RNAi-mediated mortality of Culex quinquefasciatus using two delivery methods of potential field application.

With increasing reports of resistance to traditional insecticides, there is a need for innovative ways for mosquito control. RNAi is a sequence-specific molecular biology technique for gene silencing through degradation of mRNA and prevention of protein translation. Some genes are essential for insect life and their silencing can lead to insect morbidity and/or mortality.

RNAi-Mediated Screening of Selected Target Genes Against Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae).

Culex quinquefasciatus, a member of the Culex pipiens complex, is widespread in Saudi Arabia and other parts of the world. It is a vector for lymphatic filariasis, Rift Valley fever, and West Nile virus. Studies have shown the deleterious effect of RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated knockdown of various lethal genes in model and agricultural pest insects.

Delivery Methods for RNAi in Mosquito Larvae.

Mosquito-transmitted diseases pose a threat for a great portion of the world population. Chemical insecticides are the main tool for mosquito control. Heavy dependence on chemicals created several problems such as resistance development in many mosquito species, environmental effects, and human health issues.

Assessment and an updated list of the mosquitoes of Saudi Arabia.

Background: Mosquito-borne pathogens are important causes of diseases in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Knowledge of the mosquito fauna is needed for the appropriate control of the vectors that transmit the pathogens and prevent the diseases they cause. An important first step is to have an up-to-date list of the species known to be present in the country.

Myiasis in sheep farms in Riyadh Region, Saudi Arabia.

During a survey for myiasis in Riyadh Region, 3712 sheep were examined. 73 animals (2%) were infested with different dipterous larvae. Out of the 115 larvae recovered, 100 larvae (87%) were Chrysomya bezziana, 10 (8.

Acaricidal effects of cardiac glycosides, azadirachtin and neem oil against the camel tick, Hyalomma dromedarii (Acari: Ixodidae).

The cardiac glycoside, digitoxin, from Digitalis purpurea L (Scrophulariaceae), a cardiac glycosidal (cardenolide) extract from Calotropis procera (Ait) R Br (Asclepiadaceae), azadirachtin and neem oil from Azadirachta indica A Juss (Meliaceae) were tested for their effects against larvae and adult stages of the camel tick, Hyalomma dromedarii Koch (Acari: Ixodidae). The contact LC50 values of the first three materials against adults were 4.08, 9.