Field Validation of the GravidAedesTrap (GAT) for Collection ofAedes aegypti(Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract

Current surveillance methods for adult Aedes aegypti (L.) are expensive, require electrical power (e.g., the BG-Sentinel trap, BGS), are labor intensive (aspirators), or require difficult to use and costly adhesives (sticky ovitraps). Field trials were conducted in Cairns (Australia) to compare the efficacy of the newly designed Gravid Aedes Trap (GAT) against existing sticky ovitraps (MosquiTRAP and double sticky ovitrap) and the BGS. Latin square design trials confirmed that alarge GAT using a 9.2-liters bucket treated with Mortein Barrier Outdoor Surface Spray ([AI] 0.3 g/kg imiprothrin and 0.6 g/kg deltamethrin) outperformed a smaller 1.2-liters GAT and collected, on average, 3.7x and 2.4X more female Ae. aegypti than the MosquiTRAP and double sticky ovitrap, respectively. Field trials showed that the GAT collected 10-50% less female Ae. aegypti than the BGS trap but 30% more gravid mosquitoes than the BGS. Trials using the BGS and the GAT indicated that there was no difference in capture rates between female Ae. aegypti uninfected and infected with the wMel strain of Wolbachia, and wMel infection rates were nearly identical at >90% to field captured Ae. aegypti. The potential for the GAT to be used for dengue virus surveillance was also demonstrated with dengue virus type 3 RNA detected in five-sixths and six-sixths pools ofAe. aegypti stored in a GAT held at 28 degreeC and 60% relative humidity for 7 and 14 d, respectively. Mosquito knock down in GATs treated with Mortein surface spray set in 30, 70, and 99% shade was comparable for up to 2 mo, with only approximately 10% of adults escaping. The GAT is therefore a useful tool for capturing adult Ae. aegypti and may be suitable for other container-inhabiting species such as Aedes albopictus (Skuse) and Culex quinquefasciatus Say. The low cost and practicality of operation make the GAT suitable for vector surveillance and projects requiring monitoring of mosquitoes for Wolbachia and arboviruses, especially in developing countries.

Development of the Gravid <I>Aedes</I> Trap for the Capture of Adult Female Container-Exploiting Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae)

“…Of all prototypes evaluated, the GAT with a large bucket and black funnel (LgBF) proved to be the more effective in collecting gravid mosquitoes than any other prototype tested here, and will be referred to as the standard GAT used in the Þeld validation study (Ritchie et al 2014). The GAT-LgBF with a white lid, producing a blackÐwhite contrast, did outperform the standard LgBF in semiÞeld conditions.…”

Assessing the Relationship between Vector Indices and Dengue Transmission: A Systematic Review of the Evidence

“…Nonetheless, it is possible to aim to sample adult mosquitoes as a routine procedure with minimal additional training and resources. A number of novel sampling devices [61]–[63] offer the potential to monitor vectors during outbreaks [64] and at the spatial scale required to accurately sample populations of Ae. aegypti [65].…”

Assessing quality of life-shortening Wolbachia-infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in the field based on capture rates and morphometric assessments

“…These effects on mosquito fitness and morphology were successfully detected using double sticky traps (DSTs) when coupled with mosquito monitoring based on BGS-traps. We recommend that future biocontrol releases using Aedes aegypti or related species should include a deployment of DSTs or the new gravid Aedes trap [56] for evaluating mosquito quality. This approach provides a rapid assessment of fitness under field conditions, which is likely to be more informative in predicting field performance than laboratory-based measures of fitness.…”