scholarly journals The effect of coexistence between larvae of Anopheles gambiae and Culex quinquefasciatus on larvicidal efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-85
Author(s):  
Yahya A. Derua ◽  
Eliningaya J. Kweka ◽  
William N. Kisinza ◽  
Guiyun Yan ◽  
Andrew K. Githeko ◽  
...  

Background: The efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bti) is affected by several factors including the species of the mosquito. Mosquito larvae of different species are found to coexist in larval breeding habitats. This study evaluated whether the coexistence between Anopheles gambiae and Culex quinquefasciatus affect the larvicidal activity of Bti. Methods: Two parallel larval bioassay experiments were conducted to test A. gambiae sensu stricto (s.s) and C. quinquefasciatus larvae susceptibility to Bti. They were followed by three parallel bioassays in which A. gambiae s.s and C. quinquefasciatus larvae were mixed in different proportions such that the earlier species contributed three quarters, half and a quarter of the larvae in each testing cup respectively. In each bioassay, six Bti concentrations were tested in four replicates and repeated on three different days. Larvae mortality was scored 24 hours after application of Bti and subjected to Probit analysis. Results: C. quinquefasciatus was significantly more susceptible to Bti than A. gambiae s.s at both lethal concentration values (LC50 and LC95). In coexisting scenario, LC50 of Bti was significantly lower when the proportion of C. quinquefasciatus exceeded 50%. No significant variation in susceptibility to Bti was observed at LC95 in any proportion of coexistence between the two species. Conclusion: The findings show that larvae of C. quinquefasciatus were significantly more susceptible to Bti than those of A. gambiae s.s. Moreover, when larvae of the two species coexisted, there was a general trend of increase in sensitivity to Bti with higher proportion of C. quinquefasciatus. Although this increase in sensitivity of coexisting larvae to Bti is worth noting, our findings suggest that it will not impact larval control where A. gambiae s.s and C. quinquefasciatus coexist.

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Clarence M. Mang’era ◽  
Fathiya M. Khamis ◽  
Erick O. Awuoche ◽  
Ahmed Hassanali ◽  
Fidelis Levi Odhiambo Ombura ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Insect growth regulators (IGRs) can control insect vector populations by disrupting growth and development in juvenile stages of the vectors. We previously identified and described the curry tree (Murraya koenigii (L.) Spreng) phytochemical leaf extract composition (neplanocin A, 3-(1-naphthyl)-l-alanine, lumiflavine, terezine C, agelaspongin and murrayazolinol), which disrupted growth and development in Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto mosquito larvae by inducing morphogenetic abnormalities, reducing locomotion and delaying pupation in the mosquito. Here, we attempted to establish the transcriptional process in the larvae that underpins these phenotypes in the mosquito. Methods We first exposed third-fourth instar larvae of the mosquito to the leaf extract and consequently the inherent phytochemicals (and corresponding non-exposed controls) in two independent biological replicates. We collected the larvae for our experiments sampled 24 h before peak pupation, which was 7 and 18 days post-exposure for controls and exposed larvae, respectively. The differences in duration to peak pupation were due to extract-induced growth delay in the larvae. The two study groups (exposed vs control) were consequently not age-matched. We then sequentially (i) isolated RNA (whole larvae) from each replicate treatment, (ii) sequenced the RNA on Illumina HiSeq platform, (iii) performed differential bioinformatics analyses between libraries (exposed vs control) and (iv) independently validated the transcriptome expression profiles through RT-qPCR. Results Our analyses revealed significant induction of transcripts predominantly associated with hard cuticular proteins, juvenile hormone esterases, immunity and detoxification in the larvae samples exposed to the extract relative to the non-exposed control samples. Our analysis also revealed alteration of pathways functionally associated with putrescine metabolism and structural constituents of the cuticle in the extract-exposed larvae relative to the non-exposed control, putatively linked to the exoskeleton and immune response in the larvae. The extract-exposed larvae also appeared to have suppressed pathways functionally associated with molting, cell division and growth in the larvae. However, given the age mismatch between the extract-exposed and non-exposed larvae, we can attribute the modulation of innate immune, detoxification, cuticular and associated transcripts and pathways we observed to effects of age differences among the larvae samples (exposed vs control) and to exposures of the larvae to the extract. Conclusions The exposure treatment appears to disrupt cuticular development, immune response and oxidative stress pathways in Anopheles gambiae s.s larvae. These pathways can potentially be targeted in development of more efficacious curry tree phytochemical-based IGRs against An. gambiae s.s mosquito larvae.


2010 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 1039-1046 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Gobatto ◽  
SG. Giani ◽  
M. Camassola ◽  
AJP. Dillon ◽  
A. Specht ◽  
...  

Samples of the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) were collected from soil and insects. Eight isolates were selected from rural soil, 15 from urban soil and 11 from insects. These were evaluated for entomopathogenicity against larvae of Anticarsia gemmatalis and Culex quinquefasciatus. The pathogenicity tests showed that a higher percentage of isolates were active against A. gemmatalis (60%) compared to C. quinquefasciatus (31%). Probit analysis (LC50) indicated that against A. gemmatalis four of the isolates presented values similar to the reference strain against A. gemmatalis, while against C. quinquefasciatus one isolate showed an LC50 similar to the reference strain (IPS-82). SDS-PAGE characterisation of two isolates showed a 27 kDa protein fraction related to the Bt subspecies israelensis cytolytic toxin (cyt) gene. One 130 kDa protein, possibly related to the Bt crystal inclusions (cry1) gene, was identified in the other two isolates, which were more toxic for lepidoptera; another isolate presented a protein of 100 kDa. Some new local Bt isolates had similar LC50 probit values to the reference strains.


