scholarly journals Integrating Vector and Nuisance Mosquito Control for Severe Weather Response

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (2s) ◽  
pp. 41-48
Author(s):  
Heather M. Ward ◽  
Whitney A. Qualls
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Vector Control ◽  
Mosquito Control ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Severe Weather ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Control Plan ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Nuisance Species ◽  
Mosquito Management

ABSTRACT Ideally, all mosquito control programs would have public health–driven and nuisance population–focused components in their mosquito control plan. However, due to resource limitations many mosquito control programs focus attention on one specific component of integrated mosquito control, i.e., adulticiding only. Programs run by public health departments with limited resources are frequently heavily focused on vector control, targeting a few mosquito species that are locally medically relevant in human and animal disease cycles. Focusing their mosquito management on these specific vector species can result in inefficiencies after hurricanes and severe flooding events that create a need for nuisance mosquito control. Floodwater nuisance species that emerge are not routinely a public health threat, but hinder operations related to response efforts and can negatively affect the lives of people in areas recovering from these disaster events. Staff, training, equipment, and facilities, when aimed at public health vector control, may not have the experience, knowledge, or tools to effectively respond to postdisaster, floodwater mosquito populations. As such, all mosquito management programs should have plans in place to handle not only known vectors of public health concern in response to mosquito-borne disease, but also to manage floodwater mosquito populations after natural disasters to safeguard public health and facilitate recovery operations. The current paper discusses the severe weather events in South Texas in 2018 and the resulting integrated nuisance floodwater mosquito control guidance developed by the Texas Department of State Health Services.

scholarly journals Farmers’ pesticide usage practices in the malaria endemic region of North-Western Tanzania: implications to the control of malaria vectors

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anitha Philbert ◽  
Sylvester Leonard Lyantagaye ◽  
Gamba Nkwengulila
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Vector Control ◽  
Susceptibility Test ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Malaria Vectors ◽  
Disease Vectors ◽  
Endemic Region ◽  
Phenotypic Resistance ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Pesticide Usage

Abstract Background Pesticides remain the mainstay for the control of agricultural pests and disease vectors. However, their indiscriminate use in agriculture has led to development of resistance to both crop pests and disease vectors. This threatens to undermine the success gained through the implementation of chemical based vector control programs. We investigated the practices of farmers with regard to pesticide usage in the vegetable growing areas and their impact on susceptibility status of An. gambiae s.l. Methods A stratified multistage sampling technique using the administrative structure of the Tanzanian districts as sampling frame was used. Wards, villages and then participants with farms where pesticides are applied were purposively recruited at different stages of the process, 100 participants were enrolled in the study. The same villages were used for mosquito larvae sampling from the farms and the surveys were complimented by the entomological study. Larvae were reared in the insectary and the emerging 2–3 days old female adults of Anopheles gambiae s.l were subjected to susceptibility test. Results Forty eight pesticides of different formulations were used for control of crop and Livestock pests. Pyrethroids were the mostly used class of pesticides (50%) while organophosphates and carbamates were of secondary importance. Over 80% of all farmers applied pesticides in mixed form. Susceptibility test results confirmed high phenotypic resistance among An. gambiae populations against DDT and the pyrethroids (Permethrin-0.75%, Cyfluthrin-0.15%, Deltametrin-0.05% and Lambdacyhalothrin-0.05%) with mortality rates 54, 61, 76 and 71%, respectively. Molecular analysis showed An. arabiensis as a dominant species (86%) while An. gambiae s.s constituted only 6%. The kdr genes were not detected in all of the specimens that survived insecticide exposures. Conclusion The study found out that there is a common use of pyrethroids in farms, Livestocks as well as in public health. The study also reports high phenotypic resistance among An. gambiae s.l against most of the pyrethroids tested. The preponderance of pyrethroids in agriculture is of public health concern because this is the class of insecticides widely used in vector control programs and this calls for combined integrated pest and vector management (IPVM).

scholarly journals Seasonality of Aedes albopictus in North and Central Mississippi

2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-37
Author(s):  
Jerome Goddard ◽  
Gail M. Moraru ◽  
Kristine T. Edwards ◽  
Sarah J. McInnis ◽  
J. Hunter Deerman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Vector Control ◽  
Aedes Albopictus ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Mosquito Larvae ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Inclement Weather ◽  
Extensive Analysis

