Journal of Vector Ecology 

About: Journal of Vector Ecology is an academic journal published by Wiley-Blackwell. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Population & Aedes aegypti. It has an ISSN identifier of 1081-1710. Over the lifetime, 1175 publications have been published receiving 26866 citations.

Repellency of volatile oils from plants against three mosquito vectors.

Abstract: Volatile oils extracted by steam distillation from four plant species (turmeric (Curcuma longa), kaffir lime (Citrus hystrix), citronella grass (Cymbopogon winterianus) and hairy basil (Ocimum americanum)), were evaluated in mosquito cages and in a large room for their repellency effects against three mosquito vectors, Aedes aegypti, Anopheles dirus and Culex quinquefasciatus. The oils from turmeric, citronella grass and hairy basil, especially with the addition of 5% vanillin, repelled the three species under cage conditions for up to eight hours. The oil from kaffir lime alone, as well as with 5% vanillin added, was effective for up to three hours. With regard to the standard repellent, deet alone provided protection for at least eight hours against Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus, but for six hours against An. dirus. However, deet with the addition of 5% vanillin gave protection against the three mosquito species for at least eight hours. The results of large room evaluations confirmed the responses for each repellent treatment obtained under cage conditions. This study demonstrates the potential of volatile oils extracted from turmeric, citronella grass and hairy basil as topical repellents against both day- and night-biting mosquitoes. The three volatile oils can be formulated with vanillin as mosquito repellents in various forms to replace deet (N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide), the most common chemical repellent currently available.

Mosquito-borne viruses in western Europe: a review

Abstract: Several mosquito-borne arboviruses belonging to the genera Alphavirus, Flavivirus, and Bunyavirus have been reported to occur in mosquitoes and to infect humans and other vertebrates in western Europe. These zoonotic viruses circulate in nature either in an Aedes-mammal, Anopheles-mammal, or Culex-bird transmission cycle. Infected humans normally do not contribute to the virus circulation. West Nile virus (Flavivirus) caused an outbreak of fever, malaise, pain in eyes and muscles, and headache and encephalitis in southern France during 1962-1965, and an outbreak of encephalitis with a high case-fatality rate in Romania during 1996. West Nile virus has been isolated from birds, horses, and mosquitoes in Portugal, France, the former Czechoslovakia, and Romania. These data, together with reports of antibodies to West Nile virus in birds, domestic mammals, and humans in several other countries, show virus activity in southern and central Europe. Sindbis virus (Alphavirus) caused outbreaks of fever, rash, and arthralgia in northern Europe during 1981-1982, 1988, and 1995. Two California group viruses (Bunyavirus), Tahyna virus and Inkoo virus, have been identified in western Europe. Tahyna virus causes fever and respiratory symptoms and sometimes also central nervous system involvement. It occurs in most countries of central and southern Europe, and is most common in central Europe. Inkoo virus has not been associated with disease in humans in western Europe although Russian studies indicated that it can cause encephalitis. Inkoo virus occurs in northern Europe, especially in the far north. Batai virus of the Bunyamwera-group (Bunyavirus) occurs in southern, central, and northern Europe, most frequently in central Europe. The antibody prevalence in humans generally is very low, indicating that the potential of this virus as a human pathogen is probably low in Europe. The Lednice virus (Bunyavirus) has been reported only from the former Czechoslovakia and Romania, and apparently is not transmitted to humans. In addition to the six mosquito-borne viruses documented in western Europe, there is serological evidence of infection with a Semliki Forest complex virus (Alphavirus) in central and southern Europe. Although mosquito-borne viruses presently are not considered to be the cause of major health problems in western Europe, the morbidity caused by Sindbis virus, and the morbidity and mortality caused by West Nile virus, merit further studies on the ecology, epidemiology, and medical importance of these viruses. The California group of viruses and a virus of the Semliki Forest complex may be the cause of unrecognized health problems in western Europe. Specific sampling of potential vectors for virus isolation, detailed characterization of virus strains, and the use of fully characterized strains for serological diagnosis will help to elucidate the present and future potential of mosquito-borne viruses as human pathogens in Europe.

Establishment and Maintenance of Sand Fly Colonies

Abstract: Sand flies used to have a reputation for being difficult and labour-intensive to breed. Here we summarize our experience with establishment and maintenance of sand fly colonies and their use for infective experiments: techniques for collection and handling wild-caught females, rearing larvae and adults and experimental infections of sand flies by Leishmania using membrane feeding. In addition, we compare major life cycle parameters between various colonies maintained under standard laboratory conditions. The sand fly rearing is tricky but some species can be reared in large numbers with a minimum of space and equipment. Initiation of new colonies from endemic sites is a prerequisite for accurate studies on parasite-vector interaction but it is more difficult step than routine maintenance of colonies already established in laboratory for many generations.

Does temperature affect the outcome of larval competition between Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus

Abstract: The superior larval competitive ability of Aedes albopictus has been proposed to explain the recent displacement of Aedes aegypti by the former species in parts of the southeastern U.S. Ae. aegypti persists, however, in sympatry with Ae. albopictus in urban areas of southern Louisiana, Florida, and Texas, and the impact of larval competition between these species has not been investigated at higher temperatures that may be characteristic of these urban environments. We compared growth and survivorship of the two species at controlled temperatures of 24° and 30°C in water-containing tires under conditions of intra- and interspecific competition and with or without leaf litter. When other variables were controlled statistically, the estimated finite rate of increase ( λ´) was significantly higher for both species at the higher temperature, and the proportional increases in λ´ did not differ between species. Therefore, our experiment predicts that by itself, temperatures between 24° and 30°C would not alter the outcome of larval competition. Overall, response measures of Ae. albopictus were more sensitive than those of Ae. aegypti to the litter and species/density variables, although the development of Ae. aegypti females was uniquely