Impact of Phlebotomine Sand Flies on United State Military Operations at Tallil Air Base, Iraq: 6. Evaluation of Insecticides for the Control of Sand Flies

Abstract

We conducted a series of field experiments in 2003 and 2004 to evaluate the efficacy of a variety of insecticides and insecticide application technologies for the control of phlebotomine sand flies at Tallil Airbase, Iraq. During the experiments, 53,263 sand flies were collected. The experiments evaluated the following: (1) routine sand fly control operations using a variety of residual and area-wide insecticides; (2) a combination of five different insecticide application methods in and around tents; (3) residual application of lambda-cyhalothrin and ultra-low volume application of pyrethrins in houses; (4) carbaryl and lambda-cyhalothrin applied as barrier sprays; (5) a deltamethrin-impregnated fence; (6) lambda-cyhalothrin applied as a residual spray in concrete manholes; (7) deltamethrin-treated flooring in tents; and 8) ultra-low volume-applied malathion. Although some of the experiments resulted in limited reductions in the number of sand flies collected in light traps, in no instance did we completely eliminate sand flies or reduce populations for a sustained period. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Acetylcholinesterase of the sand fly, Phlebotomus papatasi (Scopoli): cDNA sequence, baculovirus expression, and biochemical properties

“…Additionally, zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis can seriously affect the operational readiness of United States military personnel deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan [41]. Attempts by the U.S. military to control sand flies through the use of chemical pesticides were not highly successful, possibly due to extreme environmental conditions [14,15], and pesticide bioassays did not reveal evidence of insecticide resistance. Chemical pesticides have been used in several ways for insect control, including area-wide applications for malaria control in the same areas inhabited by P. papatasi .…”

“…Use of synthetic sand fly pheromone as an attractant was reported to improve effectiveness of pesticide application for control of the new world sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis in chicken sheds [13]. Attempts to control Phlebotomus papatasi by various types of insecticide application has had questionable effectiveness, particularly in the harsh environments reported during combat operations by the U.S. military in Iraq [14,15], although there was no evidence of significant insecticide resistance.…”

Leishmaniasis Worldwide and Global Estimates of Its Incidence

“…Based on our surveillance program, we do not know whether our ULV missions had any impact on sand fly populations. Coleman et al (2011) found that various insecticide applications, including ULV, did not have a significant effect against sand flies in southern Iraq.…”

Modelling canine leishmaniasis spread to non-endemic areas of Europe

“…By contrast, in an earlier CanL modelling article, Dye [9] concluded that insecticide use was more effective than vaccination. However, Dye [9] modelled the disease in an endemic area, and the effect of the insecticide as a percentage of change in the mortality rate of sandflies, whereas in the present study P per was estimated in a previously CanL-free area and insecticide use was modelled as decreasing the vector density proportionally to its efficacy [8].…”

“…Clinical trials have been used to evaluate the individual effect of mitigation measures (MMs) to control CanL infection [6][7][8]. In a simulation model, Dye [9] also evaluated the relative reduction in CanL incidence by varying the (unknown) efficacy of different MMs.…”