Evaluation of the mosquitocidal efficacy of fluralaner, a potential candidate for drug based vector control.

Vector control is a key intervention against mosquito borne diseases. However, conventional methods have several limitations and alternate strategies are in urgent need. Vector control with endectocides such as ivermectin is emerging as a novel strategy.

Evidence on the prevalence of emerging and re-emerging tick- and flea-borne rickettsial agents in acute encephalitis syndrome endemic areas of northeast Uttar Pradesh, India.

Outbreaks of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) with unknown aetiology are reported every year in Gorakhpur district, Uttar Pradesh, India, and Orientia tsutsugamushi, the rickettsial pathogen, responsible for scrub typhus has been attributed as the primary cause of AES problem. However, information on the prevalence of other rickettsial infections is lacking. Hence, this study was carried out to assess any occurrence of tick- and flea-borne rickettsial agents in villages reporting AES cases in this district.

Studies on the fitness characteristics of Mel- and AlbB-introgressed (Pud) lines in comparison with Mel- and AlbB-transinfected (Aus) and wild-type (Pud) lines.

, an intracellular maternally transmitted endosymbiont, has been shown to interfere with the replication of dengue virus in mosquitoes. The -transinfected has been currently released in many countries to test its effectiveness in preventing the transmission of dengue virus. ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre in collaboration with World Mosquito Program Monash University, Australia, has generated two new -introgressed Puducherry (Pud) lines backcrossing females of Australian (Aus) strains, infected with Mel and AlbB with wild-type Puducherry (Pud) males.

Sensitivity of wMel and wAlbB Wolbachia infections in Aedes aegypti Puducherry (Indian) strains to heat stress during larval development.

Background: ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre, Puducherry, India, developed two colonies of Aedes aegypti infected with wMel and wAlbB Wolbacia strains called Ae. aegypti (Pud) lines for dengue control. The sensitivity of wMel and wAlbB strains in Ae.

Seasonal abundance of Leptotrombidium deliense, the vector of scrub typhus, in areas reporting acute encephalitis syndrome in Gorakhpur district, Uttar Pradesh, India.

The rickettsial pathogen Orientia tsutsugamushi, causing scrub typhus, has been implicated as a major cause of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) in many places in India including Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh. Seasonal abundance of the principal vector mite of the pathogen, Leptotrombidium deliense, its animal hosts, and prevalence of infection on them are important attributes in the assessment of outbreaks of the disease. Hence, these aspects were investigated, seasonally, in rural villages of Gorakhpur district, where peak incidence of AES cases were reported.

Investigations of seasonal outbreaks of acute encephalitis syndrome due to in Gorakhpur region, India: A One Health case study.

Gorakhpur division consisting of Gorakhpur and neighboring districts Deoria, Kushinagar and Maharajganj in Uttar Pradesh, India, have been witnessing seasonal outbreaks of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) among children for the last three decades. Investigations conducted during 2005 identified Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus as an aetiology of AES. With the introduction of JE vaccination and other control strategies, the incidence of JE in the region declined, however, outbreaks of acute febrile illness with neurological manifestations continued to occur.

Molecular xenomonitoring as a post-MDA surveillance tool for global programme to eliminate lymphatic filariasis: Field validation in an evaluation unit in India.

Background: Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is targeted for elimination by the year 2020. As of 2017, 67 of the 72 endemic countries have implemented annual Mass Drug Administration (MDA) for interrupting LF transmission. Transmission Assessment Survey (TAS) is the recommended protocol to evaluate the impact of MDA and to decide when to stop MDA in an Evaluation Unit (EU, population ≤2 million).

Occurrence of Orientia tsutsugamushi, the Etiological Agent of Scrub Typhus in Animal Hosts and Mite Vectors in Areas Reporting Human Cases of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome in the Gorakhpur Region of Uttar Pradesh, India.

Outbreaks of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) with high fatality and disability, are reported every year in the Gorakhpur region of Uttar Pradesh, India, with the etiology of >60% of the cases being attributed to scrub typhus. In the present study, the prevalence of Orientia tsutsugamushi, the etiological agent of scrub typhus, was investigated among animal hosts and their ectoparasitic trombiculid mites prevalent in AES-reported areas of Gorakhpur. A total of 154 rodents/shrews were collected using 777 Sherman traps set in 12 study villages, and the overall trap rate was 19.

Field evaluation of the biolarvicide, spinosad 20 per cent emulsifiable concentrate in comparison to its 12 per cent suspension concentrate formulation against , the vector of bancroftian filariasis in India.

Background & Objectives: Biolarvicides may offer alternatives to chemical larvicides as these are known to be safe to environment and selective against the target species. However, only a limited number of biolarvicides have been approved for mosquito larval control. In the current study, a new formulation of spinosad, 20 per cent emulsifiable concentrate (EC) was tested for its efficacy against Culex quinquefasciatus, in comparison to its 12 per cent suspension concentrate (SC).

Abundance & distribution of trombiculid mites & , the vectors & pathogen of scrub typhus in rodents & shrews collected from Puducherry & Tamil Nadu, India.

Background & Objectives: Human cases of scrub typhus are reported every year from Puducherry and adjoining areas in southern India. However, information on the presence of causative agent, Orientia tsutsugamushi, and its vectors is lacking. Hence, the objective of the study was to find out the vector as well as pathogen distribution in rodents and shrews present in the scrub typhus-reported areas in southern India.

Application of a household-based molecular xenomonitoring strategy to evaluate the lymphatic filariasis elimination program in Tamil Nadu, India.

Background: The monitoring and evaluation of lymphatic filariasis (LF) has largely relied on the detection of antigenemia and antibodies in human populations. Molecular xenomonitoring (MX), the detection of parasite DNA/RNA in mosquitoes, may be an effective complementary method, particularly for detecting signals in low-level prevalence areas where Culex is the primary mosquito vector. This paper investigated the application of a household-based sampling method for MX in Tamil Nadu, India.

Impact of community-based presumptive chloroquine treatment of fever cases on malaria morbidity and mortality in a tribal area in Orissa State, India.

Background: In the Global Strategy for Malaria Control, one of the basic elements is early detection and prompt treatment of malaria cases, especially in areas where health care facilities are inadequate. Establishing or reviving the existing drug distribution centers (DDC) at the peripheral levels of health care can achieve this. The DDCs should be operationally feasible, acceptable by community and technical efficient, particularly in remote hard-core malaria endemic areas.