Community-based control of Aedes aegypti by adoption of eco-health methods in Chennai City, India.

Background: Dengue is highly endemic in Chennai city, South India, in spite of continuous vector control efforts. This intervention study was aimed at establishing the efficacy as well as the favouring and limiting factors relating to a community-based environmental intervention package to control the dengue vector Aedes aegypti.

Methods: A cluster randomized controlled trial was designed to measure the outcome of a new vector control package and process analysis; different data collection tools were used to determine the performance.

Natural vertical transmission of dengue virus in Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Kerala, a southern Indian state.

The natural occurrence of vertical transmission of dengue viruses in Aedes albopictus (Skuse) mosquitoes was examined in the state of Kerala in southern India. Adults and larvae of Ae. albopictus collected from Kerala were screened for dengue viruses by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with dengue-specific monoclonal antibodies.

Rapid identification of female Culexmosquito species using Expert System in the South East Asian region.

Unlabelled: Rapid identification of mosquito (vector) species is critical for vector control and disease management. Pictorial keys of mosquito species are currently used for the identification of new mosquito species. However, this approach is not very effective.

Field- and laboratory-based active dengue surveillance in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India: observations before and during the 2001 dengue epidemic.

Background: Dengue cases are reported every year in the city of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Since April 2001, longitudinal field- and laboratory-based active dengue surveillance has been carried out in Chennai to study dengue trends.

Method: A serologic survey of people in Chennai using the hemagglutination inhibition test (HIT) was performed to determine evidence of prior exposure to dengue virus infections.