Development of an autodissemination station for control of mosquito vectors

描述（由申请人提供）：自动喷洒是一种新的昆虫控制技术，目标昆虫通过其固有的行为将杀虫剂传播到自己的栖息地：小的处理区域导致更广泛的目标特异性覆盖。这一概念显示了改善控制城市容器繁殖蚊子的巨大潜力，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，并通过不断的叮咬行为妨碍户外活动。这些室内蚊子很难通过通常用于病媒控制的空中喷雾和雾化方式进行管理。随着容器繁殖的蚊子继续扩大分布，登革热和其他蚊媒病原体在全球范围内有所上升。必须探索新的工具，在景观一级抑制病媒种群和减轻疾病传播。本项目评估了在一种新型装置中使用自动传播方法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，设计和评估控制Ae。埃及伊蚊和伊蚊。白纹伊蚊是一种容器繁殖媒介物种，目前在所有非南极大陆肆虐。当它们寻找产卵的小容器时，怀孕的雌蚊子将访问这些站点并拾取含有昆虫生长调节剂（IGR）的粉状材料。昆虫生长调节剂专门针对对昆虫发育至关重要的激素通路，对脊椎动物基本上无毒。目标蚊子表现出所谓的“跳过产卵”，这意味着它们将一窝卵产在多个容器中。这种“跳过”的行为增加了雌鸟造访的可能性

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.