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Malaria in Côte d'Ivoire wet savannah region: the entomological input.

A two years study has been carried out in Alloukoukro, a traditional wet savannah village in the central region of Côte d'Ivoire. The productive breeding sites of malaria vectors are natural puddles and some man-made shelters around the village. 576 man-nights of capture have identified Anopheles gambiae s.l. and An. funestus as vectors of malaria in the study area. The low densities of An. phaorensis and An coustani implies that their possible role in transmission is very negligible. An. gambiae s.l. was the predominant species throughout the year with a mean of 19.2 b/m/n in 1991 and 13.6 b/m/n in 1992. The densities of An. funestus increased gradually during the rainy season and reached its peak values towards the end of the season. An. gambiae s.l. assures transmission throughout the year. An. funestus maintains a seasonal transmission which is spread over seven months. In 1991, each person would have received an average of 264.5 infected bites altogether with 204.5 infected bites from An. gambiae s.l. and 62 infected bites from An. funestus. In 1992, there would have been 196.5 infected bites per man with 160 and 36.5 infected bites respectively from An. gambiae s.l. and An. funestus. This study has shown that in wet savannah areas, the rainy season spreading almost all over the year, allows the breeding sites to retain water much longer and thus, to keep alive a more important residual vector populations capable to ensure malaria transmission even during the dry season. The great majority of infected glands (96.7%) were observed between 11 p.m. and 04 a.m. So, the large scale use of treated bednets has been therefore strongly recommended as key measure against malaria transmission in this area.

Animals↗

Evaluation of a eucalyptus-based repellent against Anopheles spp. in Tanzania.

A eucalyptus-based insect repellent (PMD) with the principal active ingredient p-menthane-3,8-diol was evaluated in the field in comparison with deet. In human landing catches in Tanzania, 3 formulations of PMD were tested against Anopheles gambiae and An. funestus. Repellents, applied to the legs and feet at doses chosen as used in practice, gave complete protection from biting for between 6 and 7.75 h, depending upon the formulation type, with no significant difference between PMD and deet in terms of efficacy and duration of protection.

Animals↗

Evaluation of the efficacy of 3% citronella candles and 5% citronella incense for protection against field populations of Aedes mosquitoes.

We assessed the efficacy of 3% citronella candles and 5% citronella incense in protecting subjects from bites of Aedes spp. under field conditions. The study was conducted in a deciduous woodlot in Guelph, Ontario, Canada from July 26 to August 10, 1995. Eight subjects, dressed identically, were assigned to one of 8 positions on a grid within the study area. Two citronella candles, 2 citronella incense, 2 plain unscented candles, or no candles (i.e., nontreated controls) were assigned to 2 positions on the grid each evening. Subjects conducted 5-min biting counts at each position and performed 16 biting counts per evening. On average, subjects received 6.2 +/- 0.4, 8.2 +/- 0.5, 8.2 +/- 0.4, and 10.8 +/- 0.5 bites/ 5 min at positions with citronella candles, citronella incense, plain candles, and no candles, respectively. Although significantly fewer bites were received by subjects at positions with citronella candles and incense than at nontreated locations, the overall reduction in bites provided by the citronella candles and incense was only 42.3 and 24.2%, respectively.

Aedes↗

Repellency of Lantana camara (Verbenaceae) flowers against Aedes mosquitoes.

The repellent effect of Lantana camara flowers was evaluated against Aedes mosquitoes. Lantana flower extract in coconut oil provided 94.5% protection from Aedes albopictus and Ae. aegypti. The mean protection time was 1.9 h. One application of Lantana flower can provide more than 50% protection up to 4 h against the possible bites of Aedes mosquitoes. No adverse effects of the human volunteers were observed through 3 months after the application.

Aedes↗

[A tropical ulcer; cutaneous diphtheria].

