Environmental Health Clinical Posting
VECTORS & VECTOR
CONTROL
ODUNTAN Daniel Toluwani (CLI/2017/082)
&
MATTHEW Temitayo Femi (CLI/2017/075)
CLINICAL ONE
OUTLINE
• Definitions of vectors and Vector control
• Vector-borne diseases
• Types of control measure
• Integrated Vector Management (IVM)
• Control measure in mosquito
• Summary and Conclusion
• References
VECTORS
• Vectors, as defined by the California
Department of Public Health, are“any insect
or other arthropod, rodent or other animal of
public health significance capable of
harboring or transmitting the causative
agents of human disease, or capable of
causing human discomfort and injury."
Vectors
• They are organisms (most commonly
arthropods and other invertebrates) which
transmit infection by inoculation into or
through the skin or mucosa membrane by
biting or by deposit of infective materials on
the skin or on food or other objects.
• Examples of vectors include: mosquitoes, tse-
tse fly, ticks, lice, blackflies, aquatic snails
VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES
• Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) such as malaria,
dengue, and leishmaniasis exert a huge
burden of morbidity and mortality worldwide,
particularly affecting the poorest of the poor
• Many of these VBDs are co-endemic, and it is
estimated that more than half the world’s
population live in areas where 2 or more
VBDs are present
• More than 700,000 patients die of vector-
borne diseases.
• The major vector-borne diseases constitute
about 17% of the infectious diseases in the
world.
• The poorest populations of the tropical and
the sub-tropical regions are highly affected by
such diseases.
• Malaria is perhaps the best-known vector-
borne diseases in the world
VECTOR CONTROL
• Vector control serves as an important cross-
cutting activity that aims to enhance the
impact of other strategic interventions, with
specific focus on prevention of selected NTDs
whose transmission cycle relies on vectors or
intermediate hosts.
• Vector control, to a greater extent than drugs
or vaccines, has been responsible for
shrinking the map of many VBDs.
• Vector control aims to limit the transmission
of pathogens by reducing or eliminating
human contact with the vector.
PRINCIPLES OF VECTOR CONTROL
The general principles are :
• Environmental control
• Chemical control
• Biological control
• Genetic control
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
• This offers the best approach to the control of
arthropods because the results are likely to be
permanent.
• Examples of environmental manipulation include :
elimination of breeding space(source reduction);
filling and drainage operation; provision of piped
water supply; proper disposal of refuse and other
wastes; cleanliness in and around houses.
• Intensive health education of the public as well as
political supports are essential prerequisites.
CHEMICAL CONTROL
• A wide range of insecticides belonging to the
organochlorine, organophosphorus and carbamate
groups of compounds are available for vector
control.
• It must be known that vector control by
insecticides alone is no longer fully effective
because of resistance in over 100 species of
arthropods of public health importance.
• This coupled with the danger of environmental
contamination has led to restricted use of
insecticides in some countries.
• To avoid undue environmental pollution it is
now considered essential to replace gradually
the highly persistent compounds such as DDT
with compounds which are readily
biodegradable and less toxic both to man
and his surroundings.
• Such compounds include methoxyclor, abate
and dursban.
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
• As a result of environmental pollution arising from
chemical control much emphasis has now being
placed on the biological control.
• It involves using a natural predator to attack the
arthropod, eg larvivorous fish(Gambusia) is used in
mosquito control.
• Underlying this control principle is the fear that
introducing biological agents for the control of
arthropods may pose a direct hazard to man
himself.
GENETIC CONTROL
• Much progress has taken place in recent years in
the theoretical and applied aspects of genetic
control of arthropods.
• Techniques such as sterile male technique,
cytoplasmic incompatibility and chromosomal
translocations have found to be effective in small
field trials.
• It should be noted that this method is nowhere
near the stage where it can be used large scale in
an effective way.
INTEGRATED APPROACH
• Since no single method of control is likely to
provide a solution in all situations the present
trend is to adopt an integrated approach
which involves combining two or more
methods with a view to obtain maximum
results with the minimum effort and to avoid
the excessive use of any one method.
Integrated Vector Management (IVM)
• IVM is a rational decision-making process for the
optimal use of resources for vector control.
• The approach seeks to improve the efficacy, cost-
effectiveness, ecological soundness and
sustainability of disease-vector control.
