title: Release of thiotepa sterilized males into caged populations of Aedes aegypti: life table analysis.
abstract: Successful SIT trials against mosquitoes in the 1960-70s were achieved by sterilizing male mosquitoes using chemosterilants. Their use was discontinued after concerns were raised about the effect of residues on non-target organisms, although scant evidence has been published. Irradiation is an expensive process; chemosterilization could be an affordable option for implementing SIT programs in developing countries. We compare life table parameters of three Aedes aegypti populations comprising different ratios of thiotepa-treated and non-treated males in order to identify the impact on reproductive potential of the presence of sterile males. No difference was observed in the survival of the treated and untreated males. The release of thiotepa sterilized males into caged Ae. aegypti populations had no effect on death or survival probability of the individuals in the cages but the fecundity of females was significantly reduced, as evaluated by hatch rate and stable age structure parameters. The significant decreases in net reproduction rate, finite rate of natural increase and intrinsic rate of natural increase in populations including sterile males are sufficient to indicate that such populations would not be able to proliferate in natural conditions. This suggests that release of Ae. aegypti thiotepa-treated males could be effective in reducing the reproductive capability of the target population and consequently contribute to vector control.
authors: Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kourí, Cuba. Electronic address: rene@ipk.sld.cu.
authors: René
authors: R
authors: Gato
authors: Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kourí, Cuba.
authors: Ariamys
authors: A
authors: Companioni
authors: Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kourí, Cuba.
authors: Rosa Y
authors: RY
authors: Bruzón
authors: Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kourí, Cuba.
authors: Zulema
authors: Z
authors: Menéndez
authors: Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kourí, Cuba.
authors: Aileen
authors: A
authors: González
authors: Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kourí, Cuba.
authors: Misladys
authors: M
authors: Rodríguez
mesh_terms: D000330:Aedes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D000818:Animals; D002629:Chemosterilants / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D015993:Life Tables; D008297:Male; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods; D012098:Reproduction; D013245:Sterilization, Reproductive / Q000379:methods*; D013852:Thiotepa / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002629:Chemosterilants; D013852:Thiotepa
keywords: Aedes aegypti; Chemosterilization; Life table; SIT; Sterile insect technique; Thiotepa