ABSTRACT
Background: Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) are haemotophagus insects and are vectors of many arthropod-borne diseases. Present study aimed to explore species composition, seasonal abundance, spatial distribution and physio-chemical properties of larval breeding sites of mosquitoes in District Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Methods: Both adults and larvae of mosquitoes were collected through light traps, insecticide spray, mouth aspirator and larval standard dipping method in District Mardan from May to November 2017. Water samples from larval sites were physio-chemically analysed. Results: 5078 (3704 adults and 1374 larvae) mosquito specimens were collected in Mardan, Katlang and Takhtbhai tehsils. Six species in four genera were reported. Culex pipiens (89.80%) and Armigeres subalbatus (9.20%) were the most abundant species. Diversity was high in Takhtbhai (0.29) followed by Katlang (0.28) and Mardan (0.25). Greater number of specimens were recorded in peridomestic sites (93.97%) as compared to domestic habitats (6.03%). Culex pipiens larval abundance had negative correlation with pH whereas it correlated positively with electric conductivity, salinity, and TDS (total dissolved sulphur). Mosquito abundance peaked in August and July while the lowest was in May. Their monthly abundance had positive correlation with rainfall (r= 0.5069), relative humidity (r= 0.4439) and mean minimum temperature (r= 0.2866). Number of mosquitoes was highest at low elevation < 347m asl (above sea level) in agriculture land and near to water bodies (streams). Conclusion: Culex pipiens being the most abundant species, was susceptible to high pH. Mosquitoes preferred habitats were at low elevation in agriculture land.
ABSTRACT
Mammalian responses to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria can lead to an uncontrolled inflammatory reaction that can be deadly for the host. We checked whether heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) protein is able to protect animals from the deleterious effects of bacterial LPS by monitoring the effect of exogenous Hsp70 injections before and after LPS administration. Our research with rats demonstrates for the first time that administration of exogeneous Hsp70 before and after LPS challenges can reduce mortality rates and modify several parameters of hemostasis and hemodynamics. Hsp70 isolated from bovine muscles showed significant protective effects against the impaired coagulation and fibrinolytic systems caused by LPS, and reduced the mortality caused by Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium LPS injections significantly. Characteristically, Hsp70 preparations used in the experiments result in different effects when administered before and after an LPS challenge, and the effects of Hsp70 injections also differ significantly depending on the origin of the LPS (E coli vs S typhimurium). Based on our data, mammalian Hsp70 appears to be an attractive target in therapeutic strategies designed to stimulate endogenous protective mechanisms against many deleterious consequences of septic shock by accelerating the functional recovery of susceptible organs in humans.
