Wageningen Plant Research’s Post

'Our results provide new evidence on the adaptive capacity of the main malaria vectors in Africa and suggest that they could use sylvatic areas as refuges in case of unsuitable conditions (i.e., vector control strategies) or competition for resources in villages. These findings could challenge malaria control efforts. However, these results cannot be generalized to all protected areas on the African continent. Further studies are therefore needed to understand the interaction between protected areas and malaria vectors across Africa.' https://lnkd.in/gDF-vMFe

Some fascinating facts about mosquitoes: Only female mosquitoes bite: Female mosquitoes require the protein found in blood to develop their eggs. Male mosquitoes primarily feed on plant nectar. Mosquitoes have been around for millions of years: Fossil evidence suggests that mosquitoes have been on Earth for at least 210 million years. They can detect CO2 from over 100 feet away: Mosquitoes are attracted to the carbon dioxide exhaled by humans and animals, which helps them locate their next meal. Mosquitoes are the deadliest animals on Earth: They are responsible for more human deaths each year than any other animal, primarily due to the transmission of diseases like malaria, dengue fever, and Zika virus. Their wings beat incredibly fast: Mosquitoes can beat their wings up to 500 times per second. They can survive harsh conditions: Some mosquito species can survive extreme temperatures, including freezing temperatures, by entering a state of diapause or hibernation. They have a preference for certain blood types: Studies have shown that mosquitoes are more attracted to people with type O blood. Mosquitoes are excellent flyers: They can fly at speeds of up to 1.5 miles per hour and can travel for several miles in search of a blood meal. They have a complex life cycle: Mosquitoes undergo complete metamorphosis, which includes four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Mosquitoes are found almost everywhere: With over 3,500 species worldwide, mosquitoes can be found in almost every part of the world, except for Antarctica.

👨🔬🦟Scientists discover Amazonian fungi effective against Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Federal University of Acre (Faculdade de Direito da Universidade Federal do Acre - UFAC) researchers have identified three species of fungi from the Amazon rainforest with notable efficacy in controlling Aedes aegypti mosquito larvae. This discovery comes at a crucial time, as mosquito-borne diseases — particularly dengue fever — continue to pose a significant health threat in the Brazilian Amazon. Aedes aegypti populations persist throughout the year in the Amazon, with rainy seasons leading to significant increases in vector numbers, contributing to epidemic outbreaks of viral diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, malaria, and zika. 🔗Read the full article by Luiza Louback here 👇 https://lnkd.in/eKhuYngm #AmazonRainforest #MosquitoControl #DenguePrevention #VectorControl #PublicHealth #ScientificDiscovery

On August 20, 2024, the world celebrates Mosquito Day. But why do we celebrate this day? 🐝 Mosquitoes might be small, but their impact is massive. Every year, over 200 million people fall ill to malaria, spread by these tiny creatures. But that’s not all; they also carry diseases like Dengue, Zika, Yellow Fever, Filariasis, Encephalitis, Chikungunya fever, West Nile fever, and Japanese Encephalitis, affecting millions across the continent. It’s as if they’re the “lions” of the insect world, quietly hunting us one bite at a time. But let’s not forget, mosquitoes have their place in our environment too. They help pollinate plants, control other insect populations, serve as food for birds and fish, and even help break down waste in nature. Science has come a long way in our fight against mosquito-borne diseases. We’ve developed treatments for illnesses like malaria, but now we’re facing a new challenge: these diseases are becoming resistant to our medicines. So, we must ask ourselves: Could genetic engineering be the way forward in this battle? And could biological control be the answer to reducing mosquito numbers, especially here in Africa?

Malaria and other mosquito borne diseases continue to damage life of billions of people in the world. Cameroon, sub Saharan country is amongst the top 10 countries with high Malaria incidence/morbidity/mortality with varying prevalence between localities. Despite that data exist in many regions/localities in Cameroon, there is a lack of data in forest-savannah transition areas. Here we looked at the integrity and efficacy of the mosquito net distributed in the small locality of #Makenene. Nets in use were aged >6 years. read more here https://lnkd.in/esu4aUmp In previous studies, we found high prevalence in asymptomatic patients and from medical report, Malaria was the reason of most consultations in the locality. Looking forward to understanding the Malaria transmission pattern and vectors implicated, insecticide resistance genes involved and drugs resistance genes. To achieve this, finding and collaboration are needed, please contact me if interested in our study. Raymond TABUE CAMEROUN MINSANTE/SDLMCNT Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Wellcome Trust Université De Dschang London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, U. of London John Hopkins University Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine

