One Health and a blood meal – integrative and ecologically sensitive approaches to mosquito-borne disease control

Abstract

The objective of this article is to discuss available strategies on Mosquito-borne diseases (MBD) control in the present age. The key outcome of this review is that new approaches are urgently required, as insecticide resistance has become more prevalent in recent years with at least one of the four major classes of insecticides reported ineffective in 80% of malariaendemic countries. There is no single solution for MBDs. Recent promising initiatives to control MBDs targeting mosquitos include the use of insecticide impregnated mosquito nets, bacteria Wolbachia for biological control of Aedes-borne diseases and gene-editing of Anopheles gene edtiting using CRISPR-Cas 9 and mass drug administration of ivermectin for malaria control. Mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia have reduced ability to transmit viruses including dengue, Chikungunya and Zika. Reduction in incidence between 71 and 90% of dengue cases in Australia, Brazil, Indonesia and Viet Nam was reported. A recent study showed successful gene editing of the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae leading to complete sterility and total collapse in 7-11 generations. Wolbachia mediated vector control seems to be the current-best implementable non-invasive technology for Aedes related diseases control. Integrated vector management still appears the best option to combat the vectors and MBDs globally.