Mosquito Control Strategies Research Articles

Larvicidal Efficacy of a Tropical Seaweed (Dictyota ciliolata) Extracts on Vectorial Mosquito Species and Non-Target Effect on Guppy Fish (Poecilia reticulata)

Extracts of seaweeds are promising candidates for eco-friendly, safe, and biodegradable larvicides and as alternatives to chemical larvicides used in mosquito control strategies. This study evaluated the larvicidal effects of Dictyota ciliolata on the mosquito larvae of Aedes aegypti, Anopheles gambiae, and Culex quinquefasciatus. The seaweed was extracted using ethanol and methanol. The larvicidal assays were conducted per WHO standards by exposing twenty 4th instar larvae to 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 mg/L of the derived extracts. The LC50 and LC95 values were obtained by calculating the probit values of the observed mortalities. LC50 of the ethanolic and methanolic extracts of Dictyota ciliolata against Anopheles gambiae larvae were 238.45 mg/L and 497.28 mg/L respectively; 179.02 mg/L and 224.96 mg/L respectively against Aedes aegypti, and 167.49 mg/L and 226.69 mg/L respectively for Culex quinquefasciatus. The results established that ethanolic and methanolic seaweed extracts were most influential on Culex quinquefasciatus followed by Aedes aegypti and Anopheles gambiae. Although mortalities were recorded for Poecilia reticulata, such may not be enough to de-emphasize the observed larvicidal potentials of Dictyota ciliolata as some other factors could have been responsible for the said mortalities in the non-target species.

A review on biological mosquito control measures-past, present and future

Over 40% of the world's population is under danger from mosquito transmitted diseases, which are a growing global health challenge. Since 2000, malaria control has made significant progress, but of late it has slowed down. Aedes-borne arbovirus risk is also rising quickly due to the remarkable expansion of the dengue and chikungunya viruses, yellow fever outbreaks, and the Zika virus pandemic. To counteract this issues people used many vector control measures. Synthetic pesticides play a significant role in mosquito larval and adult control strategies, although their deployment is hampered by the development of resistance. As an alternative, various biological measures are being used including bacterial bio pesticides. They are extremely effective at controlling larvae due to their lack of resistance development and environmental friendliness. In this present review various biological control measures used for mosquito control are discussed.

Development and evaluation of a visible reverse transcription-loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) for the detection of Asian lineage ZIKV in field-caught mosquitoes

The Zika virus (ZIKV) infection is an emerging and re-emerging arbovirus infection that is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes. Early detection of ZIKV in mosquitoes is one of the prerequisite approaches for tracking the spread of the virus. Therefore, this study aims to develop and validate a visual reverse transcription-loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) method called ZIKV-RT-LAMP, for detecting ZIKV in field collected mosquito samples from Thailand. A single-tube ZIKV-RT-LAMP assay was developed to detect Asian lineage ZIKV RNA. The detection limit and cross-reactivity of ZIKV were investigated. The hemi-nested RT-PCR (hn-RT-PCR) and the colorimetric LAMP kit (cLAMP kit) were performed as reference assays. The detection limit of the ZIKV-RT-LAMP assay was 10−6 ffu/ml or pfu/ml, making it highly specific and 100 times more sensitive than the hn-RT-PCR and cLAMP kits. The ZIKV-RT-LAMP assay detected the Asian lineage of ZIKV RNA without cross-reactivity with other arthropod-borne viruses. The sensitivity and specificity of the ZIKV-RT-LAMP assay were 92.31% and 100%, respectively. The ZIKV-RT-LAMP is a simple, rapid, and inexpensive method for detecting ZIKV in field-caught mosquitos. In the future, extensive surveys of field-caught mosquito populations should be conducted. Early detection of ZIKV in field-caught mosquitoes provides for prompt and effective implementation of mosquito control strategies in endemic areas.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Anopheles mosquito control through insecticide treated nets and community-based health programs to prevent malaria in East Sumba Island, Indonesia.

