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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Mosquito and Fly Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #279562
Title: Ground ULV and thermal fog applications against Phlebotomine sand fly vectors of Leishmania in a hot arid environment in western Kenya

Author
item Gibson, Seth
item Linthicum, Kenneth - Ken
item Aldridge, Robert
item WALKER, TODD - Department Of Defense
item FAROOQ, MUHAMMAD - Department Of Defense
item CLARK, JEFFREY - United States Army Medical Research Unit
item BAST, JOSHUA - United States Army Medical Research Unit
item GORDON, SCOTT - United States Army Medical Research Unit
item LOGAN, THOMAS - United States Army Medical Research Unit
item CHEPCHIENG, CLIFFORD - United States Army Medical Research Unit
item NGERE, FRANCIS - United States Army Medical Research Unit
item OPONDO, VITALICE - United States Army Medical Research Unit
item NG'ONGA, DANIEL - United States Army Medical Research Unit
item OOKO, FREDRICK - United States Army Medical Research Unit

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/1/2012
Publication Date: 3/1/2012
Citation: Britch, S.C., Linthicum, K., Aldridge, R.L., Walker, T.W., Farooq, M., Clark, J.W., Bast, J.L., Gordon, S.W., Logan, T.M., Chepchieng, C., Ngere, F., Opondo, V., Ng'Onga, D., Ooko, F. 2012. Ground ULV and thermal fog applications against Phlebotomine sand fly vectors of Leishmania in a hot arid environment in western Kenya. Meeting Abstract. p.28.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Phlebotomine sand fly vectors of Leishmania continue to threaten US military operations in Africa, Southwest Asia, and the Middle East. Ultra-low volume (ULV) and/or thermal fog pesticide dispersal are potentially effective against sand flies, but operational guidance is thinly based on mosquito control in temperate-tropical environments. Few studies have examined performance of ULV or thermal fog against mosquitoes in hot-arid environments, and no studies have investigated ULV or thermal fog to control sand flies in any environment. Sand fly bionomics are poorly understood, so timing and positioning of applications may not be optimal, and susceptibility of sand flies to US EPA-registered pesticides labeled for aerosol application is poorly known, so configuration of dispersal equipment and pesticide also may not be optimal. We conducted a series of large field experiments in a hot-arid region in western Kenya endemic for phlebotomine vectors and Leishmania using a range of pesticides and ULV and thermal fog devices in various configurations. We evaluated configurations in a variety of meteorological conditions against natural sand fly populations and caged colony-reared sand flies. We found both ULV and thermal fog applications to be highly effective against sand flies, but efficacy was not homogeneous among configurations or weather conditions. These initial findings will form the basis for developing effective operational guidance for sand fly control and further research.