Evaluation of boric acid as toxic sugar bait against resistant Aedes aegypti mosquitoes

Abstract

Current methods of broad area application of contact insecticides used in mosquito control are becoming less effective, primarily due to resistance within mosquito populations. New methods that can deliver ingestible insecticides are being investigated as a means to mitigate resistance. This study evaluated insecticide delivery through toxic sugar baits (TSB) and resulting mortality of susceptible and resistant strains of Aedes aegypti. Two Ae. aegypti strains were evaluated using a 1% boric acid TSB: the susceptible Orlando 1952 (ORL) strain and the resistant Puerto Rican (PR) strain. The TSB resulted in high mortality for both ORL and PR strain of Ae. aegypti. Average mortality of female mosquitoes given TSB was 90.8% for PR and 99.3% for ORL. Our study suggests that targeting resistant mosquitoes with ingestible insecticides through TSBs could be a viable alternative to current mosquito control strategies and should be considered when developing an integrated vector management program.

Potential of ivermectin as an active ingredient of the attractive toxic sugar baits against the Indian malaria vectorsAnopheles culicifaciesandAnopheles stephensi

“…Recent studies have also shown that ATSB can be used for the insecticide resistance management in mosquito vectors. [35][36][37][38] In an experimental hut trial of ATSB with LLIN in Côte d 0 Ivoire, addition of ATSB to LLIN increased the mortality of insecticide resistant An. gambiae significantly.…”

“…37 Application of Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) to ATSB provide an alternative approach for mosquito control. 37 Bti toxins do not engender resistance in mosquitoes despite prolonged use in contrast to chemical insecticides. Therefore, this could be a very practical and economical way for vector control in rural parts of India where sleeping under the nets is a cornerstone strategy for protection against bites and also where insecticide resistance among vector population is widespread.…”

“…Therefore, supplementation of ivermectin‐based ATSB with the existing vector control tools may provide great help during the malaria elimination era. Recent studies have also shown that ATSB can be used for the insecticide resistance management in mosquito vectors 35–38 . In an experimental hut trial of ATSB with LLIN in Côte d′Ivoire, addition of ATSB to LLIN increased the mortality of insecticide resistant An.…”

“…For Ae. aegypti mosquitoes, resistant mosquitoes have the same susceptibility to boric acid toxic sugar baits as susceptible strains 37 . Application of Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) to ATSB provide an alternative approach for mosquito control 37 .…”

“…aegypti mosquitoes, resistant mosquitoes have the same susceptibility to boric acid toxic sugar baits as susceptible strains 37 . Application of Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) to ATSB provide an alternative approach for mosquito control 37 . Bti toxins do not engender resistance in mosquitoes despite prolonged use in contrast to chemical insecticides.…”