Current Control Practices Research Articles

Avian Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Mycoplasma synoviae: Advances in diagnosis and control

Both of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) infections are the most common Mycoplasma infection in domestic poultry. The disease is associated with economic losses in poultry. MG and MS are commonly spread within chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) and turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo domesticus) flocks; however, they are frequently isolated from quails (Coturnix coturnix) and several avian species. Diagnosis of MG or MS infections is confirmed by isolating the organism in a cell-free medium or directly detecting its DNA in infected tissues or swab samples. Serological tests are also widely used for diagnosis. However, advances in molecular biology represented a rapid and sensitive alternative to the traditional culture methods requiring specialized techniques and sophisticated reagents. Several Mycoplasma molecular diagnostic tests are implemented: including polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD), arbitrary primed polymerase chain reactions (AP‐PCR), and Multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (Multiplex MGMS). Current control practices against Mycoplasma infection include intense biosecurity, biosurveillance, medication, and vaccination. However, the egg-borne nature of avian Mycoplasma infection complicates controlling the infection. This review focuses on the advances in diagnosis and control of avian Mycoplasma infection, especially MG and MS infections.

Potential causes of Acaricide Resistance in Rhipicephalus and Amblyomma Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in Namwala District, Zambia

Acaricide resistance in ticks poses a great threat to livestock production in many parts of the world where ticks are a problem. The objectives of this study were to screen for acaricide resistance in Rhipicephalus and Amblyomma ticks using phenotypic and molecular assays, and to assess current tick control practices used by cattle farmers in the traditional sector of Namwala District. The larval packet test was used to screen for acaricide resistance in ticks covering concentrations up to twice the discriminatory dose for amitraz, diazinon and cypermethrin. Genetic mutations associated with resistance to amitraz (A22C-T8P and T65C-L22S), and organophosphates/ pyrethroids (G1120A) were screened using polymerase chain reaction and sequencing. Information on tick control practices at the household level was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Intermediate resistance (21-50%) to amitraz and cypermethrin was detected in both Rhipicephalus and Amblyomma ticks, with both tick genera showing susceptibility to diazinon (<10%). None of the ticks in this study had the reported acaricide resistance-conferring molecular markers that were screened for. The findings suggest that the resistance detected in the studied tick population may be due to other mechanisms yet to be identified. Tick control practices observed amongst the farmers, such as incorrect use of acaricide concentrations and rotations, could be fuelling the development of acaricide resistance. Considering that acaricide treatment is the mainstay of tick control in the country, it is thus critical to comprehensively unravel the factors contributing to treatment failure as this would allow for the application of appropriate remedial actions for effective tick control in Zambia.

Australian surveys on parasite control in sheep between 2003 and 2019 reveal marked regional variation and increasing utilisation of online resources and on-farm biosecurity practices.

Australian Wool Innovation Limited (AWI) commissioned three cross-sectional surveys of sheep producers' sheep parasite control practices over a 15-year period from 2003 to 2018. The aims were to document current sheep parasite incidence and control practices, to measure change in sheep parasite control practices over time and to inform extension messages for sheep industry advisors and sheep farmers. The surveys were conducted in 2004, 2012 and 2019 measuring sheep parasite control practices in the years 2003, 2011 and 2018. The surveys focused on incidence and control of the three major sheep parasite groups; gastrointestinal nematodes, blowflies and lice. The 2003 and 2011 surveys were paper-based and the 2018 survey was accessed via a link to an online survey. This article is the first in a series of four presenting the results of the three surveys and will cover methods, demographics, production systems and general parasite management. Response rates to the surveys declined each year from the peak response rate in 2003 (n = 1365 in 2003; n = 575 in 2011 and n = 354 in 2018). Mean reported rainfall was significantly lower in 2018 (407 mm) than in 2003 (611 mm) and 2011 (650 mm). The demographics of the respondents and their production systems were largely similar between the three surveys for respondent age, median property size, income from wool and sheep meat, proportion of the property area cropped, median sheep dry sheep equivalent (DSEs), ewes as a proportion of the total flock and median cattle DSEs. Month of weaning was more likely to be in summer months for summer dominant rainfall areas and spring for intermediate and winter dominant rainfall areas. There was a marked increase in the proportion of respondents asking for an animal health history when introducing sheep to their flock from 2011 (9%) to 2018 (65%). Similarly, a greater proportion of respondents isolated introduced sheep for at least 2 weeks in 2018 (82%) compared with 2011 (19%). However, there was a decrease in the use of a quarantine lice treatment for introduced sheep from 2011 (50%) to 2018 (21%). Farmers rated themselves, other farmers or member of their staff as most important sources of information on parasite control in both 2011 and 2018. There was a significant increase in the proportion of respondents visiting the ParaBoss suite of websites from 2011 to 2018 confirming their growing importance for information delivery and decision support.

