1. Spread of Zika virus: The key role of mosquito vector control
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine 2016;6(6):468-471
Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) represent a key threat for millions of humans and animals worldwide, since they act as vectors for important parasites and pathogens, including malaria, filariasis and a wide number of arboviruses. The recent outbreaks of Zika virus infections occurring in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean, represent the most recent four arrivals of important arboviruses in the western hemisphere, over the last 20 years, namely dengue, West Nile virus, and chikungunya. Since there are no specific treatments for Zika virus and the other arboviruses mentioned above, it should be highlighted that the eco-friendly and effective control of mosquito vectors is of pivotal importance. Besides radiation, transgenic and symbiont-based mosquito control approaches, an effective option may be the employ of biological control agents of mosquito young instars, in presence of ultra-low quantities of green-synthesized nanoparticles, which magnify their predation efficiency. Furthermore, behaviour-based control tools relying on the employ of swarming behaviour manipulation (i.e. the "lure and kill" approach), pheromone traps, sound traps need further research attention. In particular, detailed basic information on the physical and chemical cues routing mosquito swarming and mating dynamics is urgently required.
2. Plant-mediated synthesis of nanoparticles: A newer and safer tool against mosquito-borne diseases?
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine 2016;6(4):353-354
Prevention and control of mosquito-borne diseases is a key challenge of huge public health importance. Plant-mediated synthesis of nanoparticles has recently gained attention as a cheap, rapid and eco-friendly method to control mosquito vector populations, with special reference to young instars. Furthermore, plant-fabricated nanoparticles have been successfully employed as dengue virus growth inhibitors. In this Editorial, parasitologists, entomologists and researchers in drug nanosynthesis are encouraged to deal with a number of crucial challenges of public health importance.
3.Insecticide susceptibility in larval populations of the West Nile vector Culex pipiens L. (Diptera:Culicidae) in Saudi Arabia
Aziz Thabiani Al ; Mahyoub Abdullah Jazem ; Rehman Hasibur ; Saggu Shalini ; Murugan Kadarkarai ; Panneerselvam Chellasamy ; Nicoletti Marcello ; Wei Hui ; Canale Angelo ; Benelli Giovanni
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine 2016;6(5):390-395
Objective: To investigate the susceptibility to some conventional and non-conventional insecticides in laboratory and field larval populations of the West Nile vector Culex pipiens L. (Cx. pipiens), the dominant species in Jeddah Province, Saudi Arabia.
Methods: The tested conventional insecticides were Actikil and Pesgard, while the non-conventional ones were Bacilod, Dudim and Baycidal. Probit analysis and photo-microscopical observations were carried out to shed light on acute toxicity in laboratory and field Cx. pipiens strains.
Results: Cx. pipiens were more susceptible to Pesgard (LC50: 0.045 and 0.032 mg/L) than Actikil (0.052 and 0.038 mg/L) and Bacilod (0.129 and 0.104 mg/L), for the field and laboratory strains, respectively. Results showed that treatments with the chitin syn-thesis inhibitor Dudim and Baycidal evoked morphological effects similar to those induced by other insect growth regulators. According to IC50 values obtained (concen-tration which to inhibit the emergence of 50%of mosquito adults), the compound Dudim (0.000 3 and 0.000 1 mg/L) was more effective against Cx. pipiens L. mosquitoes than Baycidal (0.000 4 and 0.000 3 mg/L) for both the field and laboratory strains, respectively.
Conclusions: Our results provide baseline data to enhance control programs and orient public health decisions on the selection of pesticides against mosquito vectors in Saudi Arabia.
4. Insecticide susceptibility in larval populations of the West Nile vector Culex pipiens L. (Diptera: Culicidae) in Saudi Arabia
Al Thabiani AZIZ ; Hasibur REHMAN ; Shalini SAGGU ; Chellasamy PANNEERSELVAM ; Jazem Abdullah MAHYOUB ; Majed Salum S. ALREFAEI ; Kadarkarai MURUGAN ; Marcello NICOLETTI ; Hui WEI ; Angelo CANALE ; Giovanni BENELLI
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine 2016;6(5):390-395
Objective: To investigate the susceptibility to some conventional and non-conventional insecticides in laboratory and field larval populations of the West Nile vector Culex pipiens L. (Cx. pipiens), the dominant species in Jeddah Province, Saudi Arabia. Methods: The tested conventional insecticides were Actikil and Pesgard, while the non-conventional ones were Bacilod, Dudim and Baycidal. Probit analysis and photomicroscopical observations were carried out to shed light on acute toxicity in laboratory and field Cx. pipiens strains. Results: Cx. pipiens were more susceptible to Pesgard (LC
5. Neem by-products in the fight against mosquito-borne diseases: Biotoxicity of neem cake fractions towards the rural malaria vector Anopheles culicifacies (Diptera: Culicidae)
Balamurugan CHANDRAMOHAN ; Kadarkarai MURUGAN ; Pari MADHIYAZHAGAN ; Kalimuthu KOVENDAN ; Palanisamy Mahesh KUMAR ; Devakumar DINESH ; Jayapal SUBRAMANIAM ; Rajapandian RAJAGANESH ; Chellasamy PANNEERSELVAM ; Marcello NICOLETTI ; Angelo CANALE ; Giovanni BENELLI
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine 2016;6(6):472-476
Objective: To evaluate the ovicidal, larvicidal and adulticidal potential of neem cake fractions of different polarity against the rural malaria vector Anopheles culicifacies (An. culicifacies). Methods: Neem cake fractions' total methanol extract (NTMeOH), total ethyl acetate extract (NTAcOEt), ethyl acetate fraction after repartition with NTMeOH (NRAcOEt), butanol fraction after repartition with NTMeOH (NRBuOH), and aqueous fraction after repartition of NTMeOH (NRH