With an estimated 241 million human cases and 627,000 deaths in 2020, malaria remains a significant and ongoing global health challenge. This study employs a qualitative approach to investigate knowledge, attitudes, and practices surrounding mosquito control and prevention methods in East Sumba Regency, Indonesia. While malaria is under control in much of Indonesia, transmission in Sumba Island remains high, with incidence as high as 500 per 1000 population in some areas. A qualitative study was undertaken to explore use of insecticide treated nets, (ITNs), traditional Sumbanese mosquito control methods, and the role of women, integrated health service posts, (posyandu) and community-based health workers (kaders) in combatting malaria and controlling mosquitoes. Focus group discussions (n = 7) were conducted in East Sumba Island stratified by urban/rural location and level of malaria transmission. Key informant interviews (n = 14) were conducted with religious leaders, health workers, and women's group leaders. Results indicate that environmental conditions, such as high temperatures, were common deterrents to regular ITN use. Furthermore, our results suggest that community embedded health workers, kaders, and health service posts, posyandu, play an important role in information dissemination related to mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases as well as the distribution and use of ITNs in East Sumba Island. The role of the posyandu and kaders could be expanded to improve malaria prevention by integration with educational campaigns, aiding ITN distributions, and malaria diagnosis and treatment. This study is the first to examine mosquito-borne disease-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices in East Sumba Island, Indonesia. Results could improve mosquito control and malaria prevention by providing insights into local knowledge of Anopheles mosquitoes and malaria as well. Tailoring mosquito control and malaria prevention strategies around local knowledge and perceptions is likely to be more acceptable and sustainable.

Interpretable machine learning approach to analyze the effects of landscape and meteorological factors on mosquito occurrences in Seoul, South Korea

Mosquitoes are the underlying cause of various public health and economic problems. In this study, patterns of mosquito occurrence were analyzed based on landscape and meteorological factors in the metropolitan city of Seoul. We evaluated the influence of environmental factors on mosquito occurrence through the interpretation of prediction models with a machine learning algorithm. Through hierarchical cluster analysis, the study areas were classified into waterside and non-waterside areas, according to the landscape patterns. The mosquito occurrence was higher in the waterside area, and mosquito abundance was negatively affected by rainfall at the waterside. The mosquito occurrence was predicted in each cluster area based on the landscape and cumulative meteorological variables using a random forest algorithm. Both models exhibited good performance (both accuracy and AUROC > 0.8) in predicting the level of mosquito occurrence. The embedded relationship between the mosquito occurrence and the environmental factors in the models was explained using the Shapley additive explanation method. According to the variable importance and the partial dependence plots for each model, the waterside area was more influenced by the meteorological and land cover variables than the non-waterside area. Therefore, mosquito control strategies should consider the effects of landscape and meteorological conditions, including the temperature, rainfall, and the landscape heterogeneity. The present findings can contribute to the development of mosquito forecasting systems in metropolitan cities for the promotion of public health.

Rapid molecular assays for the detection of the four dengue viruses in infected mosquitoes.

The pantropic emergence of severe dengue disease can partly be attributed to the co-circulation of different dengue viruses (DENVs) in the same geographical location. Effective monitoring for circulation of each of the four DENVs is critical to inform disease mitigation strategies. In low resource settings, this can be effectively achieved by utilizing inexpensive, rapid, sensitive and specific assays to detect viruses in mosquito populations. In this study, we developed four rapid DENV tests with direct applicability for low-resource virus surveillance in mosquitoes. The test protocols utilize a novel sample preparation step, a single-temperature isothermal amplification, and a simple lateral flow detection. Analytical sensitivity testing demonstrated tests could detect down to 1,000 copies/µL of virus-specific DENV RNA, and analytical specificity testing indicated tests were highly specific for their respective virus, and did not detect closely related flaviviruses. All four DENV tests showed excellent diagnostic specificity and sensitivity when used for detection of both individually infected mosquitoes and infected mosquitoes in pools of uninfected mosquitoes. With individually infected mosquitoes, the rapid DENV-1, -2 and -3 tests showed 100% diagnostic sensitivity (95% CI = 69% to 100%, n=8 for DENV-1; n=10 for DENV 2,3) and the DENV-4 test showed 92% diagnostic sensitivity (CI: 62% to 100%, n=12) along with 100% diagnostic specificity (CI: 48-100%) for all four tests. Testing infected mosquito pools, the rapid DENV-2, -3 and -4 tests showed 100% diagnostic sensitivity (95% CI = 69% to 100%, n=10) and the DENV-1 test showed 90% diagnostic sensitivity (55.50% to 99.75%, n=10) together with 100% diagnostic specificity (CI: 48-100%). Our tests reduce the operational time required to perform mosquito infection status surveillance testing from > two hours to only 35 minutes, and have potential to improve accessibility of mosquito screening, improving monitoring and control strategies in low-income countries most affected by dengue outbreaks.

