Development of an autodissemination station for control of mosquito vectors

描述（由申请人提供）：自动传播是一种用于昆虫控制的新技术，目标昆虫通过其先天行为将杀虫剂传播到其自身的栖息地：小的处理区域导致更广泛和目标特定的覆盖范围。这一概念显示了改善城市容器繁殖蚊子控制的巨大潜力，其中许多蚊子传播致命或使人衰弱的疾病，如登革热，基孔肯雅热和黄热病，并且还通过不断的叮咬行为阻碍户外活动。这些生活在室内的蚊子很难用通常用于病媒控制的空中喷雾和雾化方案来管理。随着容器繁殖的蚊子继续扩大其分布范围，登革热和其他蚊子传播的病原体在全球范围内上升。当务之急是探索新的工具，以抑制病媒种群，减少疾病在景观层面的传播。该项目评估了在一种新的设备中使用自动传播来控制白纹伊蚊和埃及伊蚊的可行性。原型自动传播装置，或“站”，将构思，设计和评估的控制Ae。aegypti和Ae.白纹伊蚊是一种容器繁殖的病媒物种，目前在所有非南极洲肆虐。当它们寻找产卵的小容器时，怀孕的雌性蚊子会访问这些站，并拾取含有昆虫生长调节剂（IGR）的粉末状材料。昆虫生长调节剂专门针对对昆虫发育至关重要的激素途径，并且对脊椎动物基本无毒。目标蚊子物种表现出所谓的“跳跃产卵”，这意味着它们将来自单个窝卵的存款卵存放在多个容器中。这种“跳跃”行为增加了雌性拜访的可能性。 随后，监测站将访问其他繁殖地点，如树洞或水桶，并在这些地区的水中注入微量但致命剂量的IGR。在那些处理过的地点，所有未成熟的蚊子都不会变成能够传播疾病的有活力的成年蚊子。为了最大限度地提高田间效果并最大限度地减少使用中所涉及的劳动力和成本，理想的最终设计的特征将包括：部署后零维护;低成本;完全生物降解性;对目标蚊子的高吸引力;通过干燥期延长保水性和吸引力;对来访蚊子的高有毒物质负载;以及低环境风险。原型站和IGR制剂将针对活蚊子进行测试，以优化引诱力，保水性，田间 持久性、延长的功效以及向蚊子和从蚊子转移。将在小笼（1 m3）生物测定中评价高潜力候选设计，以验证通过蚊子在工作站和其他繁殖容器之间的转移。将在复制室（35 m3）生物测定中检测来自最终原型的自传播。最终的原型将适用于大型- 在与罗格斯病媒生物学中心的合作项目中， 公共卫生相关性：这项拟议的研究将评估一种简单、低成本的设备，该设备具有控制全球容器繁殖蚊子种群的高潜力，从而减轻全球疾病威胁和户外滋扰。该装置将提供一种新的和高效的手段来靶向登革热、基孔肯雅病毒和西尼罗河病毒的主要媒介，并适合在地球仪周围以最小的风险对人类、非靶动物或周围环境进行成本效益的使用。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Autodissemination is a novel technique for insect control whereby target insects spread insecticide to their own habitats through their innate behaviors: a small treatment area results in far wider and target-specific coverage. This concept shows high potential for improved control of urban container-breeding mosquitoes, many of which vector deadly or debilitating diseases, such as dengue, Chikungunya and yellow fever, and also hamper outdoor activity through incessant biting behaviors. These peridomestic mosquitoes are problematic to manage with the aerial spray and fogging regimes typically used by vector control. As container-breeding mosquitoes continue to expand their distribution, dengue and other mosquito-borne pathogens have risen globally. It is imperative that new tools be explored to suppress vector populations and mitigate disease transmission at a landscape level. This project evaluates the feasibility of using autodissemination in a novel device for operational mosquito control against both Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti. Prototype autodissemination devices, or "stations," will be conceived, designed and evaluated for control of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus, container-breeding vector species now infesting all non-Antarctic continents. As they seek small containers in which to lay their eggs, gravid female mosquitoes will visit the stations and pick up a powdered material containing an insect growth regulator (IGR). Insect growth regulators specifically target the hormonal pathways critical to insect development and are essentially non-toxic to vertebrates. The target mosquito species exhibit what is known as "skip oviposition," meaning that they deposit eggs from a single clutch in multiple containers. That "skipping" behavior increases the likelihood that females visiting the station will subsequently visit other breeding sites, such as tree holes or buckets, and inoculate the water in those areas with tiny, but lethal doses of the IGR. All immature mosquitoes in those treated sites will not become viable adults capable of vectoring disease. To maximize field efficacy and minimize the labor and costs involved in use, features of the ideal final design will include: zero maintenance once deployed; low cost; full biodegradability; high attraction to the target mosquitoes; extended water retention and attraction through dry periods; high toxicant loading on visiting mosquitoes; and low environmental risk. Prototype stations and IGR formulations will be tested against live mosquitoes to optimize attractancy, water retention, field durability, extended efficacy, and transfer to and from mosquitoes. High potential candidate designs will be evaluated in small cage (1m3) bioassays to validate transfer between the station and other breeding containers via the mosquitoes. Autodissemination from the final prototype will be tested in replicated room (35m3) bioassays. The final prototype will be suitable for large- scale field testing in Phase II in a cooperative project with the Rutgers Center for Vector Biology PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The proposed research will evaluate a simple, low-cost device with high potential to control populations of container-breeding mosquitoes worldwide, thereby lessening a global disease threat and outdoor nuisance. This device will provide a novel and highly-effective means to target the primary vectors of dengue fever, Chikungunya and West Nile virus and be suitable for cost-effective use around the globe with minimal risk to human beings, non-target animals or the surrounding environment.