Field trial of Bacillus sphaericus strain B-101 (serotype H5a, 5b) against filariasis and Japanese encephalitis vectors in India.
A large-scale operational field trial was conducted from June 1993 to October 1994 to evaluate the efficacy of Bacillus sphaericus (strain B-101, serotype H5a,5b) for control of the vectors of filariasis (Culex quinquefasciatus) and Japanese encephalitis (Cx. tritaeniorhynchus and Cx. vishnui) in Rourkela city. Application of B. sphaericus, when sprayed at 1 g/m2 in storm drains, wastewater pools, abandoned masonry tanks, peripheral paddy fields, ditches, and other small water collections and at 4 g/m2 in domestic septic tanks, significantly reduced larval and pupal counts (P < 0.0001) and significantly reduced the percentage of habitats containing larvae (3rd-4th instars) (P < 0.0001) as compared with routine antilarval measures. This in turn resulted in a reduction in the indoor density of disease vectors in particular and a reduction in mosquito nuisance in general. The trial demonstrated that B. sphaericus has good potential for use against disease vectors and mosquito breeding in polluted as well as clean waters.
Yadav
R S
RS
Malaria Research Centre, Delhi, India.
Sharma
V P
VP
Upadhyay
A K
AK
D000818:Animals; D001407:Bacillus / Q000145:classification*; D003465:Culex; D017753:Ecosystem; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000517:prevention & control; D005368:Filariasis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007303:Insect Vectors; D007814:Larva; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods*; D012703:Serotyping; D013045:Species Specificity