Three indigenous Thai medicinal plants for control of Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus.

The potential larvicidal activity and insect growth regulator (IGR) properties of three selected indigenous medicinal Thai plants were tested against two species of mosquito with special reference to the late 3rd and early 4th instar larvae (L3 and L4, respectively). In case of larvicidal activity, Thevetia peruviana was the most potent, followed by Pueraria mirifica, and Butea superba was the least effective. In all cases, the late 3rd instar was more susceptible than the early 4th instar larvae, and the 48-hours exposure yielded more potent larvicidal activity than 24-hours exposure. However, at sublethal dosages, both P. mirifica and B. superba showed some dispersed effects interfering with ecdysis. A variety of toxic effects were observed and recorded in eight categories according to the stage of metamorphosis when death occurred. P. mirifica rendered the main deleterious effects in the pupa-adult period in both instar of Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus, whereas B. superba showed highest effect in black-pupa period of the late 3rd instar larval stage. The results were reversed for the early 4th instar larvae of both species of mosquito as the main effect appeared in the pupa-adult category. The overall results indicated that T. peruviana did not show any IGR properties; whereas, P. mirifica and B. superba seemed to exhibit the juvenile hormone type activity which resulted in abnormal death at various stages of development. B. superba was more promising than P. mirifica, and Ae. aegypti was about 2 times more susceptible than Cx. quinquefasciatus. In addition, L3 was always more susceptible than L4 with both mosquito species.

Survey of indoor cockroaches in some dwellings in Bangkok.

This study aimed to investigate the species distribution of indoor cockroaches in dwellings in Bangkok. Commercial sticky traps were used to catch cockroaches in 128 private residences (40 single houses, 49 townhouses, 39 apartments), 34 offices, and 30 small groceries. The cockroaches were identified as Periplaneta americana, Supella longipalpa, Blattella germanica, Neostylopyga rhombifolia, P. brunnea, P. australasiae, Pycnoscelus surinamensis, and B. lituricallis; two were unidentified species. The most common species were P. americana, S. longipalpa and B. germanica--most of which were nymphal stages. P. americana and S. longipalpa infested all kinds of buildings, especially private residences (50.0% and 17.2%, respectively) and offices (61.8% and 58.8%, respectively); they were also found mostly (15.1%) in mixed infestation and with no predominant species. B. germanica (26.7%) were significantly predominant in groceries. Air conditioners have no influence on cockroach distribution.

IgG- and IgG4-detected antigens of Dirofilaria immitis adult worms for bancroftian filariasis by enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot.

In Thailand, Wuchereria bancrofti filariasis has persisted along the border between Thailand and Myanmar, its dynamic distribution caused by the infected transmigrants between neighboring countries, and the availability of susceptible mosquito vectors. Dirofilaria immitis adult worm was used as a source of antigens, excretory-secretory (ES) and partial surface extracts, to detect human filariasis. ES products showed several stained bands with Coomassie brilliant blue ranging from 14.5-93 kDa and mostly being glycoproteins as shown by concurrent reaction with Concanavalin A, except those at 18, 16 and 14.5 kDa which stained only with Coomassie brilliant blue. Surface proteins of 33.5-91.5 kDa were stained with Coomassie brilliant blue and showed smear bands with Concanavalin A. By enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot, Bancroftian filariasis sera gave specific reactions with glycoprotein ES antigens at MW 20.5 kDa against anti-human IgG. A prominent band of 18 kDa appeared consistently with the IgG4-ES antigen system. Surface extracts reacting with IgG and IgG4 were considered to be unsuitable as antibodies from all cases of filariasis could not detect any bands.

