Open AccessPilot trial using mass field-releases of sterile males produced with the incompatible and sterile insect techniques as part of integrated Aedes aegypti control in Mexico
Author(s) -
Abdiel Martín-Park,
Azael Che-Mendoza,
Yamili Contreras-Perera,
Silvia Pérez-Carrillo,
Henry Puerta-Guardo,
Josué Villegas-Chim,
Guillermo Guillermo-May,
Anuar Medina-Barreiro,
Hugo Delfín-González,
Rosa Eugenia Méndez-Vales,
Santos Vázquez-Narvaez,
Jorge Palacio-Vargas,
Fabián Correa-Morales,
Guadalupe Ayora-Talavera,
Norma Pavía-Ruz,
Liang Xiao,
Ping Fu,
Dongjing Zhang,
Xiaohua Wang,
María Eugenia Toledo-Romani,
Zhiyong Xi,
Gonzalo M. VazquezProkopec,
Pablo Manrique-Saide
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
plos neglected tropical diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.99
H-Index - 135
eISSN - 1935-2735
pISSN - 1935-2727
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010324
Subject(s) - sterile insect technique , aedes aegypti , biology , aedes , toxicology , zoology , ecology , larva , botany , pest analysis
Background The combination of Wolbachia -based incompatible insect technique (IIT) and radiation-based sterile insect technique (SIT) can be used for population suppression of Aedes aegypti . Our main objective was to evaluate whether open-field mass-releases of w AlbB-infected Ae . aegypti males, as part of an Integrated Vector Management (IVM) plan led by the Mexican Ministry of Health, could suppress natural populations of Ae . aegypti in urbanized settings in south Mexico. Methodology/Principal findings We implemented a controlled before-and-after quasi-experimental study in two suburban localities of Yucatan (Mexico): San Pedro Chimay (SPC), which received IIT-SIT, and San Antonio Tahdzibichén used as control. Release of w AlbB Ae . aegypti males at SPC extended for 6 months (July-December 2019), covering the period of higher Ae . aegypti abundance. Entomological indicators included egg hatching rates and outdoor/indoor adult females collected at the release and control sites. Approximately 1,270,000 lab-produced w AlbB-infected Ae . aegypti males were released in the 50-ha treatment area (2,000 w AlbB Ae . aegypti males per hectare twice a week in two different release days, totaling 200,000 male mosquitoes per week). The efficacy of IIT-SIT in suppressing indoor female Ae . aegypti density (quantified from a generalized linear mixed model showing a statistically significant reduction in treatment versus control areas) was 90.9% a month after initiation of the suppression phase, 47.7% two months after (when number of released males was reduced in 50% to match local abundance), 61.4% four months after (when initial number of released males was re-established), 88.4% five months after and 89.4% at six months after the initiation of the suppression phase. A proportional, but lower, reduction in outdoor female Ae . aegypti was also quantified (range, 50.0–75.2% suppression). Conclusions/Significance Our study, the first open-field pilot implementation of Wolbachia IIT-SIT in Mexico and Latin-America, confirms that inundative male releases can significantly reduce natural populations of Ae . aegypti . More importantly, we present successful pilot results of the integration of Wolbachia IIT-SIT within a IVM plan implemented by Ministry of Health personnel.