AEDES ALBOPICTUS (SKUSE) SURVEILLANCE WITH BIOGENTS (R) MOSQUITITO TRAPS AND LARVAL INDICES- A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Abstract

Effective surveillance and monitoring of Aedes albopictus is essential for the possible prediction and implementation of the preventive measures. We tested BG sentinel mosquitito traps with BG lure to collect adults as an alternative surveillance tool in relation to larval indices. Study was carried out in Calicut District, Kerala, India. Three villages in the district were selected by random sampling as study area. In each village, 50 houses were selected as study site for trap collection, larval survey and fever surveillance. Study was conducted for six months from July to December, 2017. Number of adults of Ae.albopictus collected in BG sentinel traps was only 84 in 22 collections spanning over six months (mean 3.82, 95% CI-2.57-5.06).Though the larval indices were high; no epidemic was reported from the study area. There was no correlation between adults collected and larval indices. Adult collection showed a positive correlation with most of meteorological parameters. Larval indices showed no correlation with climatic factors.BG mosquitito trap was found to be not successful for adult surveillance in the area. More studies are required using different traps to suggest adult traps as an alternative to currently used larval indices. Larval indices were high but no cases reported. Our study shows that a more reliable monitoring mechanism is required for Ae.albopictus to enable prevention, to introduce abatement and its evaluation.