A 43-year-old woman, born in the Netherlands, developed ulcers on her left foot during a holiday in Gambia and Senegal. She had been bitten bij insects. The ulcers were caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae. The patient was treated with antibiotics and recovered fully. A grey pseudomembrane covering the ulcer is a characteristic feature of cutaneous diphtheria. The treatment is with antibiotics and, after toxin tests have indicated that the bacterium is toxigenic, with antitoxin. In some cases screening of social contacts is advised.

Adult↗

[The concept of medical entomology: the determination of the effect of arthropods on human health].

A new concept of medical entomology is proposed, according to which this discipline should comprehensively study the effects of arthropods on human health and possible control of these effects. Thus, the tasks of medical entomology are markedly widened to embrace cognitively and practically important problems, which have been neglected. This approach does not negate the accepted understanding of medical entomology but includes it as an essential component.

Animals↗

[The impact of curtains impregnated with deltamethrin on the vectors and morbidity of malaria: results in Ankazobe, on the plateaus of Madagascar].

To evaluate the efficacy of deltamethrin impregnated curtains on malaria morbidity in a low transmission area, we studied volunteer families in the village of Ankazobe in the Madagascar Highlands from February 1993 to June 1994. After randomization, we provided 46 houses having 244 inhabitants with impregnated curtains (I) and 45 others having 257 inhabitants with nonimpregnated curtains (NI) as controls. We first estimated the number of mosquito bites in the protected versus nonprotected households. Every month, we captured mosquitos on humans in 6 houses per night for 4 nights. For the I group compared to the NI group, the number of bites by the Anopheles funestus vector per human per night was reduced by 64% in 1993 and 39% in 1994. We also analyzed the malaria morbidity. Malaria morbidity was defined as patients having both temperatures greater than 37.5 degrees C and Plasmodium falciparum parasitemia greater than 1500/microliter with clinical symptoms. From February to July 1993, we observed no significant difference in morbidity: there were 103 cases of malaria among 244 inhabitants of the I group and 117 cases among 257 inhabitants of the NI group. However, during the period of highest transmission from March to May in 1993, there were significantly fewer cases in the I group (68) than in the NI group (94). From January to June 1994, the difference was clear: only 35 malaria cases were observed among the 208 inhabitants of the I group as compared to 65 cases among the 223 inhabitants of the NI group (Chi square = 9.17, p = 0.0024). Inhabitants of the I group could have been contaminated before the curtains were set up. After treatment of the cases and use of curtains during the second year, we observed a reduction in the number of mosquito bites and malaria cases. The small size of the trial made the interpretation of the data difficult. Nonetheless, the results tentatively support the use of impregnated curtains as an antimalaria tool in an integrated control program.

Animals↗

Dynamics of malaria transmission near two permanent breeding sites in Baringo district, Kenya.

Entomological and malario-metric measurements were made near two permanent breeding sites in Baringo district, Kenya in order to determine the prevalence and seasonality of malaria and the relative importance of two local anopheline mosquitoes as malaria vectors. The breeding sites studied were the Perkerra irrigation scheme and the Loboi swamp, whereas the mosquito species involved were Anopheles gambiae Giles (sensu lato) and Anopheles funestus Giles. Malaria accounted for 54 per cent of annual clinic attendance in the district and transmission occurred throughout the year. Overall values of vector density, man biting rate and crude inoculation rates did not differ significantly between the two areas. However, there was a strong seasonal trend in the values of these parameters which varied between the two sites, resulting in peak transmission occurring at different times of the year, April-July in Lobio and August-October in Perkerra. Crude inoculation rates were about 5 times higher in An. gambiae than in An. funestus, indicating that the former was the more efficient and more important vector in the district.

Adolescent↗

[A study on transmission of bancroftian filariasis in Tancheng county, South Shandong province].

