A novel method for the control of Mansonia larvae was developed and tested. In this method, foliar absorption and translocation of a chemical insecticide, monocrotophos, a known systemic insecticide was studied in the Eicchornia plant. Acetone solution of the insecticide was painted onto leaves of the plant. At daily intervals, stems were severed and divided into equal sections which were introduced into bowls. Larvae of Aedes aegypti were tested for the presence of monocrotophos. It was found that translocation of the insecticide occurred at different rates in the stems and in some plants the chemical was also released into the surrounding water. Based on these results, 2 insecticides namely, monocrotophos and temephos were painted onto leaves of the host plant and their translocation to the root and water environment was examined by testing with Mansonia and Aedes aegypti larvae. The results again confirmed the translocation process and it was found that the insecticides were secreted into the surrounding water, thereby killing the larvae. However, in leaves painted with permethrin (synthetic pyrethroid) or flufenoxuron (chitin synthesis inhibitor), such a process was not detected. The potential of this new concept in Mansonia larval control is examined.
Rapid enzyme microassays for the detection of resistance due to organophosphate and carbamate in individual field-collected strains of Culex quinquefasciatus adults were conducted. These tests allowed accurate differentiation by eye, on the basis of color changes of susceptible and resistant individuals. Two separate tests were conducted for the biochemical assays. In the insensitive acetylcholinesterase (AChE) test, acetylthiocholine iodide (ACTH) and 5,5-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) were used as substrate and coupling agent respectively. The resulting yellow chromophore indicated AChE activity. Test results showed that the color intensity decreased as increasing concentrations of propoxur were added, thereby confirming the susceptibility of the enzyme to inhibitor. Assay of non-specific esterase however, indicated elevated levels which were correlated with degree of malathion resistance. Electrophoretic data revealed the presence of 2 esterase bands in all strains. It was concluded that such a pattern was not contributory to malathion resistance in adults.
The residual effectiveness of 0.005mg/ml of cyhalothrin applied to cattle was determined against three species of mosquitos: Anopheles maculatus Theobald. Anopheles dirus Peyton and Harrison Mansonia uniformis Theobald. Twenty-four hour post exposure mortality and the degree of successful blood engorgement were determined by exposing mosquitos for 10 minutes to cattle. Three replicated assays were conducted and mortality determined at 1, 2, 7, 14 and 21 days after each treatment. An initial mortality of 92-94% for An. dirus and Ma. uniformis and 79% for An. maculatus was obtained. Percentage mortality declined to 10%, 18% and 31% for An. maculatus, An. dirus and Ma. uniformis respectively on day 7 post application. On day 21 post application, percentage mortality was 2-3% for the three species of mosquitos.
A helminthological examination of 367 wood rats, Rattus tiomanicus, in an oil-palm. estate 24 miles north of Kuala Lumpur conducted during 1973 revealed 8 species of helminths: 5 nematodes. Angiostrongylus malaysiensis (54.2% of the rats infected), Hepatojarakus malayae (48.5%), Nippostrongylus braziliensis (48.0%), Gongylonema neoplasticum (0.3%), Syphacia muris (17.7%); 3 cestodes, Hymenolepis diminuta (6.0%), Hymenolepis nana (7.6%), Hydatigera taeniaeformis (cysticercus) (12.0%) and 1 pentastomid, Armillifer sp. (nymph) (0.8%). Overall helminthic infection rates seemed to be higher than those previously reported in this host species.
The effect of permethrin impregnated bednets on Anopheles maculatus Theobald was studied in four villages in Pos Betau, Pahang, Malaysia from August 1990 to July 1992. Collections of mosquitos were carried out indoors and outdoors from 1900 to 0700 hours. All mosquitos were dissected for sporozoites and parity. In May 1991 two villages received bednets impregnated with permethrin at 0.5 g/m2 and two villages received placebo bednets. There was a significant difference in the sporozoite and parous rates between the treated and control villages after the distribution of bednets (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the bites/man/night of An. maculatus between the pre and post treatment periods in the control villages. However there was a significant difference in bites/man/night between pre and post treatment in the treated villages (p < 0.001).
A field trial was carried out to study the effect of lambdacyhalothrin on Anopheles maculatus in trap huts in Jeram Kedah, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Two trap huts were built, of which one was sprayed with lambdacyhalothrin at a dosage of 25 mg ai/m2 and the other served as control. Eight collectors commenced collecting mosquitos from 1900 to 2400 hours, two each indoors and outdoors. Bioassay was also carried out in the treated and control huts to determine susceptibility of adult mosquitos to lambdacyhalothrin. In the treated hut more mosquitos were present during the pre- spraying period. Lambdacyhalothrin gave a mortality of 100% against An. maculatus for 8 months.
Mosquito collections were carried out from May to June 1992 and from September to December 1992 in an area where a case of Japanese encephalitis was confirmed. A total of 40,072 mosquitoes belonging to 35 species and 8 genera were collected. The dominant species in that locality were Culex vishnui, Culex tritaeniorhynchus, Culex pseudovishnui, Culex gelidus, Aedes butleri, and Mansonia uniformis.