Feasibility assessment of a novel tool for mosquito vector control: Auto-Dissemination Augmented by Males (ADAM)

DESCRIPTION provided by applicant Vector control remains the only means to combat many important mosquito borne pathogens including the viruses responsible for West Nile Dengue and Chikungunya A key deficiency of existing vector control methods is the inability to affect cryptic breeding sites which provide refugia to immature mosquitoes and allow for the rapid recovery of mosquito populations following conventional control efforts The self delivering method known as andapos auto disseminationandapos promises to address this deficiency by using mosquitoes as the vehicle to deliver powerful larvicides to cryptic breeding sites However current auto dissemination methods rely upon the indigenous mosquito population to become contaminated at a device that is attractive to mosquitoes and then to transmit the larvicide as they encounter breeding sites thus models predict that a robust mosquito population is required for the method to work effectively i e without mosquitoes to act as vehicles the larvicide will not leave the introduced attractive device The auto dissemination approach is based on an active ingredient classified as a andapos reduced risk pesticideandapos by the US EPA It is potent th of the dry weight o a mosquito adult is adequate to treat a ml breeding site and there is no resistance in mosquitoes A novel paradigm shift to the auto dissemination approach is employing as the larvicide vehicle mass produced larvicide treated adult male mosquitoes which do not bite or transmit disease We refer to this approach as andquot Auto Dissemination Augmented by Malesandquot ADAM By no longer relying on the indigenous mosquito population the ADAM approach can be used as a preventative tool i e treating cryptic sites in advance of the normal population increase e g in early spring Furthermore using the ADAM approach the number of introduced larvicide treated males can be sustained despite a reduced indigenous population Preliminary data from laboratory tests show that males in the ADAM approach can contaminate females with dosages that are subsequently lethal to larvae andapos Sexually Transmitted Larvicideandapos and directly deliver larvicide to breeding sites The outcome of a small field tria demonstrates that introduced oviposition sites experienced significant larval mortality relative to control sites up to m from a release site that received ADAM male introductions at a rate of week over four weeks Methods for the mass manufacturing of adult male mosquitoes are previously developed as part of an ongoing Wolbachia biopesticide project at MosquitoMate In the proposed work Aims we will examine the feasibility of the ADAM approach against Culex pipiens Aedes aegypti and Ae albopictus first in laboratory trials and subsequently under field conditions In Aim we will prepare for a pre registration meeting with the US EPA toward obtaining an Experimental Use Permit required for large scale Phase trials PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE Vector control remains the only means to combat many mosquito borne diseases including those caused by West Nile Dengue Chikungunya viruses and other pathogens A critical existing gap in vector control is the inability to affect the immature proportion of the mosquito population that remains hidden protected within cryptic breeding sites and inaccessible to conventional control tools The proposed work will test the feasibility of a novel andapos self deliveringandapos approach which will employ manufactured adult male mosquitoes as the vehicle for treating cryptic sites with a potent larvicide