Seasonal prevalence of mosquitoes collected from light traps with notes on malaria in the Republic of Korea, 2004

Adult mosquito surveillance was conducted during 2004 at 29 US military installations and training sites located in six provinces in the Republic of Korea. Adult mosquitoes were collected in New Jersey light traps and Magnet traps from 1 May through 15 October to determine threshold levels to initiate pesticide applications and to identify malaria infection rates at selected army installations and training sites. A total of 89 206 adults (78 454 [87.9%] females and 10 752 [12.1%] males) comprising 20 species (including five members of the Anopheles Hyrcanus Group) and belonging to seven genera were collected. The most common species collected were members of Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles (49.4%) and Anopheles sinensis Wiedemann complex (39.1%), followed by Culex pipiens Coquillett (6.1%) and Aedes vexans nipponii (Theobald) (4.2%). Trap indices varied widely for species over their range, due in part to geographical distribution and degree of association with urban communities.     

Seasonal prevalence of mosquitoes collected from light traps in the Republic of Korea in 2003

Surveillance of adult mosquitoes was conducted at 29 US military installations and training sites in six provinces in the Republic of Korea during 2003. Adult mosquitoes were collected in New Jersey light traps and dry ice‐baited New Jersey light traps from 1 May to 15 October. Mosquito surveillance was conducted to determine threshold levels to initiate pesticide applications and identify malaria infection rates at selected army installations and training sites. A total of 42 024 adult mosquitoes (32 594 females [77.6%] and 9430 males [22. 4%]) comprising 14 species and Anopheles sinensis s.l. (a complex of five species), representing seven genera, were collected. The most common species were members of the Anopheles sinensis Wiedemann complex (54.9%), followed by Aedes vexans nipponii (Theobald) (19.0%), Culex pipiens Coquillett (14.3%) and Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles (10.6%). Trap indices varied widely for species over their range, due in part to geographical distribution and degree of association with urban communities.     

Seasonal prevalence of mosquitoes collected from light traps in the Republic of Korea, 2006

Adult mosquito surveillance was conducted during 2006 at 22 US Army and Air Force installations and two training sites located in six provinces in the Republic of Korea. Adult mosquitoes were collected in New Jersey light traps from 1 May through 15 October 2006 to determine threshold levels to initiate pesticide applications based on trap indices. In total 16 217 adult mosquitoes [13 612 (83.9%) females and 2605 (16.1%) males] comprising 16 species (including five members of the Anopheles sinensis Group) belonging to eight genera were collected. Females of the most commonly collected species were members of the Anopheles sinensis Wiedemann Group (58.9%), followed by Aedes vexans nipponii (Theobald) (21.3%), Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles (11.8%) and Culex pipiens Coquillett (5.2%). Trap indices varied widely for species over their range, due in part, to their geographical distribution and degree of association with urban or rural communities.     

Seasonal prevalence of mosquitoes collected from light traps in the Republic of Korea, 2007

Adult mosquito surveillance was conducted using New Jersey light traps from 1 May to 15 October during 2007 at 14 US Army and three Air Force installations and two US Army training sites located in six provinces in the Republic of Korea to determine threshold levels to initiate pesticide applications based on trap indices. A total of 24 013 adult mosquitoes (19 763 [82.3%] females and 4250 [17.1%] males) comprising 16 species (including five members of the Anopheles Hyrcanus Group) and belonging to seven genera were collected. Females of the most commonly collected species were members of the Anopheles Hyrcanus Group (52.1%), followed by, Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles (20.6%), Culex pipiens Coquillett (13.8%), and Aedes vexans nipponii (Theobald) (11.6%). Trap indices varied widely for species over their range, due in part, to geographical distribution and degree of association with urban or rural communities.     

