Molecular Phylogenetics and Population Genetics of the Dengue Vector Aedes aegypti From the Arabian Peninsula.

Aedes aegypti mosquito is the principal dengue vector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA); however, no study has addressed its ecology and population structure yet. Therefore, we report on Ae. aegypti phylo- and population genetics using three DNA markers: COI, ND4, and rDNA-ITS2.

Global genetic diversity of Aedes aegypti.

Mosquitoes, especially Aedes aegypti, are becoming important models for studying invasion biology. We characterized genetic variation at 12 microsatellite loci in 79 populations of Ae. aegypti from 30 countries in six continents, and used them to infer historical and modern patterns of invasion.

Life table characteristics of Aedes aegypti (Diptera:Culicidae) from Saudi Arabia.

Aedes aegypti (= Stegomyia aegypti) mosquito is a world vector of important arboviral diseases like dengue and Rift Valley fever. Despite its wide distribution in the western and southern regions of Saudi Arabia, where dengue outbreaks have occurred, its ecology is largely unknown. In this study we report on the main life table developmental attributes of a laboratory colony of Ae.

Potency and persistence of the bacterial mosquitocide Bacillus sphaericus against culicine mosquitoes under field conditions.

The biopesticide Bacillus sphaericus represents one of the important tools used in the control of mosquito larvae after chemical insecticides. The present study was conducted to investigate the efficacy B. sphaericus 2362 (VectoLex) in two different technical powders, ABG-6232 and ABG-6491 against larvae of two mosquitoes, Culex pipiens and Aedescaspius in El-Arish city, North Sinai, Egypt.

Environmental factors underlying spatial patterns of sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) associated with leishmaniasis in southern Sinai, Egypt.

Although Leishmania major is endemic in parts of the Sinai of Egypt, the ecology and distribution of Leishmania sand fly vectors in southern Sinai has not been well characterized. Accordingly, additional sand fly samples were obtained at 41 sites in the southern Sinai region during 1996-1997, and analyzed to improve the characterization of risk of sand fly-borne pathogens. Using a Geographic Information System (GIS), species-specific spatial distributions that might suggest zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) risk areas were determined in relation to contextual environmental factors, including geology, hydrogeology, climate variables and elevation.

The biological effects of the insect growth regulators; pyriproxyfen and diflubenzuron on the mosquito Aedes aegypti.

The biological effects of two insect growth regulators (IGRs), pyriproxyfen and diflubenzuron against larvae of the mosquito Aedes aegypti (L.) have been evaluated. Mosquitoes were collected from Jeddah governorate, west of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and maintained in the laboratory.

Immunomodulatory properties of sand fly saliva and its role on vertebrate host.

The salivary glands of Phlebotomus papatasi and P. langeroni were investigated for their immunomodulatory properties on vertebrate hosts. Laboratory reared sand fly, were used for feeding on hamsters and for extraction of salivary gland.

Human zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis and associated sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Sheikh Atiya village, southern Sinai, Egypt.

Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis is endemic in Sinai Peninsula. Human cases were recorded from the northern Sinai, however little was known about the disease in southern Sinai. During entomological surveys conducted southern Sinai in summers of 1997-1999, a clinically confirmed ZCL case was encountered for the first time in Sheikh Atiya village in June 1999.