• The ultimate goal is to prevent the transmission
of vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue,
Japanese encephalitis, leishmaniasis,
schistosomiasis and Chagas disease.
• The Global Strategic Framework for IVM
notes that IVM requires the establishment of
principles, decision-making criteria and
procedures, together with timeframes and
targets.
• The Framework identifies the following as five
key elements for the successful
implementation of IVM:
• Advocacy, social mobilization, regulatory control for public
health and empowerment of communities.
• Collaboration within the health sector and with other
sectors through the optimal use of resources, planning,
monitoring and decision-making.
• Integration of non-chemical and chemical vector control
methods, and integration with other disease control
measures.
• Evidence-based decision making guided by operational
research and entomological and epidemiological
surveillance and evaluation.
• Development of adequate human resources, training and
career structures at national and local level to promote
capacity building and manage IVM programmes
MOSQUITO CONTROL
• The various methods of mosquito control may be classified as below :
• 1 Anti-larval measures :
(a) Environmental control
(b) Chemical control
(c) Biological control
2 Anti-adult measures
(a) Residual sprays
(b) Space sprays
(c) Genetic control
3 Protection against mosquito bites
(a) Mosquito net
(b) Screening
(c) Repellents
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
• The most important step in reducing the numbers
of mosquitoes is to eliminate their breeding
places. This is known as Source reduction.
• It comprises minor engineering methods such as
filling, levelling and drainage of breeding places
and water management. These a re proven
methods of larva control.
• It also implies rendering the water unsuitable for
mosquito breeding (eg changing the salinity of
water) and having accurate knowledge of the
breeding habits of mosquitoes.
CHEMICAL CONTROL
• This involves the use of larvicides. The common ones are :
• (1) Mineral oils (2) Paris green (3) Synthetic insecticides
• Mineral oils : the oils most widely used are diesel oil, fuel
oil, kerosene and other fractions of crude oil. Special
oils(mosquito larvicidal oil) are now available. Oil kills
larvae and pupa within a short time of application. When
applied on water, oil spreads and forms a thin film which
cuts of air supply to the mosquito larvae and pupae.
• Oil has disadvantage in rendering the water unfit for
drinking and also kills fish that may be present in the water.
• Paris green : Paris green or copper acetoarsenite is an
emerald green, micro-crystalline powder practically
insoluble in water.
• A good paris green must contain 50% arsenious oxide.
• It is a stomach poison and it’s effective when ingested by
larvae. It kills mainly the anopheles mosquito because
they are surface-feeders.
• The dusting is accomplished by hand blowers. When
applied at the right dosage, paris green does not harm
fish, man or animal.
• Synthetic insecticides: this include fenthion, chlorpyrifos
and abate are the most effective larvicides.
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
• A wide range of small fish feed readily on
mosquito larvae.
• The best known are the Gambusia affinis and
Lebister reticulatus.
• These fishes can be used in burrow pits,
sewage oxidation pond etc
• This methods becomes effective when used in
conjunction with other methods.
Gambusia affinis Lebister reticulata
ANTI-ADULT MEASURES
• Residual sprays : adult mosquitoes are most
commonly controlled by spraying houses with
residual insecticides. DDT is the insecticide of
choice.
• In areas where DDT resistance is encountered,
malathion and propoxur are recommended.
• Space sprays : This involves spraying of the
insecticide formulation into the atmosphere in
form of a mist or fog to kill insects.
• The common space sprays are pyrethrum and
residual insecticides.
• Genetic control : their use is still in research phase.
This technique has a great potential in mosquito
control
• The advantage is that it’s cheaper, potentially
more efficient and not subject to resistance from
mosquito.
PROTECTION AGANST MOSQUITO
BITES
• Mosquito nets : This offers protection against
mosquito bites during sleep. The material of the net
should be white to allow easy detection of mosquito.
The best pattern is the rectangular net.
• Screening : screening of buildings with copper or
bronze gauze. This is costly but gives excellent results.
• Repellents : Diethyltoluamide has been found to be
an outstanding all-purpose repellent. Other examples
include indalone, diethyl carbamate. They are used
only mainly for application on the skin, and their chief
advantage is the short duration of protection.
CONCLUSION
• Analyses of the public health ethics on vector
control demonstrated that community engagement
is vital
• Effective vector prevention control is an effective
way of reducing morbidity and mortality, especially
in the developing countries
• Who.int
• Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
• Sciencedirect.com
THANK YOU
