Field evaluation of selected traps and lures for monitoring the filarial and arbovirus vector, Aedes polynesiensis (Diptera: Culicidae), in French Polynesia

Hapairai, L. K., Joseph, H., Sang, M. A. C., Melrose, W., Ritchie, S. A., Burkot, T. R., Sinkins, S. P. and Bossin, H. C. (2013) Field evaluation of selected traps and lures for monitoring the filarial and arbovirus vector, Aedes polynesiensis (Diptera: Culicidae), in French Polynesia. Journal of Medical Entomology, 50(4), pp. 731-739. (doi: 10.1603/ME12270) (PMID:23926770)

Abstract

The efficacy of the BG-Sentinel (BGS) and the BG-Mosquitito (BGM) mosquito traps for sampling populations of the important filariasis and dengue vector Aedes (Stegomyia) polynesiensis (Marks) was evaluated in French Polynesia against human bait collections (HBC) using a modified Centers for Disease Control and Prevention backpack aspirator. Traps were baited with BG-Lure (a combination of lactic acid, ammonia, and caproic acid) or carbon dioxide plus octenol (1-octen-3-ol) known as attractants to aedine mosquitoes. Mosquito sampling was conducted on two typical islands of French Polynesia: the high, volcanic island of Moorea, and the low, coral island (atoll) of Tetiaroa Sampling efficacy was measured in a randomized Latin Square design. Production of carbon dioxide from yeast-sugar fermentation was used as an alternative source of CO2 because supply via dry ice, gas cylinders, or propane combustion in remote tropical islands is costly and challenging. Although the BGS trap captured the greatest number ofAe. polynesiensis in both island settings, catch rates of BGS or BGM baited with either lure were not significantly different from that of HBC. On Moorea, the number of collected aedes species in the BGS trap baited with either lure was significantly greater than the BGM with BG-lure. On Tetiaroa, BGM trapping was severely hampered by damage from rats, and the traps were removed from the study. Our study confirms the efficiency, comparability, and convenience of the BGS trap, a robust and safe alternative to HBC for sampling Aedes mosquitoes in research and surveillance efforts against filariasis and arboviruses in the South Pacific.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This study was supported by French Polynesian government grant #6123/ MEE/REC, James Cook University grant JC01, and Wellcome Trust award WT095121.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Sinkins, Professor Steven
• Authors: Hapairai, L. K., Joseph, H., Sang, M. A. C., Melrose, W., Ritchie, S. A., Burkot, T. R., Sinkins, S. P., and Bossin, H. C.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity > Centre for Virus Research
• Journal Name: Journal of Medical Entomology
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• ISSN: 0022-2585
• ISSN (Online): 1938-2928
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2013 Entomological Society of America
• First Published: First published in Journal of Medical Entomology 50(4): 731-739
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License