Culex quinquefasciatus is a peridomestic mosquito known for its ability to transmit pathogenic diseases such as filariasis and Japanese encephalitis. The development and use of novel and innovative vector control measures such as the utilization of Wolbachia, along with the existing ones, are necessary to prevent the transmission o

Many host genetic factors are associated with the disease severity and fatal outcome of falciparum malaria. CD40L gene has been found to be one of the most important factors associated with malaria in African countries. This study was aimed to investigate the possible association of CD40L gene polymorphism in severe falciparum malaria in Indian adults.

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Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection has recently witnessed re-emergence, affecting rural areas of India with high morbidity rates. This prospective study was conducted to evaluate seroprevalence and clinical manifestation in targeted villages reporting cases of CHIKV infection. A total of 482 patients were recruited from Kalmana and Kothari villages of Ballarpur; Chandrapur district of Maharashtra state, India during CHIKV outbreaks in 2011–12. The serum samples from infected CHIKV patients were simultaneously screened through ELISA for detection of antigen and antibodies (IgM and IgG).

The major mosquito vectors of human diseases have co-evolved with humans over a long period of time. However, the rapid growth in human population and the associated expansion in agricultural activity and greater urbanisation have created ecological changes that have had a marked impact on biology of mosquito vectors.

Rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kits are widely used in India for the diagnosis of dengue infection. It is important to evaluate the validity and reliability of these RDTs. The study was aimed to determine the sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of four commercially available RDTs [Panbio Dengue Duo cassette, Standard Diagnostics (SD) Bioline Dengue Duo, J. Mitra Dengue Day-1 test and Reckon Dengue IgG/IgM] against composite reference criteria (CRC), and compare the cost of the tests.

Fly ash is produced in huge quantities by the various thermal power stations in India. This thermal waste has been employed as a carrier material in the preparation of a biopesticidal water dispersible powder (WDP) formulation for use against mosquitoes. In the present investigation, this newly developed fly ash based WDP formulation was evaluated in natural breeding habitats of mosquito.

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Culex quinquefasciatus is one of the principal vectors of West Nile virus (WNV). The mosquito also acts as a bridge vector as it feeds on both birds and humans. In the background of the recent reports of WNV activity in Kerala and Assam with fatalities, a study was initiated to determine the growth kinetics and transmission mechanisms of three strains of WNV in two populations of Cx. quinquefasciatus.

Original Source

Dengue virus infection has recently taken endemic proportions in India with dengu type-3 (DEN-3) as a predominant serotype. In this study, we carried out the selection pressure analysis of three critical immunogenic
regions of DEN-3. Phylogenetic analysis was then carried out on the positively selected genomic region in the DEN-3 virus strains isolated in the Indian subcontinent over a time span of 25 yr (1984–2008). Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) calculation of the substitution rate was carried out for the DEN-3 genotype-III sequences.

Mosquito control with the use of insecticides is faced with the challenges of insecticide resistance in disease vectors, community refusal, their high cost, operational difficulties, and environmental concern. In view of this, integrated vector control strategies with the use of larvivorous fishes such as Guppy (Poecilia reticulata) and Gambusia (G.