Back to Search Start Over

Effect of the Topical Repellent para-Menthane-3,8-diol on Blood Feeding Behavior and Fecundity of the Dengue Virus Vector Aedes aegypti.

Effect of the Topical Repellent para-Menthane-3,8-diol on Blood Feeding Behavior and Fecundity of the Dengue Virus Vector Aedes aegypti.

Authors :
Lee, Jugyeong
Choi, Diane B.
Liu, Fang
Grieco, John P.
Achee, Nicole L.
Source :
Insects (2075-4450). Jun2018, Vol. 9 Issue 2, p60. 1p.
Publication Year :
2018

Abstract

Dengue fever is an acute disease caused by the dengue virus and transmitted primarily by the mosquito <italic>Aedes aegypti</italic>. The current strategy for dengue prevention is vector control including the use of topical repellents to reduce mosquito biting. Although <italic>N</italic>,<italic>N</italic>-diethyl-m-methylbenzamide (DEET) is the most common active ingredient in topical repellent products, para-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD) is also used commercially. Studies have indicated PMD reduced biting by 90–95% for up to 6–8 h, similar to the efficacy of DEET, depending on the testing environment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the behavioral effects of PMD on <italic>Ae. aegypti</italic> blood feeding and fecundity to explore the potential impact of PMD on downstream mosquito life-history traits. Two experiments were performed. In both experiments, cohorts of female <italic>Ae. aegypti</italic> (Belize strain) were exposed to 20% PMD or ethanol for 10 min in a closed system and introduced to an artificial membrane feeding system. Following a 30min feed time, mosquitoes of Experiment 1 were killed and weighed as a proxy measure of blood meal, whereas mosquitoes of Experiment 2 were monitored for oviposition, a measure of fecundity. Results showed a statistically significant reduction (<italic>p</italic> < 0.001) in the percentage of <italic>Ae. aegypti</italic> that blood-fed when exposed to PMD (38%) compared to those non-exposed (49%). No significant difference in fecundity between test populations was indicated. These findings suggest that exposure of <italic>Ae. aegypti</italic> to 20% PMD may influence the probability of subsequent blood feeding but of those mosquitoes that do blood feed, egg-lay density is not affected. Further studies are warranted to investigate the full range of effects of PMD exposure on other <italic>Ae. aegypti</italic> life-history traits such as mating, to continue characterizing the potential effects of PMD to impact overall vector population dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20754450
Volume :
9
Issue :
2
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Insects (2075-4450)
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
130476361
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/insects9020060