Lymphatic Filariasis Control: School-based One Health Initiative on The Usage of Local Plants as Alternative Mosquito Repellants in Timor Tengah Selatan, Nusa Tenggara Timur

Lymphatic filariasis is a mosquito-borne disease that poses a serious public health concern. The disease has spread to 28 Indonesian provinces, with NTT province being one of the 10 provinces with the highest incidence. Aside from being a major supporter of the annual mass drug administration program, the mosquito control initiative is also critical to the disease's eradication. However, today's mosquito control approaches depend primarily on synthetic moieties, which, unfortunately, have resulted in environmental problems and also resistance in important mosquito species. Consequently, developing alternative mosquito control strategies based on herbal components that are environmentally friendly, safe, and long-lasting is necessary. This one-health program aims to educate and raise public awareness of the importance of mosquito control and to inspire the community to utilize local plants as alternative mosquito repellents. This program is targeted high school students from the Timor Tengah Selatan regency. This regency is one of the NTT regencies with the highest risk of lymphatic filariasis. The approach method employed in this program was a series of presentations, discussions, and a demonstration of lymphatic filariasis and the selection of local plants that can be used as herbal repellents. Based on discussions with the students, it was discovered that after engaging in this activity, the participants had learned and recognized the dual function of various indigenous plants in their area as effective and cost-effective mosquito repellents. Furthermore, the students became more excited to learn and develop knowledge about the function of other local plants as efficient mosquito repellents.

Attractive Sugar Bait Formulation for Development of Attractive Toxic Sugar Bait for Control of Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus).

Background Attractive toxic sugar bait (ATSB), based on “attract and kill” approach, is a novel and promising strategy for mosquito control. Formulation of an attractive sugar bait (ASB) solution by selecting an efficient olfaction stimulant and preparation of an optimized sugar-attractant dosage is a significant component for the success of the approach. Methods Current study evaluated relative potential of nine ASBs, formulated by combination of sugar and fresh fruit juices (guava, mango, muskmelon, orange, papaya, pineapple, plum, sweet lemon, and watermelon) in attracting Aedes aegypti adults. Freshly extracted and 48-hour-fermented juices were combined with 10% sucrose solution (w/v) in 1 : 1 ratio. Cage bioassays were conducted against two laboratory strains (susceptible: AND-Aedes aegypti; deltamethrin-selected: AND-Aedes aegypti-DL10) and two field-collected strains (Shahdara strain of Aedes aegypti: SHD-Delhi; Govindpuri strain of Aedes aegypti: GVD-Delhi). Each of the nine ASBs was assayed, individually or in groups of three, for its attraction potential based on the relative number of mosquito landings. The data were analysed for statistical significance using PASW (SPSS) software 19.0 program. Results The prescreening bioassay with individual ASB revealed significantly higher efficacy of ASB containing guava/plum/mango juice than that containing six other juices (p < 0.05) against both the laboratory and field strains. The bioassay with three ASBs kept in one cage, one of the effective ASBs and two others randomly selected ASBs, also showed good attractancy of the guava/plum/mango juice-ASB (p < 0.05). The postscreening assays with these three ASBs revealed maximum attractant potential of guava juice-sucrose combination for all the four strains of Ae. aegypti. Conclusion. Guava juice-ASB showed the highest attractancy against both laboratory and field-collected strains of Ae. aegypti and can be used to formulate ATSB by combining with a toxicant. The field studies with these formulations will ascertain their efficacy and possible use in mosquito management programs.

