This study aimed to evaluate the bioefficacy and blood feeding inhi bition of mosquitoes under laboratory conditions using the WHO tunnel test method on unwashed and washed long-lasting insecticide impregnated net with extrinsic heat treatment of 30ºC followed by 80ºC on the same net during washing. PermaNet® exhibited fairy high durability to washing (5 washes) and had fairy long-lasting bioefficacy against Anopheles maculatus for blood feeding inhibition on both unwashed (39 months) and washed (26 months) nets. However, Perma Net exhibited lower bioefficacy against Culex quinquefasciatus. This study also suggested that the application of extrinsic heat treatment of 30ºC followed by an increased heat at 80ºC on the same net exerted significant differences (p0.05). An. maculatus exhibited significant differences in resting preference after a successful blood meal, as more blood-fed and live females preferred to rest and stay near the bait in the mouse cage, and more dead and unfed females were found in the outer cage of both the unwashed and washed nets (p<0.05).

Background: The importance of mosquito-borne diseases can be aggravated when there is an occurrence of mixed infestation between the mosquitoes in a habitat. However, there is limited available information on mixed infestation behavior among Malaysian mosquitoes. Objective: We elucidated the nature of co-occurrence among mosquito species from residential areas in Malaysia. Methods: Entomological investigation was carried out by using a previously described larval dipping method in 20 residential areas across 11 states and a federal territory (i.e., Kuala Lumpur) in Peninsular Malaysia as well as two states in East Malaysia. Results: Of 20 study sites, eight study sites exhibited co-occurrence of mosquito larvae, ranging from 1.28% to 50.00%. Culex quinquefasciatus was able to breed simultaneously with Cx. gelidus (10.00%–50.00%), Lutzia fuscanus (2.94%–13.33%), Cx. vishnui (5.00%) and Armigeres subalbatus (1.28%–3.77%). On the other hand, Cx. vishnui was able to breed simultaneously with Cx. gelidus (20.00%) and Lu. fuscanus (3.33%). Conclusion: The findings of this study have implications for the development of a better understanding of their mixed infestation behavior and prevention of vector-borne disease transmission from these study sites.

Malaria control programme utilizing indoor residual spraying of chemical insecticide is only effective if a high coverage of targeted area is achieved. The effectiveness of the residual spraying, on the other hand, relies on the efficacy and residual activity of the insecticides applied, which to a certain extent are influenced by the nature of the sprayed surfaces. The bioefficacy of indoor residual-sprayed deltamethrin wettable granule (WG) formulation for the control of malaria was compared with the current dose of deltamethrin wettable powder (WP) in malaria endemic areas in Balai Ringin, Sarawak. Doses of 20 mg/m2 WP (control), 20 mg/m2 WG, 30 mg/m2 WG and 40 mg/m2 WG were sprayed separately on different surfaces namely, wooden, rough-bamboo, smooth-bamboo and brick surfaces. Residual activity of WP and WG formulations was tested against lab-bred Anopheles maculatus using WHO standard procedure. Deltamethrin at 30 mg/m2 WG exhibited the highest sustainable level of effectiveness against An. maculatus (An. maculatus mortality was between 95% - 100%) up to week 60 post-spraying when sprayed on smooth- bamboo surface. These results indicated that 30 mg/m2 WG could be an ideal concentration for controlling malaria vector effectively up to 15 months of which long-lasting residual spraying was envisaged. The usual two spraying cycles per year with 20 mg/m2 deltamethrin WP could be replaced with 30 mg/m2 deltamethrin WG since the long residual activity was achieved by employing a single spraying only.

Biweekly ovitrap surveillance (OS) was conducted for a year (August 2007 - September 2008) at two different dengue endemic sites in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia, 50 km from Kuala Lumpur. Aedes aegypti collected from these 2 locations were raised to the F3 stage and subjected to a WHO standard bioassay method to determine lethal time (LT) against pyrethroids (permethrin 0.75%, cyfluthrin 0.15%), organophosphates (malathion 5.0%, fenitrothion 1.0%), carbamates (propoxur 0.1%, bendiocarb 0.1%) and organochlorine (DDT 4.0%). Insecticide susceptibilities were analyzed for one year. Aedes aegypti were resistant to DDT with a mortality range of 0 - 13.3% throughout the year at both sites. Susceptibilities to pyrethroids and carbamates varied throughout the year. In contrast, susceptibilities to pyrethroids and carbamates varied throughout the year: resistant to propoxur, bendiocarb and permethrin with mortality of < 80% in most months; but, showed incipient resistant to cyfluthrin in most months. Mosquitoes were consistently susceptible to malathion and fenitrothion, with complete mortality during most months. They were especially susceptible to malathion with LT50 values of 21.32 - 36.37 minutes, suggesting effectiveness of malathion for control of dengue.

Wolbachia-based vector-control strategies have been proposed as a means to augment the currently existing measures for controlling dengue vector. The successful application of Wolbachia in insect control is critically dependent on the ability of the agent to invade and maintain itself at a high frequency in the natural population, with the goal that the mosquito population will carry the desired genotype. Wolbachia are being introduced into the mosquito vectors of human diseases, including the primary vector for dengue, Aedes aegypti, following the discovery that some strains of Wolbachia can cause pathogen interference as well as shortening the lifespan of mosquitoes, with the hope of causing reduction in viral transmission