🌿 New Research on Malaria Control for World Mosquito Day 🦟 Exciting findings show that abscisic acid (ABA), a natural plant hormone, could be a game-changer in controlling Anopheles stephensi, a key malaria-spreading mosquito. A study found that adding ABA to mosquito breeding water speeds up larval development but also increases mortality and reduces the number of eggs and lifespan of adult females. This approach has the potential to significantly reduce mosquito populations and help combat malaria. Imagine the impact this could have in regions struggling with this disease! 🔬 Learn more about how ABA could be used to curb malaria. https://lnkd.in/gbWzFJPj #MalariaResearch #MosquitoControl #PublicHealth

Mumbai battles mosquitoes with sustainable traps Biodegradable mosquito traps could help to combat vector-borne diseases like malaria and dengue. Rather than repelling the insects, Eco BioTraps attract females and breaks their chain of breeding. Like many places in the world, Mumbai has a growing mosquito problem. Mosquitoes are vectors for diseases like malaria and dengue fever. Typically, authorities try to control mosquito populations by spraying insecticides, but increasingly, the insects are becoming resistent to them. A start-up based in Mumbai's Dhavari district, one of the world's largest improvised settlements, where dengue fever is rife, has come up with an easy-to-handle, eco-friendly oil-based trap which works by interrupting the insects' breeding cycle. The traps are now being widely tested in the district. Together with other strategies, such as preventing the development of stagnant water, and a government-funded interactive awareness app, the traps could have the potential to ease the situation and lower the numbers of those contracting dengue and malaria. https://lnkd.in/dmFnTFZe

A recent study underscores the importance of understanding how emerging infectious diseases spread within and between countries to effectively contain future pandemics. Researchers developed a dynamic modeling approach that integrates human movement and environmental suitability to predict the spread of infectious diseases. Applied to dengue in Mexico and Brazil, the model accurately reconstructed long-term spread pathways, historical origins, and specific invasion routes. The study reveals: 1. that early dengue invasion is influenced more by environmental factors, whereas 2. human connectivity plays a larger role in later stages. These findings are crucial for forecasting and containing the spread of dengue and other emerging pathogens, especially in the context of increasing human mobility and climate change. Read the full paper here: https://lnkd.in/evRHhbDm #Dengue #PublicHealth #HumanMobility #Modelling #Mosquito #MBD

'The invasion of An. stephensi into Africa and its rapid spread pose significant challenges for malaria control on the continent, especially in urban areas. The ecological characteristics of An. stephensi carry essential implications for the design of effective vector control strategies. However, there are important knowledge gaps, warranting extensive future studies. New mosquito larval and adult intervention control strategies need to be explored and evaluated for their potential field implementations. The contribution of An. stephensi to malaria transmission in Africa requires further investigation, given its potential for undermining the gains made in reducing the burden of the disease. Therefore, there is an urgent need to contain the spread of this invasive species.' https://lnkd.in/gTzV8KdD

Although #malaria was eradicated in Europe 50 years ago, 4,856 cases were reported in 2021 (99.7% travel-related). 🌍 Climate change is increasing the risk of local transmission, creating more favorable conditions for mosquito vectors. 🔬 Conditions for the transmission of Plasmodium vivax, the malaria pathogen that was once endemic in Europe, are worsening: 👉 Increase in months with suitable conditions in Western and Eastern Europe. 👉 Highest increases in countries like Liechtenstein, Slovenia, and Switzerland. 📊 In the last decade, the number of malaria importation events has also increased. It is crucial to continue monitoring and taking preventive measures. 🦠 At IDAlert, we are co-developing a threshold-based model that assesses the number of months per year with climatic conditions suitable for malaria transmission, as well as the landcover classes suitable for Anopheles mosquitoes. Both #Anopheles mosquitoes and #Plasmodium parasites are very climate-sensitive, thriving within specific climatic limits (temperature between 14.5ºC and 33ºC 🌡️, and relative humidity greater than 60% 💧). 📈 Climatic suitability for malaria is one of the 42 indicators reported by The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change in its latest report for 2024. If you want to learn more about The 2024 Europe Report of the Lancet Countdown, read the following article and executive summary: 👉 Article: https://lnkd.in/dTr7kbes 👉 Executive summary (PDF): https://lnkd.in/dJKegwjS