How dengue vector Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) survive during the dry season in Dhaka City, Bangladesh?

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: In 2000, a dengue outbreak occurred in Bangladesh that included Dhaka City. Both dengue vectors, Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus are present in Bangladesh. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes mainly breed in and around houses and Ae. albopictus is an outside breeder. There are many old trees throughout Dhaka City in different parks, streets and the university campus which may have holes that can contribute as potential breeding habitat for the dengue vector. Therefore, a survey was conducted to investigate the presence of eggs of the dengue vector mosquitoes in treeholes during the dry season in February 2001 to know their contribution on dengue outbreaks. METHODS: All treeholes in 10 different localities (parks, streets and university campus) of Dhaka City were surveyed. All trees were examined for treeholes up to the height of approximately 3 m and sampled. Debris were collected and packed in poly bags and brought to the laboratory for detailed studies. These were then soaked with tap water to observe egg hatching. The soaked materials were kept up to 20 days covered by a fine mosquito net. After 2-3 days, the eggs started hatching and larvae were separated from the sample for rearing up to IV instar. RESULTS: A total of 245 treeholes were surveyed in 49 identified tree species and 18 unidentified trees. Altogether, 1365 Aedes larvae were found, of which 1096 were Aedes albopictus and 269 were other Aedes species. The largest number of larvae was observed in Delonix regia of Leguminosae family. The number of Aedes albopictus found in the treeholes have perfect positive correlation with the number of other Aedes species. Not a single egg of Aedes aegypti was found in this survey. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: This information will inform public health workers as well as the national control programme to help to solve mosquito borne diseases specially that of dengue. This is critical in planning for vector control operations due to the diversity of dengue outbreak in the nature.

Insecticide-treated bed nets in rural Bangladesh: their potential role in the visceral leishmaniasis elimination programme.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of insecticide-treated bed nets with slow-release insecticides (KO Tab 123) as an option for kala-azar vector management in Bangladesh. METHODS: Intervention study involving an insecticide dipping programme through village health workers supervised by public health officers covering 6967 households in Mymensingh and 8287 in Rajshahi district. In a subsample of households, sandfly densities at baseline, 1, 12 and 18 months were measured with CDC light traps both in intervention and control areas. Bioassays were performed for determining the bioavailability of the insecticide and tests of chemical residues in the treated bed nets were undertaken. Satisfaction surveys and direct observation of use of treated bed net use were conducted. RESULTS: The dipping programme was feasible with the help of communities and public health staff, was well accepted, reached a coverage of 98.2% and 96.2% in the two study sites within 4 weeks and was effective in terms of a significant reduction in sandfly densities (approximately 60%) for a period of 18 months. Bioassay results were satisfactory (>80% sandfly mortality) and the average chemical content of the treated bed nets was sufficient for killing sand flies at the end of the observation period. CONCLUSION: Bed nets treated with slow-release insecticides can be an important complementary measure for sandfly control in the visceral leishmaniasis elimination programme.

Comparison of insecticide-treated nets and indoor residual spraying to control the vector of visceral leishmaniasis in Mymensingh District, Bangladesh.

Integrated vector management is a pillar of the South Asian visceral leishmaniasis (VL) elimination program, but the best approach remains a matter of debate. Sand fly seasonality was determined in 40 houses sampled monthly. The impact of interventions on Phlebotomus argentipes density was tested from 2006-2007 in a cluster-randomized trial with four arms: indoor residual spraying (IRS), insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), environmental management (EVM), and no intervention. Phlebotomus argentipes density peaked in March with the highest proportion of gravid females in May. The EVM (mud plastering of wall and floor cracks) showed no impact. The IRS and ITNs were associated with a 70-80% decrease in male and female P. argentipes density up to 5 months post intervention. Vector density rebounded by 11 months post-IRS, whereas ITN-treated households continued to show significantly lower density compared with households without intervention. Our data suggest that both IRS and ITNs may help to improve VL control in Bangladesh.