ABSTRACT Container-breeding mosquitoes are increasingly important in public health due to recent outbreaks of Zika virus, chikungunya, and dengue. This paper documents seasonality of the most prevalent container-breeding mosquito species in Mississippi—Aedes albopictus. Ten sites in 5 counties in both northern and central Mississippi (20 sites, 10 counties total) were sampled by larval dipping and oviposition traps biweekly from September 2016 to June 2019, totaling 22 months and potentially yielding 440 egg or larval collections. However, 22 collections were missed due to inclement weather and personnel issues during the study period, so actually only 418 site visits were performed. Sites were chosen to maximize chances of finding Ae. albopictus. Of the total 1,310 mosquito larvae collected during the study period, 717 larvae and 50 positive egg papers belonged to Ae. albopictus. Aedes albopictus was found in all 10 northern and central counties. No eggs were collected at any of the sites from December through February, although larvae were occasionally collected during that time frame. This study demonstrates that Ae. albopictus is active in central and northern Mississippi beginning in March each year and continuing through November or December. There is little activity during the coldest months of the year (January and February). These data represent the first extensive analysis of Ae. albopictus seasonality in Mississippi, and as such, allow for better public health awareness of diseases transmitted by this species and design of more effective vector control programs.

scholarly journals Mosquito Control Priorities in Florida—Survey Results from Florida Mosquito Control Districts

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 947
Author(s):  
Rishi Kondapaneni ◽  
Ashley N. Malcolm ◽  
Brian M. Vazquez ◽  
Eric Zeng ◽  
Tse-Yu Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
State Government ◽  
Mosquito Control ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Research Priorities ◽  
Current Control ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Common Control ◽  
Surveillance Programs ◽  
Research Questions

Florida lies within a subtropical region where the climate allows diverse mosquito species including invasive species to thrive year-round. As of 2021, there are currently 66 state-approved Florida Mosquito Control Districts, which are major stakeholders for Florida public universities engaged in mosquito research. Florida is one of the few states with extensive organized mosquito control programs. The Florida State Government and Florida Mosquito Control Districts have long histories of collaboration with research institutions. During fall 2020, we carried out a survey to collect baseline data on the current control priorities from Florida Mosquito Control Districts relating to (1) priority control species, (2) common adult and larval control methods, and (3) major research questions to address that will improve their control and surveillance programs. The survey data showed that a total of 17 distinct mosquito species were considered to be priority control targets, with many of these species being understudied. The most common control approaches included truck-mounted ultra-low-volume adulticiding and biopesticide-based larviciding. The districts held interest in diverse research questions, with many prioritizing studies on basic science questions to help develop evidence-based control strategies. Our data highlight the fact that mosquito control approaches and priorities differ greatly between districts and provide an important point of comparison for other regions investing in mosquito control, particularly those with similar ecological settings, and great diversity of potential mosquito vectors, such as in Florida. Our findings highlight a need for greater alignment of research priorities between mosquito control and mosquito research. In particular, we note a need to prioritize filling knowledge gaps relating to understudied mosquito species that have been implicated in arbovirus transmission.

scholarly journals Mosquitoes of Etiological Concern in Kenya and Possible Control Strategies

Insects ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Karungu ◽  
Evans Atoni ◽  
Joseph Ogalo ◽  
Caroline Mwaliko ◽  
Bernard Agwanda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Mosquito Control ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Public Health Concern ◽  
Vector Management ◽  
Invasive Mosquito ◽  
Parasitic Pathogens

Kenya is among the most affected tropical countries with pathogen transmitting Culicidae vectors. For decades, insect vectors have contributed to the emergence and distribution of viral and parasitic pathogens. Outbreaks and diseases have a great impact on a country’s economy, as resources that would otherwise be used for developmental projects are redirected to curb hospitalization cases and manage outbreaks. Infected invasive mosquito species have been shown to increasingly cross both local and global boarders due to the presence of increased environmental changes, trade, and tourism. In Kenya, there have been several mosquito-borne disease outbreaks such as the recent outbreaks along the coast of Kenya, involving chikungunya and dengue. This certainly calls for the implementation of strategies aimed at strengthening integrated vector management programs. In this review, we look at mosquitoes of public health concern in Kenya, while highlighting the pathogens they have been linked with over the years and across various regions. In addition, the major strategies that have previously been used in mosquito control and what more could be done to reduce or combat the menace caused by these hematophagous vectors are presented.

scholarly journals Generic and subgeneric status of aedine mosquito species (Diptera: Culicidae: Aedini) occurring in the Australasian Region

Zootaxa ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 887 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOHN F. REINERT ◽  
RALPH E. HARBACH
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Personnel ◽  
Mosquito Control ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Generic Level ◽  
Taxonomic Changes ◽  
Australasian Region

Species of Aedini occurring in the Australasian Region are listed with their current generic-level assignments. The purpose of this list is to enable entomologists, public health personnel, and mosquito control workers to more quickly become familiar with recent formal taxonomic changes within the tribe.

scholarly journals Coordination among neighbors improves the efficacy of Zika control despite economic costs

