Ivermectin as a rodent feed-through insecticide for control of immature sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae)

T. M. Mascari, M. A. Mitchell, E. D. Rowton, L. D. Foil

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Ivermectin was evaluated as a potential rodent feed-through for the control of immature stages of Phlebotomus papatasi. The survival of sand fly larvae fed feces of Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) that had been fed a diet containing 0, 2, 6, 10, 20, 60, or 100 ppm ivermectin was measured. Sand fly larvae fed the feces of ivermectin-treated hamsters had significantly reduced survival, with 100 mortality of larvae fed feces of hamsters fed a diet containing 20, 60, and 100 ppm ivermectin. The results of this study suggest that a control strategy using rodent baits containing ivermectin to control phlebotomine sand flies may be possible. Because rodent reservoirs and sand fly vectors of Leishmania major live in close association in many parts of the Middle East, the control of transmission of the agent of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis also may be possible.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)323-326
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of the American Mosquito Control Association
Volume24
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2008

Keywords

  • Feed-through
  • Ivermectin
  • Larval control
  • Leishmaniasis
  • Sand fly

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Insect Science
  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

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