Larval habitats characterization and population dynamics of Culex mosquitoes in two localities of the Menoua Division, Dschang and Santchou, West Cameroon

BackgroundChoosing an appropriate strategy for mosquito vector control in an eco-climatic facies requires knowledge on vector ecology including population dynamics of species and productivity of the breeding sites. The aim of this study was to characterize Culex mosquitoes breeding places and to determine their population dynamics in two localities (Dschang and Santchou) separated by a forest cliff in the West Region of Cameroon. Field surveys were conducted from November 2019 to June 2020 in Dschang and Santchou. Mosquito breeding sites were georeferenced, and for each breeding site, physical parameters were measured and immature stages were collected. The collected immatures were reared in the laboratory until adult stage. Adult mosquitoes were identified using a stereomicroscope and morphological identification keys.ResultsA total of 44 breeding sites were identified: 24 in Dschang and 20 in Santchou. They were grouped into seven types and were mostly shallow, close to human dwellings, sunny, with organic matters and of anthropogenic nature. A total of 2706 mosquitoes belonging to four genera were identified. Culex genus was the most represented (90.4%) and was made up of Culex pipiens s.l. (61.79%), Culex duttoni (23.17%) and Culex (Culiciomyia) sp. (05.46%). High abundance of Culex species was observed in Santchou (52.71%) compared to Dschang (47.28%), while Dschang (S = 3; H = 0.87; D = 0.54) recorded the greatest diversity compared to Santchou (S = 2; H = 0.23; D = 0.11).ConclusionsThe proliferation and persistence of Culex mosquitoes independently of the breeding sites and localities might be attributable to the poor environmental management which favor the creation mosquito breeding sites. This study highlights the fact that prompt sanitation measures could be undertaken in these two localities to reduce mosquito abundance and the risk of vector-borne diseases.

Pipiserpin, a Culex factor Xa inhibitor, affects female reproductive capacity and serves as a potential target for mosquito control.

Mosquito control is still the main prevention and control measure for numerous mosquito-borne diseases causing millions of deaths each year. New strategies for mosquito control are in demand. Proteases play an important role in mosquito physiology, therefore this study explored the inhibition of a serpin (serine protease inhibitor) in mosquitoes and its effect on reproductive capacity. A factor Xa inhibitor homolog (named Pipiserpin) was amplified and identified in Culex pipiens pallens mosquitoes. We expressed a recombinant Pipiserpin protein in vitro against which a mouse antiserum was generated. We found that female mosquitoes expressed more Pipiserpin protein than male mosquitoes. After mating, female mosquitoes were fed with blood mixed with different amounts of antisera and results showed that consumption of Pipiserpin impeded ovary development and decreased eggs hatching rates compared to that of the pre-immune serum group. We identified a Culex mosquito factor Xa inhibitor, Pipiserpin, which affects female reproductive potential. Our results suggest that Pipiserpin may be a novel target for mosquito population control. The conclusions from our study on Cx. pipiens pallens might serve as a reference for the development of control measures for other mosquitoes as well. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Toxicological and biochemical studies for chlorpyrifos insecticide on some mosquito larvae and their associated predators

ABSTRACT Use of chemical insecticide with natural enemies could be more effective in mosquito control strategy. This study examined the toxicity of chlorpyrifos insecticide against three field-collected mosquito species, Culex pipiens, Anopheles pharoensis and Ochlerotatus caspius and their associated predators dragonfly (Pantala flavescens) and mayfly (Caenis stephens) naiads as non- target insect for chlorpyrifos. The predation potential of Pa. flavescens and Ca. stephens against tested mosquito larvae was also investigated. Additional biochemical assays were carried out to detect the effect of chlorpyrifos on some detoxifying enzymes of tested mosquito larvae and their associated predators. The results showed that (Pa. flavescens) have higher predation potential than (Ca. stephens). The toxicological results recorded high toxic effect of chlorpyrifos on Ca. stephens followed by An. pharoensis and Oc. caspius with percent mortality 100, 90 and 85% respectively, while Pa. flavescens exhibited high resistance followed by Cx. pipiens with percent mortality 20 and 40% respectively. Moreover, Acetylcholinesterase and glutathione S-transferase were significantly increased only in Cx. pipiens and Pa. flavescens. It could be concluded that, chlorpyrifos have different toxicological effect on the tested mosquito larvae and associated predators. So, the side effect of chlorpyrifos must be taken in consideration before using it in control programs.