Exposure to Pollutants and Health of Women Waste Pickers at Dandora Dumpsite in Nairobi, Kenya

The paper sought to assess the effect of exposure to pollutants on health of women waste pickers at Dandora Dumpsite. Illegal and indiscriminate dumping of waste in urban areas has posed a health risk to the surrounding populations. Whereas everyone who works or lives near dumpsites could potentially be exposed to harmful substances, women, in particular, are at risk of developing reproductive problems due to exposure to harmful substances such as heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants. The study employed a cross-sectional study design. The specific objectives of the study were; to establish the health status of women waste pickers working at Dandora dumpsite; to determine levels of heavy metal and POPs exposure at the Dandora dumpsite; to determine the influence of the work environment on the health status of women waste pickers; to establish current control practices and mitigation measures in place aimed at improving the health status of women waste pickers. Data was collected using an interview schedule, focus group discussion and collection of soil and water samples. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS version 23 while qualitative data were analysed using NVivo software. The study findings revealed that the dumpsite was the main source of income for 95.6% of the women waste pickers who survived mostly by scavenging for waste at the dumpsite that they sold to the market. 23% of women waste pickers also scavenged for food at the dumpsite. The study further showed that 90.8% of the women waste pickers had been ill in the previous 6 months and the majority (90.8%) believed this was related to the nature of work that they did at the site. In addition, about (2%) n= 7 women reported as having a miscarriage, stillbirth or premature birth while working at the dumpsite. The study recommends the provision of PPEs for the dumpsite workers and the development of a better waste management system for Nairobi City County. There is a need for health promotion interventions on safe practices among women waste pickers so as to mitigate harmful health effects.

Discovering environmental management opportunities for infectious disease control

Climate change and emerging drug resistance make the control of many infectious diseases increasingly challenging and diminish the exclusive reliance on drug treatment as sole solution to the problem. As disease transmission often depends on environmental conditions that can be modified, such modifications may become crucial to risk reduction if we can assess their potential benefit at policy-relevant scales. However, so far, the value of environmental management for this purpose has received little attention. Here, using the parasitic disease of fasciolosis in livestock in the UK as a case study, we demonstrate how mechanistic hydro-epidemiological modelling can be applied to understand disease risk drivers and the efficacy of environmental management across a large heterogeneous domain. Our results show how weather and other environmental characteristics interact to define disease transmission potential and reveal that environmental interventions such as risk avoidance management strategies can provide a valuable alternative or complement to current treatment-based control practice.

Older Women and Opioid Analgesia after Breast Cancer Surgery

PurposeTo explore which factors influence opioid analgesia use in older women during the 48-hour period after hospital discharge following initial breast cancer surgery. DesignThis cross-sectional, descriptive study involved a cohort (n = 57) of older women recruited for a larger study of breast cancer patients. MethodsWe gathered patient-reported data pertinent to perioperative and post-discharge pain control. Data were analyzed using linear regression to explore those characteristics that had the greatest influence on the amount of post-discharge opioid analgesia required. ResultsAfter hospital discharge, 29 older women (51%) with breast cancer avoided opioid analgesia for various reasons. The number of prescribed opioid tablets each woman self-administered determined the total dosage of analgesia required 48 hours post-discharge. ConclusionsThe majority of this sample of older women with early-stage breast cancer experienced adequate pain relief after surgery and required little or no postoperative or postdischarge opioid analgesia. Optimization of the pain control experience for older women with breast cancer requires thorough pain assessment from diagnosis through survivorship through the end of life. This can be achieved by equipping women in this population to advocate for their pain control needs in real time. Future studies that elucidate preferences, beliefs, and current pain control practices before, during, and after breast cancer surgery will improve safety and efficacy of pain control for this fast-growing population.