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie J. Lemanski ◽  
Samantha R. Schwab ◽  
Dina M. Fonseca ◽  
Nina H. Fefferman
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Vector Control ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Mosquito Control ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Epidemiological Surveillance ◽  
Larval Control ◽  
Coordination Costs ◽  
Metapopulation Theory

AbstractBackgroundEmerging mosquito-borne viruses like Zika, dengue, and chikungunya pose a major threat to public health, especially in low-income regions of Central and South America, southeast Asia, and the Caribbean. Outbreaks of these diseases are likely to have long-term social and economic consequences due to Zika-induced congenital microcephaly and other complications. Larval control of the container-inhabiting mosquitoes that transmit these infections is an important tool for mitigating outbreaks. However, metapopulation theory suggests that spatiotemporally uneven larvicide treatment can impede control effectiveness, as recolonization compensates for mortality within patches. Coordinating the timing of treatment among patches could therefore substantially improve epidemic control, but we must also consider economic constraints, since coordination may have costs that divert resources from treatment.Methodology/Principle FindingsTo inform practical disease management strategies, we ask how coordination among neighbors in the timing of mosquito control efforts influences the size of a mosquito-borne infectious disease outbreak under the realistic assumption that coordination has costs. Using an SIR/metapopulation model of mosquito and disease dynamics, we examine whether larvicide treatment triggered by surveillance information from neighboring patches reduces human infections when incorporating coordination costs. We examine how different types of coordination costs and different surveillance methods jointly influence the effectiveness of larval control. We find that the effect of coordination depends on both costs and the type of surveillance used to inform treatment. With epidemiological surveillance, coordination improves disease outcomes, even when costly. With demographic surveillance, coordination either improves or hampers disease control, depending on the type of costs and surveillance sensitivity.Conclusions/SignificanceOur results suggest coordination among neighbors can improve management of mosquito-borne epidemics under many, but not all, assumptions about costs. Therefore, estimating coordination costs is an important step for most effectively applying metapopulation theory to strategies for managing outbreaks of mosquito-borne viral infections.Author SummaryMosquito-borne viruses, such as Zika, are an urgent public health threat, particularly in tropical, low-income regions. Vector control, the main strategy for combatting outbreaks, can be challenging because the urban-adapted, container-breeding mosquitoes that transmit these viruses often exhibit metapopulation dynamics, where mortality in one population is compensated by migration from neighboring populations. The timing and spatial distribution of vector control efforts can therefore have a large impact on their efficacy. Using a model of virus transmission and vector population dynamics, we demonstrate that local mosquito control initiatives aimed at reducing the burden of Zika and other mosquito-borne infections are most effective when there is communication of surveillance findings among neighboring control agencies and coordination over the timing of mosquito reduction treatments. We find that local communication improves epidemic outcomes even when it imposes costs to resource-limited control agencies due to gains in the efficiency of mosquito control from spatial coordination.

scholarly journals A Case for Systematic Quality Management in Mosquito Control Programmes in Europe

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 3478
Author(s):  
Antonios Michaelakis ◽  
Fabrizio Balestrino ◽  
Norbert Becker ◽  
Romeo Bellini ◽  
Beniamino Caputo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Management ◽  
Management System ◽  
Quality Management System ◽  
Mosquito Control ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
System Quality ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Formal Quality ◽  
Control Programmes ◽  
Invasive Mosquito

The recent spread of invasive mosquito species, such as Aedes albopictus and the seasonal sporadic transmission of autochthonous cases of arboviral diseases (e.g., dengue, chikungunya, Zika) in temperate areas, such as Europe and North America, highlight the importance of effective mosquito-control interventions to reduce not only nuisance, but also major threats for public health. Local, regional, and even national mosquito control programs have been established in many countries and are executed on a seasonal basis by either public or private bodies. In order for these interventions to be worthwhile, funding authorities should ensure that mosquito control is (a) planned by competent scientific institutions addressing the local demands, (b) executed following the plan that is based on recommended and effective methods and strategies, (c) monitored regularly by checking the efficacy of the implemented actions, (d) evaluated against the set of targets, and (e) regularly improved according to the results of the monitoring. Adherence to these conditions can only be assured if a formal quality management system is adopted and enforced that ensures the transparency of effectiveness of the control operation. The current paper aims at defining the two components of this quality management system, quality assurance and quality control for mosquito control programs with special emphasis on Europe, but applicable over temperate areas.

scholarly journals Systematic Review of Wolbachia Symbiont Detection in Mosquitoes: An Entangled Topic about Methodological Power and True Symbiosis

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 39
Author(s):  
Luísa Maria Inácio da Silva ◽  
Filipe Zimmer Dezordi ◽  
Marcelo Henrique Santos Paiva ◽  
Gabriel Luz Wallau
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Mosquito Control ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Nematode Species ◽  
Wolbachia Infection ◽  
Detection Methods ◽  
Infected Mosquito ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
Pathogen Control