A Cross-Sectional Household Survey in the US Virgin Islands (2019) Reveals Cisterns as Challenging Peridomestic Aedes aegypti Habitats.

Most residences in the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) rely on household rainwater-catchment systems and subterranean cisterns for long-term water storage that may provide suitable habitats for mosquitoes of public health relevance. We conducted a household cistern survey (n = 164) on the islands of St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas in 2019. The survey revealed that 45.7% (95% CI: 38.3-53.4%) of cisterns contained mosquitoes (adult and/or immature mosquitoes). Aedes aegypti, a vector of chikungunya, dengue, and Zika viruses in the USVI, was found in 27.4% (95% CI: 21.2-34.7%) of cisterns and accounted for 83.3% of the total mosquitoes identified in the study. The odds of detecting mosquitoes in a cistern were 5.45 times higher at locations where the residents reported that they had observed adult mosquitoes coming out of their cisterns (95% CI: 2.25-14.21), suggesting that vector control personnel should consider resident complaints about mosquitoes in their cistern as valid and likely reliable self-assessments. Resident mosquito management practices in cisterns did not correspond with decreased odds of mosquito detection. We conclude that cisterns in the USVI commonly provide habitat for immature and adult Ae. aegypti, which may decrease the effectiveness of area-wide mosquito control strategies. Additional studies are necessary to evaluate the importance of these cisterns as they relate to mosquito production and arbovirus transmission risk, and to assess physical and chemical control methods.

Mosquito brains encode unique features of human odour to drive host seeking.

A globally invasive form of the mosquito Aedes aegypti specializes in biting humans, making it an efficient disease vector1. Host-seeking female mosquitoes strongly prefer human odour over the odour of animals2,3, but exactly how they distinguish between the two is not known. Vertebrate odours are complex blends of volatile chemicals with many shared components4-7, making discrimination an interesting sensory coding challenge. Here we show that human and animal odours evoke activity in distinct combinations of olfactory glomeruli within the Ae. aegypti antennal lobe. One glomerulus in particular is strongly activated by human odour but responds weakly, or not at all, to animal odour. This human-sensitive glomerulus is selectively tuned to the long-chain aldehydes decanal and undecanal, which we show are consistently enriched in human odour and which probably originate from unique human skin lipids. Using synthetic blends, we further demonstrate that signalling in the human-sensitive glomerulus significantly enhances long-range host-seeking behaviour in a wind tunnel, recapitulating preference for human over animal odours. Our research suggests that animal brains may distil complex odour stimuli of innate biological relevance into simple neural codes and reveals targets for the design of next-generation mosquito-control strategies.

Effectiveness of a New Self-Marking Technique in Aedes aegypti under Laboratory Conditions.