A longitudinal study was conducted to explore transmission dynamics and epidemic trend of bancroftian filariasis in Huayuan Village, Shengli Township, Tancheng County, Shandong Province, a previous highly endemic area of it, from 1984, the fifth year after its preliminary eradication, to 1993, without any control measures being taken. Results showed proportions of residents with microfilaremia decreased to 0.12% in 1993 from 0.56% before the study. Eight of the nine microfilaria carriers before the study became negative spontaneously. Six new microfilaria carriers were detected during the study period, but five of them converted negative in three or four years. Negative conversion rate of blood IgG4 in microfilaremia cases was 88.89% by the end of the study. Natural infection rate in mosquitoes dropped year by year, with 0.21%, 0.19% and 0.06% for 1984, 1985 and 1986, respectively, and no filarial larvae was found in them in 1993 and natural transmission potential dropped from 3.47 to zero. It suggested the threshold for transmission of filariasis was not reached and the transmission was close to the end, with the rates of mosquito biting of 24.1-52.5 and 13.5-21.0 times per person, per night, for those using or non-using mosquito net, respectively.

Animals↗

Filariasis transmission potential of mosquitoes to humans of different age groups.

Age-specific levels of Wuchereria bancrofti infection determined by microfilaremia in filarious 10 to 60 years old males from endemic village revealed that microfilaria intensity was higher in younger age, presumably because of increased vector biting rate of younger individuals. Out of 1334 Cx. pipiens captured while attempting to bite 51 child-adult bait pairs, 54.0% selected a host in the 10-15 age group. Biting preference towards children was more evaluated (79.2%) later than earlier in the night. Frequency distribution of age-specific biting collections indicated that 62.7% recorded exceeding numbers of bites on children, 21.6% adult biting, and 15.7% equal biting of one of the baits in the pair. Furthermore, 21.6% of the children were exposed to nightly bites ranging from 21 to 64 and only 7.8% of the adults experienced from 21 to 85 bites. Mosquito biting intensity averaged 14.2 and 11.6 bites/night for children and adults respectively. Children experienced 22.4% more bites per night than adults. Thus, children are more exposed to filaria infection and seem to represent an important source of infection. It is concluded that attempts at widespread control of filariasis in the densely populated Nile Delta, where youngsters may account for an immense proportion of the local population, should concentrate on immatures.

Adolescent↗

Biting behaviour and biting rhythm of potential Japanese encephalitis vectors in Assam.

Studies on biting behaviour and biting cycles of medically important mosquitoes were carried out in Madhupur village and Tarajan tea estate of upper Assam. Collections were made off human baits outdoors and indoors and off cattle bait outdoors from August 1991 to July 1992. Human bait collections were performed using the 'stationary direct bait' technique. A total of 9,072 adult host seeking female mosquitoes representing 26 species and 5 genera were collected off baits of which 36.9% were collected off human baits and the rest from cattle. All mosquitoes were primarily zoophilic, although significant numbers were collected biting man outdoors. Biting preferences of important Japanese encephalitis (JE) vectors for man and cattle were studied using outdoor man:outdoor cattle ratio (attraction ratio = AR). Culex quinquefasciatus was attracted towards human baits the most (AR = 8.1:1), followed by Cx. bitaeniorhynchus (AR = 1.6:1) and Mansonia annulifera (AR = 1.3.1). The hourly biting activity of important JE vectors throughout the night on two bait types was also studied using three point moving averages. Hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis was used to compare and classify mosquitoes on the basis of their similarity in biting rhythms.

Animals↗

[Anopheles species and the transmission of malaria in the forest/savannah transition zone in central Cameroon].

A longitudinal study on malaria vectors and transmission was carried out in a forest-savannah transitional area in Cameroon. Indoor all night mosquito collections on human bait were performed during one year in two villages: Nditam and Ngoume. Nditam was located in a secondary forest block surrounded by savannah, while Ngoume was situated in an ancient forest block. The results showed that at Nditam, only one anopheline species was collected, that was Anopheles gambiae s.l.. The average daily biting rate was 2.4 bites per man per night. The sporozoitic index of An. gambiae was 9.4%. The entomological inoculation rate was therefore estimated at 0.225 infective bite per man per night that is to say 82 infective bites per man per year. Malaria transmission was low during the year, but an important increase was observed in September, when the rainfall was at its peak. At Ngoume, no Anopheles mosquito was collected. Therefore, malaria transmission was not observed in that village.

