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Armigeres subalbatus colonization of damaged pit latrines: a nuisance and potential health risk to residents of resettlement villages in Laos

Hiscox, A.; Hirooka, R.; Vongphayloth, K.; Hill, N.; Lindsay, S.W.; Grandadam, M.; Brey, P.T.

Armigeres subalbatus colonization of damaged pit latrines: a nuisance and potential health risk to residents of resettlement villages in Laos Thumbnail


Authors

A. Hiscox

R. Hirooka

K. Vongphayloth

N. Hill

M. Grandadam

P.T. Brey



Abstract

During the resettlement of 6500 persons living around the Nam Theun 2 hydroelectric project in Laos, more than 1200 pour-flush latrines were constructed. To assess the role of these latrines as productive larval habitats for mosquitoes, entomological investigations using Centers for Disease Control (CDC) light traps, visual inspection and emergence trapping were carried out in over 300 latrines during the rainy seasons of 2008–2010. Armigeres subalbatus (Diptera: Culicidae) were nine times more likely to be found in latrines (mean catch: 3.09) than in adjacent bedrooms (mean catch: 0.37) [odds ratio (OR) 9.08, 95% confidence interval (CI) 6.74–15.11] and mosquitoes were active in and around 59% of latrines at dusk. Armigeres subalbatus was strongly associated with latrines with damaged or improperly sealed septic tank covers (OR 5.44, 95% CI 2.02–14.67; P < 0.001). Armigeres subalbatus is a nuisance biter and a putative vector of Japanese encephalitis and dengue viruses. Dengue virus serotype 3 was identified from a single pool of non-blood-fed female A. subalbatus using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Maintaining a good seal around septic tanks by covering them with a layer of soil is a simple intervention to block mosquito exit/entry and contribute to vector control in resettlement villages. The scale-up of this simple, cheap intervention would have global impact in preventing the colonization of septic tanks by nuisance biting and disease-transmitting mosquitoes.

Citation

Hiscox, A., Hirooka, R., Vongphayloth, K., Hill, N., Lindsay, S., Grandadam, M., & Brey, P. (2016). Armigeres subalbatus colonization of damaged pit latrines: a nuisance and potential health risk to residents of resettlement villages in Laos. Medical and Veterinary Entomology, 30(1), 95-100. https://doi.org/10.1111/mve.12142

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jul 17, 2015
Online Publication Date Oct 28, 2015
Publication Date Mar 1, 2016
Deposit Date Dec 9, 2016
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Medical and Veterinary Entomology
Print ISSN 0269-283X
Electronic ISSN 1365-2915
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 30
Issue 1
Pages 95-100
DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/mve.12142

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Copyright Statement
This is the accepted version of the following article: Hiscox, A., Hirooka, R., Vongphayloth, K., Hill, N., Lindsay, S.W., Grandadam, M. & Brey, P.T. (2016) Armigeres subalbatus colonization of damaged pit latrines: a nuisance and potential health risk to residents of resettlement villages in Laos. Medical and Veterinary Entomology, 30(1): 95-100, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/mve.12142. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.





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