Seasonal Prevalence of Mosquitoes Collected from Light Traps in the Republic of Korea, 2002

Adult mosquito surveillance was conducted during 2002 at 30 US military installations and training sites located in six provinces in the Republic of Korea (ROK). Adult mosquitoes were collected in New Jersey and dry ice ‐baited New Jersey light traps from 1 May through 15 October. Mosquito surveillance was conducted to determine threshold levels to initiate pesticide applications and identify malaria infection rates at selected Army installations and training sites. A total of 100,617 adults [82,410 (81.9%) females and 18,207 (18.1%) males] comprising 17 species and 7 genera were collected during 2002. The most common species collected were Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles (49.5%), Anopheles sinensis Wiedemann (30.9%), Culex pipiens Coquillett(11.8%) and Aedes vexans nipponii (Theobald) (7.1%). Trap indices (TIs) varied widely for species over their range, due in part, to geographical distribution and degree of association with urban communities. Anopheles sinensis were collected at the same level while Culex tritaeniorhynchus increased by 27.2% in 2001, due in part to very high populations of Culex tritaeniorhynchus at Gunsan Air Base. The weekly population densities for some species were variable for each of the years, apparently as a result of variable annual weather conditions. None of Anopheles sp. assayed for plasmodium vivax (Pv) malaria infections by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) were positive.     

Seasonal Prevalence of Mosquitoes Collected from Light Traps in the Republic of Korea, 2001

ABSTRACT Adult mosquito surveillance was conducted during 2001 at 28 US military installations and training sites located in five provinces in the Republic of Korea (ROK). Adult mosquitoes were collected in New Jersey and dry ice-baited CDC-type light traps from 1 May through 15 October. Mosquito surveillance was conducted to determine threshold levels to initiate pesticide applications and identify malaria infection rates at selected Army installations and training sites. A total of 61,584 adults [45,814 (74.4%) females and 15,770 (25.6%) males] comprising 17 species and 7 genera were collected during 2001. The most common species collected were Anopheles sinensis Wiedemann (36.3%), Aedes vexans nipponii (Theobald) (23.1%), Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles (22.3%) and Culex pipiens Coquillett (17.6%). Trap indices (TIs) varied widely for species over their range, due in part, to geographical distribution and degree of association with urban communities. During 2001, the TI for An. sinensis was 19.6 females/trap night compared to years 1999 and 2000, when the TI for the Munsan area was 1.4 and 2.9 times (27.7 and 57.4 TI) greater, respectively. The weekly population densities for some species were variable for each of the years, apparently as a result of variable annual weather conditions. None of the 16,302 Anopheles sinensis assayed for plasmodium vivax (Pv) malaria infections by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) were positive.     

Seasonal Prevalence of Mosquitoes Collected from Light Traps in Gyeongsangnam Province,Republic of Korea (2013–2014)

Adult mosquito surveillance was conducted from 2013 through 2014 at four cattle sheds, a wild bird refuge, and two residential areas located in Gyeongnam Province in the Republic of Korea. Adult mosquitoes were collected in black light traps from April 1, through November 30. Mosquito surveillance was conducted to figure out population densities of vector mosquitoes, possibly invaded mosquitoes and identify various virus infections at the selected sites. A total of 107,466 females comprising 14 species and 7 genera were collected from 2013 to 2014. The most common species collected were Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles (63.8%), Anopheles sinensis s.l. (18.9%), Aedes vexans nipponii (Theobald) (7.7%), and Culex pipiens Coquillett (5.1%). Trap indices (TIs) varied widely for species over their range, due to geographical distribution and degree of association with rural and urban communities . The most collected An. sinensis s.l. and Cx. tritaeniorhynchus appeared at a cow shed in Hapcheon (TI 347.5) and a pigsty in Daejeo‐1‐dong, Busan (TI 1,040.8), respectively, due in part to their situation near breeding sites such as rice paddies. The bi‐weekly population densities for mosquito species were variable for each of the years, apparently as a result of variable annual weather conditions. None of the mosquito species collected tested for the flavivirus including Japanese Encephalitis Virus, West Nile Virus, Dengue Virus, and Zika Virus infections by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay were positive.     