Animals↗

[Transmission of urban malaria in Buenaventrua, Colombia: entomological features].

During the past several years, there has been an increase in the cases of urban malaria in Buenaventura, Colombia, from 576 in 1987 to 3296 in 1991 and 2017 in 1992; therefore, an epidemiological study to identify transmission patterns was carried out in this municipality on Colombia's Pacific coast. This paper describes the entomological findings regarding vectors, potential breeding sites and behavior of Anopheles species during the period from June 1993 to May 1994. Of the 469 potential breeding sites identified in the urban area, 28 were positive for anophelines, while in the neighboring rural zone, 20 out of 80 potential breeding sites were positive for the immature forms of Anopheles. Mining excavations, lakes and breeding ponds for fish or shrimp were the places where A. albimanus was more frequently found. For A. nuñeztovari, the breeding sites were rain puddles and ponds for breeding fish or shrimp. A. neivai was also identified in the urban area and larvae were collected from bromeliaceous plants. Both inside and outside the households mosquito collections were carried out, and 90% of the collected mosquitoes were identified as A. albimanus. Of the female A. albimanus 54.8% were parous. This species was found to have peak peridomiciliary activity between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. The highest biting rate in the peridomiciliary area was 7.1 and was observed during March. It is expected that this entomological information will permit the launching of a strong community participation process and the implementation of control measures in accordance with the entomological findings related to malaria in the urban area of Buenaventura.

Animals↗

Studies on the transmission potential of surviving microfilaremias after basic control of filariasis.

After filariasis was basically controlled (the microfilarial rate was lower than 1%) in Henan Province in 1987, longitudinal observation of the disease has been carried out in all the province in order to study the regular pattern of growth and decline or the transmission potential of the disease. According to the distribution of filaria species and original microfilarial rate, 7 administrative villages in 7 counties were selected as surveillance sites. From 1988 to 1995, etiological and mosquito vector surveys were made continuously in all sites where no control measure was conducted. 10 surviving microfilaremic individuals became negative gradually over the first 6 years and no new microfilaremia was found. Since then, the microfilarial rate was zero. During the 8 years, 19 vector mosquitos were positive, with a total of 33 filarial larva. Culex pipiens pallens was the predominant mosquito species inside human dwelling in all sites. The man-biting rate of mosquitos for outdoor sleepers fluctuated greatly, the highest was 360.60 mosquitos per man per night and the lowest 7.20. The man-biting rate of mosquitos for sleepers inside mosquito-nets was approximately 1. The proportion of multiparous mosquitos also fluctuated greatly, the highest was 88.10% and the lowest 27.27%. According to the data described above, the man-biting rate of mosquitos which contained filaria L3 was less than 1 mosquito per man per transmission season. It is suggested that after the microfilarial rate was lower than 1%, the surviving microfilaremias became negative gradually in 3-5 years, and the transmission of the disease was blocked. Therefore, in the districts where filariasis was basically controlled, elimination of the disease was attainable.

Animals↗

Mycosis fungoides in a horse.

A 17-year-old Quarter Horse mare was examined to determine the cause of a vulvar mass. Differential diagnoses for the swollen, ulcerated tissue included hypersensitivity reaction to insect stings or bites and cutaneous neoplasia. During the next 4 months, the mass enlarged involving the skin of the perineum and ventral aspect of the abdomen with secondary dependent edema of both hind limbs. Histologic examination of biopsy and necropsy specimens revealed changes consistent with a diagnosis of mycosis fungoides (cutaneous T-cell lymphoma). Diagnostic features included invasion of neoplastic lymphocytes into the epidermis and detection of T-cell lineage of neoplastic cells. Location of lesions at a mucocutaneous junction, association with epidermal ulcers, and progressive skin involvement mimic the condition in human beings and other species. Prognosis is poor when the condition is at the tumor stage (invasion of deep tissues).

Abdomen↗