Time series analysis of survival and oviposition cycle duration of Anopheles funestus (Giles) in Mozambique

Adaptation and Carry Over Effects of Extreme Sporadic Heat Stress in Culex Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes, as temperature-sensitive ectothermic vectors, exhibit temperature-dependence. This study investigates Culex pipiens pallens (Cx. pallens) responses to abrupt temperature increases and their implications on mosquito physiology. First instar larvae (24hr post hatching) and newly enclosed adults (24hr post emergence) were separately exposed to heat shock regimes of 33°C, 37°C, and 42°C for 3 days alongside a control temperature of 27°C. Results showed that mortality was triggered at 42°C within a day. Adult male mosquitoes were less tolerant to all temperatures than larvae and adult females (p < 0.05). Exposing larvae to constant temperatures for 3 days significantly decreased larvae's development time, growth rate and adult emergence (p < 0.05). Reproductive fitness was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in males emerging from larvae exposed to 37°C. Life table parameters showed significant increased mortality rate, kill power and decreased life expectancy at the embryonic stage (p < 0.05). Furthermore, heatwaves deactivated the Transient receptor protein ankyrin 1 at 37°C (p < 0.05) in larvae but not adults. Calmodium, Heat shock protein 90, and small heat shock protein expression were significantly decreased in larvae at 37°C (p < 0.05) as compared to larvae raised at 33°C and 27°C. In conclusion, we classified the heat waves into three categories: adaptable (33°C), critical (37°C), and fatal (42°C). Prolonged exposure of Culex pallens larvae to extreme heat affects the male reproductive output. These findings may serve as an important reference for forecasting vector and pest dynamics and used to tailor mosquito prevention and control measures.

Simple techniques for a complex problem: Sampling malaria vectors in Africa

Disease surveillance, including entomological surveillance, serves as the basis for all vector control program activities. How to do this in the most ecologically sensible way, so that the most suitable, naturalistic method, of control for that population can be identified, should be a priority. Here we describe a set of techniques, whose only energy requirement is a torch (flashlight), that can be used to collect both endo and exophagic and endo and exophilic malaria vectors. The data obtained over a number of years from an individual sentinel house in a village in Mozambique and from a village in Cambodia using these kinds of collection techniques, is presented.