Dissecting serotype-specific contributions to live oral cholera vaccine efficacy

The O1 serogroup of Vibrio cholerae causes pandemic cholera and is divided into the Ogawa and Inaba serotypes. The O-antigen is V. cholerae's immunodominant antigen, and the two serotypes, which differ by the presence or absence of a terminally methylated O-antigen, likely influence development of immunity to cholera and oral cholera vaccines (OCVs). However, there is no consensus regarding the relative immunological potency of each serotype, in part because previous studies relied on genetically heterogeneous strains. Here, we engineered matched serotype variants of a live OCV candidate, HaitiV, and used a germfree mouse model to evaluate the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of each vaccine serotype. By combining vibriocidal antibody quantification with single- and mixed-strain infection assays, we found that all three HaitiV variants-InabaV, OgawaV, and HikoV (bivalent Inaba/Ogawa)-were immunogenic and protective. None of the vaccine serotypes were superior across both of these vaccine metrics, suggesting that the impact of O1-serotype variation in OCV design, although detectable, is subtle. However, all three live vaccines significantly outperformed formalin-killed HikoV, supporting the idea that live OCV usage will bolster current cholera control practices. The potency of OCVs was found to be challenge strain-dependent, emphasizing the importance of appropriate strain selection for cholera challenge studies. Our findings and experimental approaches will be valuable for guiding the development of live OCVs and oral vaccines for additional pathogens.

The hygiene hypothesis, the COVID pandemic, and consequences for the human microbiome.

The COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to affect the human microbiome in infected and uninfected individuals, having a substantial impact on human health over the long term. This pandemic intersects with a decades-long decline in microbial diversity and ancestral microbes due to hygiene, antibiotics, and urban living (the hygiene hypothesis). High-risk groups succumbing to COVID-19 include those with preexisting conditions, such as diabetes and obesity, which are also associated with microbiome abnormalities. Current pandemic control measures and practices will have broad, uneven, and potentially long-term effects for the human microbiome across the planet, given the implementation of physical separation, extensive hygiene, travel barriers, and other measures that influence overall microbial loss and inability for reinoculation. Although much remains uncertain or unknown about the virus and its consequences, implementing pandemic control practices could significantly affect the microbiome. In this Perspective, we explore many facets of COVID-19-induced societal changes and their possible effects on the microbiome, and discuss current and future challenges regarding the interplay between this pandemic and the microbiome. Recent recognition of the microbiome's influence on human health makes it critical to consider both how the microbiome, shaped by biosocial processes, affects susceptibility to the coronavirus and, conversely, how COVID-19 disease and prevention measures may affect the microbiome. This knowledge may prove key in prevention and treatment, and long-term biological and social outcomes of this pandemic.

Industrial applications of selected JFS articles

Industrial applications of selected <i>JFS</i> articles

Current Quality Control Practices of Primary Care Clinics Participating in the National Cancer Screening Program in Korea

Current Quality Control Practices of Primary Care Clinics Participating in the National Cancer Screening Program in Korea

Food safety governance in Saudi Arabia: Challenges in control of imported food.

The operating environment for food safety interventions in nations such as Saudi Arabia, with limited local agricultural productivity, high reliance on foreign food imports and observance of Islamic laws, is remarkably challenging for the national control and regulatory institutions, since compliance to the mandatory food safety regulations and the local religious Halal standards must be ensured. This review offers a comprehensive analysis of the recently restructured food safety governance in Saudi Arabia from the perspective of its food imports control. Specifically, the nature of the food imports, the organization of the food safety governance and the current control practices of imported food, in consideration of food safety and Halal requirements, are analyzed through a triangulation of data and information from secondary sources (academic literature review and gray literature search) and primary sources (direct consultation of field experts). Statistical trade data on imported food were also performed. Results revealed that the process of centralizing all the control and regulatory activities under a single agency, which the government started to strengthen the national food safety governance, has not been completed yet. The resulting overlap of legislative and monitoring tasks by multiple entities augments the challenge of ensuring the safety, quality, and authenticity of imported food and their compliance to Halal standards. The vulnerabilities and challenges still to be addressed by the local food industry and the public sector are discussed, with implications for national and international field practitioners and policymakers of countries facing similar challenges.

