In vitro antifilarial effects of three plant species against adult worms of subperiodic Brugia malayi

Five aqueous extracts from three plant species, i.e., dried husks (HX), dried seeds (SX) and dried leaves (LX) of Xylocarpus granatum (Meliaceae), dried stems (ST) of Tinospora crispa (Menispermaceae) and dried leaves (LA) of Andrographis paniculata (Acanthaceae) were tested in vitro against adult worms of subperiodic Brugia malayi. The relative movability (RM) value of the adult worms over the 24-h observation period was used as a measure of the antifilarial activity of the aqueous extracts. SX extract of X. granatum demonstrated the strongest activity, followed by the LA extract of A. paniculata, ST extract of T. crispa, HX extract and LX extract of X. granatum.

Studies on adult mosquito vectors of Japanese encephalitis in a pig farm in Selangor, Malaysia

Mosquito collections were carried out for a period of one year from January to December 1992 in a pig farm in Sungai Pelek, Selangor, Malaysia. A total of 41,022 mosquitos belonging to 52 species and 20 genera were collected. Culex tritaeniorhynchus and Cx. gelidus, the important vectors, comprised 63% of all mosquitos collected. Both these species were collected in large numbers during the wet months of May and December. The other predominant species in that area were Cx. fuscocephala, Cx. quinquefasciatus, Cx. sitiens, Aedes butleri, and Armigeres subalbatus.