Résumé
The spread of mosquito-transmitted diseases such as dengue is a major public health issue worldwide. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, one of the primary vectors for dengue, thrive in urban environments and breed mainly in artificial and natural water containers. A better understanding of the relationship between urban landscapes and potential breeding sites would help mitigate the risks associated with these diseases. This study examines the relationship between urban landscape characteristics derived from remote sensing and the abundance and type of potential breeding sites in cities of French Guiana, South America, provided by the surveys carried out by the regional vector control service. A Multiple Factor Analysis revealed variables associated with the abundance of breeding sites, including building area, landscape form index, number of buildings, and texture indices. We obtained a good fit between predicted and observed values of breeding sites abundance using Random Forest models, with varying effectiveness depending on the type of breeding site. Since in-situ breeding site data were not specifically acquired for the purpose of this study, the dataset showed some limitations. However, we were able to apply this model in areas where entomological data were not available. This approach also has the potential to be used as input in the modelling of mosquito dynamics. This research highlights the usefulness of urban characteristics based on satellite data for improving vector control strategies.