae from 167 sites. The proportions of samples positive for Ae. albopictus were obtained by municipality and year, using the software program Excel. RESULTS There were 1179 samples positive for Ae. albopictus. This species was distributed over 10 municipalities, as follows: Five on the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Plains, which predominantly have a semi-warm, sub-humid climate, and precipitations almost year round (Allende, Montemorelos, Linares, General Teran, and Santiago); two (Sabinas Hidalgo, and Cadereyta) localized on the North American Great Plains, which have a warm, semiarid climate, and scarce precipitations. The final three were Apodaca, San Nicolas, and Escobedo distributed over the metropolitan area of Monterrey City. CONCLUSIONS Up to January 2004, the second most important epidemiological vector in the transmission cycle of Ae. albopictus worldwide was found in ten municipalities of Nuevo Leon State, Mexico.