Wolbachia is an endosymbiotic bacterium that naturally infects several arthropods and nematode species. Wolbachia gained particular attention due to its impact on their host fitness and the capacity of specific Wolbachia strains in reducing pathogen vector and agricultural pest populations and pathogens transmission. Despite the success of mosquito/pathogen control programs using Wolbachia-infected mosquito release, little is known about the abundance and distribution of Wolbachia in most mosquito species, a crucial knowledge for planning and deployment of mosquito control programs and that can further improve our basic biology understanding of Wolbachia and host relationships. In this systematic review, Wolbachia was detected in only 30% of the mosquito species investigated. Fourteen percent of the species were considered positive by some studies and negative by others in different geographical regions, suggesting a variable infection rate and/or limitations of the Wolbachia detection methods employed. Eighty-three percent of the studies screened Wolbachia with only one technique. Our findings highlight that the assessment of Wolbachia using a single approach limited the inference of true Wolbachia infection in most of the studied species and that researchers should carefully choose complementary methodologies and consider different Wolbachia-mosquito population dynamics that may be a source of bias to ascertain the correct infectious status of the host species.

scholarly journals Host-Environment Interplay Shapes Fungal Diversity in Mosquitoes

mSphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patil Tawidian ◽  
Kerri L. Coon ◽  
Ari Jumpponen ◽  
Lee W. Cohnstaedt ◽  
Kristin Michel
Keyword(s):  
Mosquito Control ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Asian Tiger Mosquito ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Public Health Concern ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Asian Tiger ◽  
Fungal Entomopathogens

The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus , is the dominant mosquito species in the United States and an important vector of arboviruses of major public health concern. One aspect of mosquito control to curb mosquito-borne diseases has been the use of biological control agents such as fungal entomopathogens.

scholarly journals Do tigers hunt during the day? Diel activity of the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae), in urban and suburban habitats of North America

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. e0009438
Author(s):  
Isik Unlu ◽  
Ary Faraji ◽  
Nicholas Indelicato ◽  
James R. McNelly
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Aedes Albopictus ◽  
Mosquito Control ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Diel Activity ◽  
Adult Mosquito ◽  
Subtropical Climate ◽  
Public Health Importance ◽  
Late Season ◽  
Solar Noon

Background Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse) impacts human outdoor activity because of its aggressive biting behavior, and as a major vector of mosquito-borne diseases, it is also of public health importance. Although most mosquito species exhibit crepuscular activity by primarily host seeking at dawn and dusk, Ae. albopictus has been traditionally characterized as a diurnal or day-biting mosquito. With the global expansion and increased involvement of Ae. albopictus in mosquito-borne diseases, it is imperative to elucidate the diel activity of this species, particularly in newly invaded areas. Methodology and principal findings Human sweep netting and carbon dioxide-baited rotator traps were used to evaluate the diel activity of Ae. albopictus in two study sites. Both trapping methods were used in New Jersey’s Mercer County, USA (temperate/urban), while only human sweep netting was used in Florida’s Volusia County, USA (subtropical/suburban). Human sweep netting was performed to determine adult mosquito activity at Sunrise, Solar Noon, Sunset, and Lunar Midnight. Because New Jersey is in a temperate area, diel activity was investigated during the early season (3–19 July), peak season (25 July-19 September), and late season (22 September- 22 October). Aedes albopictus showed the highest activity during peak and late seasons at Solar Noon (P < 0.05). At Sunrise and Sunset during the peak season, Ae. albopictus activity was similar. Lunar Midnight activity was significantly lower than Sunrise and Solar Noon (P < 0.05) but was similar to that of Sunset. In the late season, the highest activity was observed during Solar Noon while the least activity was observed during Sunrise and Lunar Midnight (P<0.05). Bottle rotator traps used in conjunction with the human sweep net technique exhibited similar results. Seasonal activity was not differentiated in Florida due to the consistent subtropical climate. The highest adult activity was observed at Sunrise using human sweep netting, but it was not significantly different from Solar Noon and Sunset. The lowest adult activity was observed at Lunar Midnight; however, it was not significantly different from Solar Noon and Sunset. These results provide evidence that the diel activity of Ae. albopictus, contrary to the common perception of its diurnal activity, is much more varied. Conclusion/Significance Involvement of Ae. albopictus in the transmission of debilitating mosquito-borne pathogens such as chikungunya, dengue, and Zika virus, coupled with its affinity to thrive in human peridomestic environments, substantiates that our findings have global implications in areas where Ae. albopictus populations established. It also highlights the importance of behavioral studies of vector species which will not only help mosquito control professionals plan the timing of their control efforts but also provides empirical evidence against conventional wisdoms that may unjustly persist within public health stewards.

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