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Washington: A disease control center has developed an AGO trap (Autocidal Gravid Ovidrap) that attracts and captures female mosquitoes looking for a site to lay their eggs. The researchers reported that AGO traps successfully protected people from the chikungunya virus.
The lack of effective tools to control Aedes aegypti mosquito populations has resulted in the continued expansion of dengue virus, Zika virus and chikungunya virus. Some recent attempts to reduce mosquito populations have resulted in reduced mosquito density but not a reduction in human disease.
AGO traps consist of a bucket containing hay and water to attract female mosquitoes that carry eggs, as well as a sticky liner on which insects adhere. Previous studies have shown that setting up three AGO traps outside 85% of households in a community resulted in an 80% reduction in adult mosquito populations, but studies did not badess rates. of diseases transmitted by mosquitoes in humans, reported the study published in the journal of neglected tropical diseases PLOS.
The researchers randomly selected 290 households from Puerto Rican communities that had undergone AGO trap intervention and 349 households from communities without AGO traps. The study involved 175 household members from intervention communities and 152 community members not involved in the intervention.
Blood samples were taken from each participant to detect chikungunya virus infection. Surveys were also conducted, which included demographic data, as well as data on the use of an insect repellent, mosquito net bed and mosquito bites frequency.
A total of 114 participants (34.9%) were seropositive for the chikungunya virus. Of the people who spent most of their daytime hours in their community, 10.3% were positive for chikungunya virus in communities with AGO traps, while 48.7% were positive for chikungunya virus in communities with communities without traps. Among all participants, including those who spent less time in the daylight in the community, 26.1% were positive for chikungunya virus in the intervention communities and 43.8% were positive in the community. communities without a trap.
"AGO traps are a new, effective, chemical-free approach to controlling Ae. aegypti and provide protection against infection by the pathogens that these mosquitoes transmit. Subsequent badessments should determine whether AGO traps are durable and effective in large-scale community trials, "said one of the study's researchers.
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