Mechanical carrier of bacterial enteric pathogens by Chrysomya megacephala (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Chrysomya megacephala was studied regarding its mechanically bacterial carrier in urban areas of Chiang Mai, northern Thailand. Fifty-six adult flies were randomly collected using sweep insect net during April-May, 1999 from 3 fresh food markets and examined for bacteriological isolation. Among them, 49 flies (87.5%) were bacterial carriers. The total 22 bacterial species and 8 groups were isolated. Three species previously reported as the bacterial enteric pathogens causing diarrheal disease were isolated from 5 flies, ie Aeromonas hydrophila, Edwardsiella tarda and Vibrio cholerae non-01, with their prevalence rates in flies being 3.579, 1.79% and 3.57%, respectively. Five possible bacteria enteric pathogens, ie Aermononas sobria, Citrobacter freundii, Escherichia coli, Providencia alcalifaciens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were isolated from 21 flies with the prevalence rates in flies being 5.34%, 3.57%, 26.79%, 7.14% and 1.79%, respectively. The bacterial load isolated from all 3 pathogenic species was entirely found more than 10 colony per fly, indicating the high chance for disease transmission via this fly species. C. megacephala may play the possible and/or important role of bacterial enteric pathogens transmission, thereby promoting the public health personnel for sanitation improvement in fresh food markets and fly control management in these particular areas.

Isoenzyme study and hybridization of two forms of Anopheles sinensis (Diptera: Culicidae) in northern Thailand.

The screening of ten isoenzymes of two forms of Anopheles sinensis, Form A and B, using electrophoretic gels revealed that Est-5(96) allele was the marker in both 4th larva and adult female of An. sinensis Form B, whereas it was lacking in Form A. Hybridization tests of the two sinensis forms were done by induced copulation. The results of crosses indicated that they were genetically compatible, providing viable progeny and completely synaptic polytene chromosomes.

Comparative susceptibility of two forms of Anopheles sinensis Wiedemann 1828 (Diptera : Culicidae) to infection with Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. yoelii and the determination of misleading factor for sporozoite identification.

Two karyotypic forms of laboratory-raised Anopheles sinensis, ie Form A (XY1) and Form B (XY2), were experimentally infected with various indigenous strains of Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax using an artificial membrane feeding technique, and a rodent malaria, P. yoelii, using a direct feeding technic and dissected 7-9 days and 10-15 days after feeding for oocyst and sporozoite rates, respectively. The results revealed that two forms of An. sinensis were refractory vectors for P. falciparum and P. yoelii since 0% of oocyst and sporozoite rates were obtained, but poor vectors for P. vivax since 0.00-85.71% and 0.00-5.88% of oocyst and sporozoite rates were recovered. The sporozoite-like crystal found in the median lobe of the salivary gland of An. sinensis which could be a misleading factor in identification of true sporozoites in the salivary glands is reported for the first time.

A brief survey of phlebotomine sandflies in Thailand.

Sandflies were found in widely scattered localities in Thailand in varied numbers. Daytime resting places for the adults included caves, termite hills, abandoned houses, ancient stone sanctuaries, air-raid shelters, tree hollows, loose bark of dead standing trees and rock crevices. Of fifteen species, P. major major, P. teshi, S. anodontis, S. gemmea, S. hodgsoni hodgsoni, S. perturbans, S. punjabensis and N. vietnamensis were here recorded for the first time in Thailand. P. argentipes and P. major major are interesting in view of their potential as disease vectors.

Some aspects on biting cycles of Culex quinquefasciatus in Bangkok.

The indoor and outdoor biting cycles of Culex quinquefasciatus were studied in Bangkok. The biting cycle was nocturnally periodic and preferably endophilic in character. There were two minor peaks on top of the nocturnally periodic peak. The first peak was between 2200 and 2300 hours, the latter peak was after midnight being at 0100 and 0400 hours. Parous mosquitoes formed 0%-20.0% of hourly total population. More parous mosquitoes were collected indoor and also during in the latter half of the night. Comparisons made between Bangkok, the none endemic area for Wuchereria bancrofti and Sri Lanka the endemic area, revealed that Bangkok has a lower survival rate of Culex quinquefasciatus, based on parous rates and that the older mosquitoes, which are potentially infective vectors were collected late in the night. This evidence could explain why Bangkok is not endemic area for periodic Wuchereria bancrofti.