Simple SummaryMarking techniques are generally used to differentiate colony mosquitoes from wild ones in the implementation of vector control programs using the Sterile Insect Technique. Different mosquito marking techniques have been developed in the past years but need improvement due to the extensive handling that can affect the quality of mosquitoes. We present here a self-marking technique that can reduce the damage associated with mosquito handling in mass rearing. The marking technique consists of adding fluorescent powder (DayGlo: A-17-N Saturn yellow) directly to the surface water of the receptacle containing Aedes aegypti male pupae. The marking efficacy, powder persistence and mosquito survival were assessed for male mosquito. We observed a high marking rate that increased with increasing amounts of fluorescent powder. Fluorescent powder lasted long on the mosquito body and did not induce a negative effect on their survival. This self-marking method reduces human intervention and mosquito handling, improving the quality of marked mosquitoes.In the implementation of mosquito control strategy programs using Sterile Insect Technique and other rear and release strategies, knowledge on the dispersion, competitiveness and survival of mosquitos is considered essential. To assess these parameters, marking techniques are generally used to differentiate colony mosquitoes from wild ones. Most of the existing mosquito marking methods require numerous manipulations that can impact their quality. In this study, we have developed a self-marking technique that can reduce the damage associated with mosquito handling. The marking technique consisted of adding fluorescent powder (DayGlo: A-17-N Saturn yellow) directly to the surface water of the receptacle containing Aedes aegypti male pupae. Different quantities of powder were used, and marking efficacy, powder persistence and mosquito survival were assessed. The results show a mean marking rate of 98 ± 1.61%, and the probability of marking increased significantly (p < 0.001) with increasing concentrations of fluorescent powder. Fluorescent powder persisted up to 20 days and did not induce a negative effect on mosquito survival (χ2 = 5.3, df = 7, p = 0.63). In addition, powder transfer did not occur between marked and unmarked populations. This marking method significantly reduces human intervention and mosquito handling during the marking process, improving the quality of marked mosquitoes used to assess SIT programs.

Mathematical modelling of the mosquito Aedes polynesiensis in a heterogeneous environment

Background:The mosquito Aedes polynesiensis inhabits Pacific islands and territories and transmits arboviruses and parasites. In the context of rapid environmental change, understanding the effects of environmental heterogeneity on mosquitoes is crucial. Methods:First, empirical field data and remote sensing data were combined to model spatial heterogeneity in the environmental suitability for Ae. polynesiensis. Second, a model of mosquito population dynamics was applied to predict mosquito distributions over a heterogeneous landscape assuming different dispersal behaviours. Motu Tautau, French Polynesia, was used as a case study of the utility of this methodological approach. Ae. polynesiensis use land crab Cardisoma carnifex burrows for oviposition in French Polynesia; environmental suitability was therefore quantified using C. carnifex burrow density. Results:Micro-regions with large Ae. polynesiensis populations facilitated by high C. carnifex burrow density were accurately captured by our methodology. Preferential dispersal towards oviposition sites promoted larger population sizes than non-preferential dispersal but did not offer greater resilience to environmental change. Reduced environmental suitability for Ae. polynesiensis resulted in spatially non-linear effects upon the mosquito distribution. Conclusions:Environmental change has complex spatial effects upon mosquito populations. Mosquito control strategies must carefully balance spatial effects with net effects.

Mosquito tracking, classification, and identification: A glance at the technologies available

Malaria and dengue fever infect over one million people every year, according to the World Health Organization. A disease's vector mosquitoes are specific to that illness. The disease is propagated throughout a region by the majority of carrier mosquitoes living in it. The species of mosquitoes in a given area may now be simply and quickly identified using recordings of their wing movements thanks to advances in Machine Learning and Computer Vision technology. Because each mosquito species' wingbeats are distinct, this is a solid approach for identifying them. The Zika virus is carried by this mosquito species, which is well-known. The detection of mosquito-borne diseases in the investigated area can also be aided by identifying such carrier species. In this research, we look at several strategies that have shown to be effective in identifying mosquito species. Several mosquito-borne diseases have emerged, demanding rapid and effective responses. The behavior of mosquitoes must be fully understood to develop and effectively implement mosquito control strategies, with a detailed examination of mosquito flight being an essential component. A review of recent advances in automated tracking approaches allowing a thorough understanding of mosquito movement is presented. Tracking techniques can improve or replace existing monitoring tools, as well as provide knowledge into mosquito behavior that can lead to more inventive and effective vector-control measures. Wingbeat frequency is the most widely used and most accurate method of mosquito identification. The latest IoT technology can also be used to track mosquitos. Image-based mosquito identification is becoming more common as a result of high-resolution cameras.