Benchmarking Australian sheep parasite control practices: a national online survey

Context The third Australian national survey on control practices for internal and external parasites of sheep, following similar surveys in 2003 and 2011. Aims To document current parasite control practices and attitudes, measure change and to provide a benchmark against which to assess future practices and attitudes. Methods An online survey emailed to 6460 sheep producers, with a paper version supplied on request. A follow up short survey was conducted to assess non-response bias. Analysis by region and key sheep enterprise. Key results There were 354 and 250 useable responses to the main and short surveys respectively. Mean reported rainfall of 407 mm in 2018 was 27% lower than the average for respondents and &amp;gt;200 mm lower than mean reported rainfall in the previous surveys. The top three methods for worm control over the past 5 years were preventative treatments (74%), preparing clean pastures by spelling paddocks (62%) and treatment on the basis of faecal worm egg count (WEC, 54%). The proportion of respondents using WEC monitoring in 2018 was 40.4%, with a mean frequency of 3.1/year, and this was unaffected by sheep class. The frequency of anthelmintic treatment for ewes and lambs and weaners was 2.1/year. Of the respondents, 36.7% had performed an anthelmintic resistance test in the previous 5 years. The most popular flystrike control methods were timing of crutching (76.4%), preventative chemical treatment (75.9%), timing of shearing (63.1%), mulesing (46.8%) and genetic selection (46.4%). Pain relief was widely used for mulesing ewes (86.6%) and wethers (90.9%). Only 17.3% used Australian Sheep Breeding Values for traits in rams. Most respondents reported ‘evidence of lice’ in the past 5 years (55.8%) and had treated for lice off shears (50.1%), short wool (16.6%) or long wool (6.6%), with only 26.7% having not treated at all in the period. Web-based sources of information on parasite control have become increasingly important. Conclusions Notable changes since the earlier surveys were high rates of pain relief when mulesing, an increase in the use of Australian Sheep Breeding Values for parasite-related traits, an increase in WEC monitoring since 2011 and an increased use of web-based resources. Implications Parasite control remains important for sheep producers and continues to evolve with new drugs and approaches. The surveys highlight the effectiveness of extension networks and identify where more attention is required.

Inheritance, Fitness Cost, and Management of Lambda-Cyhalothrin Resistance in a Laboratory-Selected Strain of Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann).

Simple SummaryThe Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly), Ceratitis capitata, is considered one of the most destructive and economically damaging pests of citrus and other fruit crops worldwide. Current control practices in Spain rely on the use of insecticides (mainly lambda-cyhalothrin, spinosad, and deltamethrin) and the release of sterile males. However, the sustainability of medfly control programs is threatened by reports of resistance to lambda-cyhalothrin in field populations. In this work, we used a laboratory-selected lambda-cyhalothrin-resistant strain to study key factors required for devising effective insecticide resistance management strategies. Specifically, we have (1) determined that the inheritance of resistance is autosomic (non-associated to the sexual chromosome), completely dominant (a single copy of the gene is enough to confer resistance), and polygenic (controlled by more than one gene); (2) observed that resistant individuals present fitness alterations in regard to biological parameters (lower survival in the first growth stages, a slower developmental time, and higher adults’ weight and longevity); and (3) shown under laboratory conditions that the alternation of lambda-cyhalothrin with spinosad helped delay the development of resistance. Taken together, our results indicate that it would be advisable to encourage the rotation of these insecticides to manage the resistance problem.The management of the medfly, Ceratitis capitata, in Spanish citrus crops relies mainly on the use of insecticides and the release of sterile males. However, the development of resistance to different insecticides in field populations, including lambda-cyhalothrin, implies a threat for the sustainable control of this pest. The inheritance, fitness cost, and management of lambda-cyhalothrin resistance were examined in the laboratory-selected W-1Kλ strain. We have demonstrated that lambda-cyhalothrin resistance in W-1Kλ is autosomic, completely dominant, and polygenic. In addition, individuals from W-1Kλ showed a lower embryo to pupal viability, a slower developmental time from egg to pupae, and an increase in adults’ weight and longevity. We did not find significant trade-offs in the activity of digestive hydrolytic enzymes, with the exception of higher α-amylase activity in W-1Kλ females. A comparative study with different insecticide treatment strategies showed that lambda-cyhalothrin resistance increased when several consecutive treatments with this insecticide were applied. However, the alternation of this insecticide with spinosad was enough to delay the development of resistance. Our results indicate that the rotation of lambda-cyhalothrin with spinosad—a practice already used in some fields—may contribute to prevent the development of resistance.

