THE USE OF NESTED-PCR TO DETECT THE PRESENCE OF PLASMODIUM IN ANOPHELES ARABIENSIS IN JAZAN REGION, SAUDI ARABIA.

The present study was carried out in 26 viJlages at two Governates (Al-Khobah, and Haroob) in Jazan Region in Southwest Saudi Arabia to identify and detect the presence of Plasmodium in Anopheles arabiensis using nested-PCR technique. An. Arabiensis was identified by PCR and it was the predominant Anopheles mosquito in all the collection sites. A total of 257 An. Arabiensis females were collected and two samples from two villages (Almuatan and Alsabkha) out of 107 (1.87%) female mosquitoes from Haroob Governorate were found positive for the sporozoites of Plasmodium falciparum. Similarly, 3 out of 150 (2%) female mosquito samples from Um-alkhameir, AL-Khobah Governorate, were also found positive. Around fourfold increase of the sporozoite rate (from 0.61 to 2.0%) in An. arabiensis in Al-Khobah Governorate has been observed compared to the previous study of 2007-2008. The wide spread of An. arabiensis in Jazan region with >90% of the malaria cases caused by P. falciparum, along with infectivity rate ranges between 1.87 to 2.0% for P. falciparum in Al-Khobah and Haroob Governorates, suggests that P. falciparumn is the most predominant malaria parasite and An. Arabiensis is a very efficient malaria vector in the region. It also suggests more in-depth researches on the ecology, behavior, and control of An. Arabiensis to promote area-specific control programs.

STUDIES ON AEDES AEGYPTI RESISTANCE TO SOME INSECTICIDES IN THE JAZAN DISTRICT, SAUDI ARABIA.

The present study provided information on the susceptibility status of the adult and larvae of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in Jazan region of Saudi Arabia. Bioassay tests were performed on adults and larvae by using WHO recommended concentrations and test kits. Adults of Ae. aegypti mosquitoes were exposed to test papers impregnated with Lambda-cyhalothrin (0.05%), Cyfluthrin (0.15%), Deltamethrin (0.05%), Permethrin (0.75%), Fenitrothion (1%), Bendiocarb (0.1%) and DDT (4%) insecticides. Ae. aegypti mosquitoes were found to be susceptible only to Cyfluthrin; (mortality rate was 100%), whereas variable resistances were observed from the rest of the other insecticides tested (mortality rates ranged between 93.6 and 17%). Larvae were subjected to different concentrations of Diflubenzuron, Methoprene (IGRs) and Temephos (Organophosphate). Adult emergence inhibition (IE50 & IE95) values for the IGRs and the (LC50 & LC95) for Temephos were determined by log-probit regression analysis. Ae. aegypti larvae were resistant to Temephos (LC50 61.8-LC95 35600.1 mg/l) and showed high susceptibility to Methoprene than Diflubenzuron (IE50 0.49-IE95 10.9 mg/l) and (IE50 0.86 and IE95 93.8 mg/l), respectively. Larvae were more susceptible to Methoprene than Diflubenzuron by 1.8 folds.

A TRAINING PROGRAM ON DENGUE FEVER AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS, JAZAN, SAUDI ARABIA.

Dengue fever (DE) is commonest rapidly spreading Aedes-bome viral fever worldwide. In the last decade several confirmed dengue cases were reported in Jazan Province. The study assessed the knowledge, attitudes and preventive practices of dengue fever among the secondary schools students in Ja.zan. A cross-sectional study was conducted among students of six secondary schools in Jazan. Multistage stratified random sample method was used and seven hundred forty two (742) were taken as respondents in study. The data on the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents about their knowledge, attitude and practice towards DF were collected by using a pre-structured and self-administered questionnaire. The results showed a poor DF knowledge arpong the students, regarding attitudes towards DF, prevention and control, the majority of the participants' had good attitudes and believed that DF could be controlled and prevented (93.2%), DF control was the responsibility of government and community (83.1%) and they themselves have an important role to play in DF prevention (78.5%).The most common practice to prevent mosquito breeding were found to be the disposing of water from breeding containers (85.5%) and covering of water containers (68.6%). A significant association between the practice of DE preventive and control measures and sex of the participants' was (P

ZIKA VIRUS STRATEGIC RESPONSE FRAMEWORK FOR THE GULF STATES-2016: AN URGENT NEED FOR COLLABORATION.

The Zika virus (ZIKV) became the latest threat to global health security when WHO declared on 1t February 2016, that recently reported clusters of microcephaly and other neurological disorders in Brazil constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). These clusters were reported concurrently with an outbreak of ZIKV, which has been ongoing in Brazil and other countries in the America region since 2015. A growing body of clinical and epidemiological data possibly leans towards a causal role for ZIKV as the occurrence of the clusters of microcephaly and other neurological disorders principally the Guillain-Barre' syndrome are associated in time and place with the ongoing ZIKV transmission in the America region. So far, Zika viral transmission has been documented in a total of 69 countries and territories with autochthonous transmission from 20I7 to 10 August 2016. The geographical range of ZIKV has been increasing steadily. Consid'ring the presence of competent vectors that transmit ZIKV in, some parts of the Gulf countries, and the close relationship with Brazil, a local transmission of the virus is plausible once the virus is introduced through travel. This review suggests the integration of epidemiologicalind entomological surveillance for monitoring and control of the vectors of ZIKV. The risks associated with ZIKV infection and the possible threat to the Gulf States was described. A strategic Zika response framework (SRF) for the Gulf States has been developed to meet'their,urgent need for a collaborative and coordinated response for prevention and spread of ZIKV infection. A coordinated response of all partners in the Gulf States across sectors and services at national, as well as, regional levels is required.