Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
2
Department of Entomology, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Abbassia- Cairo, Egypt.
Abstract
Medically, the most dangerous genera are Anopheles, Aedes and Culex due to their ability to transmit mosquito-borne human diseases, such as malaria, yellow fever, chikungunya, lymphatic filariasis, dengue fever, hemorrhagic fever and encephalitis. Mosquito control is a prerequisite work for fighting the increasing mosquito populations and mosquito-borne diseases. Generally, chemical insecticides have been widely used to suppress mosquito populations but these chemicals were evidenced to be less-than-perfect solutions for the long-lasting control of mosquitoes due to the development of insecticide resistance in all mosquito species and different hazards all over the world. Therefore, the search for alternative agents is urgent to avoid or minimize the insecticidal hazards on ecosystem components. One of the potential alternatives is biological control which received great research attention in the world. One of these biocontrol agents is Entomopathogenic Nematodes (EPNs). Therefore, the objective of the present article was primarily to review the current knowledge focusing on the use of EPNs for controlling mosquito vectors. It highlighted the global attention to EPN application as a novel strategy for combating mosquito vectors. Also, this review discussed the pathogenic efficiencies of three EPNs, Mermithidae, Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae. Other important issues had been reviewed, such as diverse susceptibility of mosquito larvae and variation of EPN virulence, Key parameters and environmental conditions affecting the virulence of EPNs against mosquito larvae, EPN-symbiotic bacteria and their potential role for the control of mosquito vectors and Suppressive activity of EPN/symbiotic bacteria complex against innate immune defences of mosquito larvae. This review provided, also, some future prospects for the EPN application for controlling mosquito vectors. In conclusion, EPNs can be equal to chemical pesticides against human-disease-transmitting mosquitoes if they are applied in critical concentration under suitable environmental conditions and precautions for application.
Keywords
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