Contamination issues as a challenge in quality control and quality assurance in microplastics analytics

Microplastics are widely distributed environmental contaminants. To understand their impacts on the environment and health, more high-quality results are needed. Since microplastics are present in every environment, including indoor air, proper precautions must be adopted in order to prevent contamination of samples and overestimation of environmental concentrations. Thus, to guarantee a proper quality of results, researchers must adopt strict contamination control measures. This review was conducted to understand current contamination control practices. A total of 50 studies published in 2019 were reviewed, including sampling of biota, air, soil, sediment, freshwater and saltwater, regarding 10 contamination control parameters. Overall, studies usually only comply with 4 out of 10 of these measures, which include avoiding the use of plastic materials, covering samples with glass lids or aluminum foil, filtering solutions, or running procedural blanks. The importance of these measures is also exemplified with real observation of contamination. Finally, seven measures to control for contamination are suggested in order to improve the quality of results in microplastic sampling in future assessments.

Can natural gene drives be part of future fungal pathogen control strategies in plants?

Globally, fungal pathogens cause enormous crop losses and current control practices are not always effective, economical or environmentally sustainable. Tools enabling genetic management of wild pathogen populations could potentially solve many problems associated with plant diseases. A natural gene drive from a heterologous species can be used in the globally important cereal pathogen Fusarium graminearum to remove pathogenic traits from contained populations of the fungus. The gene drive element became fixed in a freely crossing population in only three generations. Repeat-induced point mutation (RIP), a natural genome defence mechanism in fungi that causes C to T mutations during meiosis in highly similar sequences, may be useful to recall the gene drive following release, should a failsafe mechanism be required. We propose that gene drive technology is a potential tool to control plant pathogens once its efficacy is demonstrated under natural settings.

Weed control practices and awareness of herbicide resistance among cereal farmers of northern Greece

AbstractKnowledge of weed control practices and farmers’ awareness of herbicide resistance could be a basis for improving weed management programs with respect to herbicide resistance, but research on this topic is limited. This study reports current weed control practices and levels of awareness of herbicide resistance among cereal farmers of northern Greece. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 250 cereal farmers of Evros district, based on a structured questionnaire. Most farmers (82.8%) used herbicides in cereal production, with one application per growing season. Farmers appeared divided with respect to using the same herbicide each year; the majority of the farmers (90.8%) applied crop rotation. Almost half of the farmers (47.2%) did not know what herbicide resistance is, but most farmers (75.1%) felt herbicide resistance would be a problem for them. According to their answers on nine knowledge questions about herbicide resistance, 66.8% of the farmers had good knowledge, and 33.2% had poor knowledge. Almost seven in 10 farmers (69.8%) did not consider herbicide resistance when purchasing an herbicide for use, and only 40.4% were willing to change common weed control practices to prevent herbicide resistance. Awareness of herbicide resistance did not differ by sex; poor awareness levels increased with advanced age, low education levels, and small farm size. Farmers who used chemical weed control had higher awareness levels of herbicide resistance than farmers who never used herbicides. Farmers who were keeping records of herbicide applications, those who observed low efficacy of herbicides in their field, and those who applied crop rotation had high awareness levels of herbicide resistance, whereas farmers who used the same herbicide each year had poor awareness. Findings shed light on inter-relationships between farmers’ awareness of herbicide resistance and current weed control practices that could be useful for targeted extension education.

Profiling of a large-scale municipal wireless network

Pervasive connectivity is an essential underlying substrate for smart cities, leading municipalities to start programs where Wi-Fi is the fundamental building block to develop public Municipal Wireless Networks. Even though hundreds of cities around the world offer some form of Wi-Fi access, there are no widely available results regarding the network Quality of Service (QoS), user Quality of Experience (QoE), and overall utilization profile. The Municipality of São Paulo operates a free Wi-Fi Internet program in 120 public spaces called digital squares. We collected user connection data, network performance, and service availability for more than 2 years from the 120 squares and undertook experiments with video streaming in five squares. We used this unique large dataset to evaluate the impact of current admission control practices in public Wi-Fi networks on the network QoS, user QoE and service availability, also providing insights into the most common QoS/QoE issues and their causes. We also leveraged the data set to establish and verify a correlation between the number of users access in the network and specific events occurring in the area.