Author(s):  
Mr. Tanko M. M. ◽  
Mr. Yakubu M. S. ◽  
Mohammed A.

Calotropis procera, is a medicinal plant that is widely reported to have antibacterial, antiparasitic, larvicidal and insecticidal properties. This study is aimed at evaluating the larvicidal potentials of C. procera on mosquito larvae of Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus. The plant leaves were collected locally and extracted using petroleum ether as solvent. Four varying concentrations were made using dilution method to test larvicidal activity on 4th instar larva of the aforementioned species of mosquito. It was observed that the plant extract was lethal against both species of mosquito. The results also showed that mortality of the mosquito larvae increased as the concentration of the extract increases. Furthermore, probit analysis of the results shows that the median lethal concentration LC50 of C. procera extract on Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus are 0.116mg/ml and 0.249 respectively. This means that Culex quinquefasciatus is more susceptible to the plant extracts. It is evident from this study that C. procera has larvicidal properties that can be considered in the production of an affordable plant based larvicide. Since C. procera is known to naturally grow in the wild; it will therefore require lesser resources to be cultivated domestically. We recommend that further studies should be conducted on the plant to explore its full potential.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nwamaka Oluchukwu Akpodiete ◽  
Frédéric Tripet

Abstract Background The sibling species of the malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae (sensu stricto) and Anopheles coluzzii co-exist in many parts of West Africa and are thought to have recently diverged through a process of ecological speciation with gene flow. Divergent larval ecological adaptations, resulting in Genotype-by-Environment (G × E) interactions, have been proposed as important drivers of speciation in these species. In West Africa, An. coluzzii tends to be associated with permanent man-made larval habitats such as irrigated rice fields, which are typically more eutrophic and mineral and ammonia-rich than the temporary rain pools exploited by An. gambiae (s.s.) Methods To highlight G × E interactions at the larval stage and their possible role in ecological speciation of these species, we first investigated the effect of exposure to ammonium hydroxide and water mineralisation on larval developmental success. Mosquito larvae were exposed to two water sources and increasing ammonia concentrations in small containers until adult emergence. In a second experiment, larval developmental success was compared across two contrasted microcosms to highlight G × E interactions under conditions such as those found in the natural environment. Results The first experiment revealed significant G × E interactions in developmental success and phenotypic quality for both species in response to increasing ammonia concentrations and water mineralisation. The An. coluzzii strain outperformed the An. gambiae (s.s.) strain under limited conditions that were closer to more eutrophic habitats. The second experiment revealed divergent crisscrossing reaction norms in the developmental success of the sibling species in the two contrasted larval environments. As expected, An. coluzzii had higher emergence rates in the rice paddy environment with emerging adults of superior phenotypic quality compared to An. gambiae (s.s.), and vice versa, in the rain puddle environment. Conclusions Evidence for such G × E interactions lends support to the hypothesis that divergent larval adaptations to the environmental conditions found in man-made habitats such as rice fields in An. coluzzii may have been an important driver of its ecological speciation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Mbuba ◽  
Olukayode G. Odufuwa ◽  
Frank C. Tenywa ◽  
Rose Philipo ◽  
Mgeni M. Tambwe ◽  
...  

Abstract Background N,N-Diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET) topical mosquito repellents are effective personal protection tools. However, DEET-based repellents tend to have low consumer acceptability because they are cosmetically unappealing. More attractive formulations are needed to encourage regular user compliance. This study evaluated the protective efficacy and protection duration of a new topical repellent ointment containing 15% DEET, MAÏA® compared to 20% DEET in ethanol using malaria and dengue mosquito vectors in Bagamoyo Tanzania. Methods Fully balanced 3 × 3 Latin square design studies were conducted in large semi-field chambers using laboratory strains of Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto, Anopheles arabiensis and Aedes aegypti. Human volunteers applied either MAÏA® ointment, 20% DEET or ethanol to their lower limbs 6 h before the start of tests. Approximately 100 mosquitoes per strain per replicate were released inside each chamber, with 25 mosquitoes released at regular intervals during the collection period to maintain adequate biting pressure throughout the test. Volunteers recaptured mosquitoes landing on their lower limbs for 6 h over a period of 6 to 12-h post-application of repellents. Data analysis was conducted using mixed-effects logistic regression. Results The protective efficacy of MAÏA® and 20% DEET was not statistically different for each of the mosquito strains: 95.9% vs. 97.4% against An. gambiae (OR = 1.53 [95% CI 0.93–2.51] p = 0.091); 96.8% vs 97.2% against An. arabiensis (OR = 1.08 [95% CI 0.66–1.77] p = 0.757); 93.1% vs 94.6% against Ae. aegypti (OR = 0.76 [95% CI 0.20–2.80] p = 0.675). Average complete protection time (CPT) in minutes of MAÏA® and that of DEET was similar for each of the mosquito strains: 571.6 min (95% CI 558.3–584.8) vs 575.0 min (95% CI 562.1–587.9) against An. gambiae; 585.6 min (95% CI 571.4–599.8) vs 580.9 min (95% CI 571.1–590.7) against An. arabiensis; 444.1 min (95% CI 401.8–486.5) vs 436.9 min (95% CI 405.2–468.5) against Ae. aegypti. Conclusions MAÏA® repellent ointment provides complete protection for 9 h against both An. gambiae and An. arabiensis, and 7 h against Ae. aegypti similar to 20% DEET (in ethanol). MAÏA® repellent ointment can be recommended as a tool for prevention against outdoor biting mosquitoes in tropical locations where the majority of the people spend an ample time outdoor before going to bed.


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