Studies of the Biological and Physicochemical Contents of Rock Pool Breeding Habitats of Mosquitoes: A Case Study of the University of Abuja Main Campus

Entomological surveys were conducted to determine the biological and physicochemical parameters influencing mosquito breeding in rock pools in University of Abuja Main Campus. A total of 4 study area were sampled for mosquito larvae using soup ladle dipper (0.105L). Three different species of mosquitoes where found during the survey which is Ae.aegypyi, Ae.vittatus, Cx. Ingrami. Ae.aegypti was found abundant in the four study sites. Biota and physicochemical (depth, temperature, pH, total dissolve solid, total suspended solid, turbidity, hardness, dissolve oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, nitrate and alkalinity) parameters of the pools were determined. ANOVA showed that the abundance of mosquito larvae differed significantly with pH of each study area (p&lt;0.05). The abundance of mosquito larvae did not differ significantly with depth, surface area, total suspended solid, hardness and turbidity of the rock pools (p&gt;0.05). Epidemiologically, the mosquito species encountered are potential vectors of human and animal diseases, hence rock pools should be inspected to incriminate vectors and be incorporated in mosquito control strategies. Keywords: Mosquitoes: Rock Pool Habitat: Temperature: PH; Ae.aegypyi: Ae.vittatus: Cx Ingrami

Eco-Friendly Mosquito-Control Strategies: Advantages and Disadvantages

Eco-Friendly Mosquito-Control Strategies: Advantages and Disadvantages

Plant-Based Bioinsecticides for Mosquito Control: Impact on Insecticide Resistance and Disease Transmission.

Simple SummaryMosquito-borne diseases cause millions of deaths each year. There has been an increase in the use of insecticides to combat disease transmission caused by mosquitoes. Synthetic insecticides have been effectively used to protect humans from mosquito bites through insecticide-treated mosquito nets, fabrics, and indoor sprays. Despite the considerable progress made in reducing mosquito borne diseases, extensive usage of insecticides has caused serious health problems to humans and animals, insecticide resistance or insensitivity in mosquitoes, and environmental damage. A success in the fight with mosquito disease transmission can only be accomplished by adequate and effective implementation of insecticide resistance monitoring and management programs globally. For this purpose, extensive research focuses on exploring insecticide resistance mechanisms in mosquitoes and how they get resistant to chemical applications over time. The search also focuses on novel compounds that are more effective, safer, and eco-friendly for improved management of mosquito vectors. In this review, we provide the current literature on the synthetic insecticides and how mosquitoes develop resistance to them, with further emphasis on bioinsecticides that could replace conventional synthetic insecticides. In this context, plant-based compounds are explained in detail with their potential applications to control mosquitoes.The use of synthetic insecticides has been a solution to reduce mosquito-borne disease transmission for decades. Currently, no single intervention is sufficient to reduce the global disease burden caused by mosquitoes. Problems associated with extensive usage of synthetic compounds have increased substantially which makes mosquito-borne disease elimination and prevention more difficult over the years. Thus, it is crucial that much safer and effective mosquito control strategies are developed. Natural compounds from plants have been efficiently used to fight insect pests for a long time. Plant-based bioinsecticides are now considered a much safer and less toxic alternative to synthetic compounds. Here, we discuss candidate plant-based compounds that show larvicidal, adulticidal, and repellent properties. Our discussion also includes their mode of action and potential impact in mosquito disease transmission and circumvention of resistance. This review improves our knowledge on plant-based bioinsecticides and the potential for the development of state-of-the-art mosquito control strategies.

A Model of Optimal Interval for Anti-Mosquito Campaign Based on Stochastic Process

Mosquito control is very important, in particular, for tropical countries. The purpose of mosquito control is to decrease the number of mosquitos such that the mosquitos transmitted diseases can be reduced. However, mosquito control can be costly, thus there is a trade-off between the cost for mosquito control and the cost for mosquitos transmitted diseases. A model is proposed based on renewal theory in this paper to describe the process of mosquitos’ growth, with consideration of the mosquitos transmitted diseases growth process and the corresponding diseases treatment cost. Through this model, the total mosquitos control cost of different strategies can be estimated. The optimal mosquito control strategy that minimizes the expected total cost is studied. A numerical example and corresponding sensitivity analyses are proposed to illustrate the applications.