From six to zero per cent Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis milk ELISA positivity in three years - probably induced by Mycobacterium vaccae.

This research communication reports the results of a study aimed at investigating the effects of introducing Mycobacterium vaccae on paratuberculosis carriage in a dairy herd. M. vaccae is a non-pathogenic member of the Mycobacteriaceae, with immunomodulatory and immunotherapeutic capabilities, acting by stimulating the cellular immune system, important in protection against paratuberculosis. Starting in 2014 we administered, by gavage, 1010 live M. vaccae bacteria to all new-born heifers on a dairy farm, first within 24 h of birth and again 2 weeks later. Paratuberculosis carriage was monitored yearly by milk ELISA. Faecal samples of 50% of cows, aged 3 years, born 1, 2 or 3 years before the experiment's onset, were tested by qPCR for MAP shedding and compared to 100% treated cows of the same age. Within 3 years, milk ELISA positivity was reduced from 6 to 0% and remained unchanged for the subsequent 2 years. One qPCR positive control cow was found each year for a total of 3 animals (2.46%). One positive cow (1%) was found among the treated cows. Two of the 3 positive control animals, still present on the farm at the end of 2019, tested negative whereas the positive test cow continued shedding MAP. M. vaccae shedding heifers mixing with adult cows were the probable means of the microorganism's propagation. The results of this investigation indicate that the introduction of live M. vaccae may be an inexpensive and fast alternative to current paratuberculosis control practices, justifying further exploration of the topic.

A Topographical Approach to Accountability for Human Rights Violations in Migration Control

AbstractThis Article develops what we call a “topographical approach” to accountability in migration control. Drawing on different strands of scholarship, including legal geography, “legal black holes,” and work on strategic litigation, we approach accountability by perceiving the site of a violation from a bird's-eye view and mapping different accountability structures across diverse legal regimes and via a broadened geographic lens. Rather than advocating for accountability in regard to particular regimes or jurisdictions, we argue that multi-pronged approaches are likely to remain the best starting point for ensuring accountability for human rights violations in the context of current migration control practices. The topographical approach thus offers a general framework for identifying existing blind spots, critically assessing existing trajectories, as well as exploring the wider grid of potential accountability mechanisms.

Aedes Mosquito Control and Surveillance in the Pacific

Introduction:&#x0D; Mosquitoes of the genus Aedes transmit dengue, Zika and chikungunya viruses, and the incidence of these diseases is increasing in the Pacific. This can be attributed to increased movement of people and goods, unplanned urbanisation, and global warming, among other factors. As vaccines are unavailable, we rely on vector control programs to prevent disease transmission. This study aimed to evaluate current practice in vector control and surveillance in 10 Pacific Island countries and identify evidence-based vector control interventions and surveillance methods for use in these countries.&#x0D; &#x0D; Methods:&#x0D; This study was conducted in preparation for TechCamp New Zealand, 24-26 January 2018, which aimed to work with stakeholders from 10 Pacific nations to reduce the spread of vector-borne diseases in the region. We conducted a literature review of published reviews and meta-analyses evaluating Aedes control and surveillance to find methods appropriate for use in Pacific Island countries. We collected information regarding current Aedes mosquito control and surveillance practice in 10 Pacific countries from TechCamp participants, through a survey, presentation and interview.&#x0D; &#x0D; Findings:&#x0D; Findings include evidence-based vector control interventions and surveillance methods, and current vector control and surveillance practice in 10 Pacific Island countries. Combinations of vector control interventions, applied appropriately, can prevent disease transmission. Although such programs exist in the Pacific, some interventions do not currently follow best practice. Key barriers to implementing evidence-based practice include lack of targeted education, internet and network coverage, personnel and expertise.&#x0D; &#x0D; Conclusions:&#x0D; Future goals for the region include the adaptation of current practice to evidence-based practice, and the development of vector and risk factor surveillance for targeted mosquito control. New developments should be sustainable and not reliant on internet or network real-time coverage. Education should be targeted to local communities to maximise community participation.