Seasonal prevalence and host-seeking of mosquitoes in southeastern Republic of Korea

Adult mosquito surveillance was conducted at two sites at Gijang-gun, Busan southeastern area of the Korean peninsula, in 2004. The most frequently collected species at cow sheds were Anopheles sinensis sensu lato (s.l.) (83.4%), followed by Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles (8.2%), Culex pipiens Coquillett (5.6%) and Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (2.4%). Adult populations of An. sinensis s.l. peaked during July (Trap Index, TI 1043.1), declining in August (TI 659.4) and September (TI 462.9) in 2004, while Cx. tritaeniorhynchus populations increased in August (TI 77.5) and September (TI 35.9). Adult Cx. tritaeniorhynchus was first collected in the second week of May (TI 4.0) and increased through August with two population peaks in the third week of July (TI 98.0) and the second week of August (TI 99.5). Armigeres subalbatus (Coquillett) was the most frequently collected mosquito at human-landing collections (30.4%) followed by An. sinensis s.l. (28.6%) and members of the Cx. pipiens complex (19.3%). Anopheles sinensis s.l. demonstrated two peaks of host-seeking activity at 22.00–23.00 hours and 02.00–03.00 hours in July, while in August the host-seeking peaks appeared at 22.00–23.00 hours and 03.00–04.00 hours. The black light trap collections of An. sinensis and Cx. tritaeniorhynchus demonstrated significant correlations to the ambient temperatures.     

Seasonal Prevalence of Mosquitoes Collected from Light Traps in Korea (1999-2000)

ABSTRACT Adult mosquito collections were conducted from 1999 through 2000 at 29 US military installations located in six provinces in the Republic of Korea (ROK). Adult mosquitoes were collected in New Jersey light traps from 15 May to 15 October each year. Adult mosquito surveillance was conducted to determine the appropriate time for pesticide applications at each of the Army installations. A total of 68,051 and 62,526 adults were collected in 1999 and 2000 respectively, comprising 53,983 (79.3%) females and 14,068 (20.7%) males in 1999, and 50,274 (80.4%) females and 12,252 (19.6%) males in 2000. A total of 19 species from 7 genera were collected. The most common species collected were Anopheles sinensis (34.2%), Culex tritaeniorhynchus (29.4%), Aedes vexans nipponii (18.2%) and Culex pipiens (16.8%). Anopheles sinensis were collected at the same level while Culex tritaeniorhynchus decreased by 6.2% in 2000. The weekly population densities for some species were variable for each of the years, apparently as a result of changing weather conditions.     

Seasonal dynamics of Anopheles species at three locations in the Republic of Korea

Weekly changes in adult Anopheles species were monitored at Camp Humphreys (CH), Ganghwa Island (GH), and Warrior Base (WB), from May‐October, 2009–2010 to explore the relationship between Plasmodium vivax development and vector dynamics in the Republic of Korea (ROK). Adult females were trapped and dissected to determine parity for estimating longevity, mortality, and birthrate. A degree‐day (DD) method was used to estimate the extrinsic incubation period (EIP) of P. vivax and duration of the gonotrophic cycle and other life stages. Anopheles sinensis was the predominant species, with satellite data showing peak abundance occurring after the period of maximum greenness. Abundance peaks were location dependent, comprised nulliparous and parous females, and timing could not be fully explained by DD estimation. Parity showed synchronicity between locations and years and was highest for September and lowest during maximum greenness. Mosquito longevity was predicted to exceed the EIP (when malaria transmission is possible) during weeks 29, 31, 34, and near the end of the season. Area‐wide changes in parity suggest a common cause; information on local larval habitat and agricultural practices may explain location‐specific effects. DD estimates of EIP and parity could be used to predict when conditions are suitable for P. vivax transmission.     

Insecticide susceptibility and resistance of Culex tritaeniorhynchus (Diptera: Culicidae) larvae collected from Gwangju,Republic of Korea

The susceptibility of Culex tritaeniorhynchus collected from Gwangju, Jeollabuk Province, Republic of Korea (ROK) to insecticides was evaluated under laboratory conditions using ten insecticides (7 pyrethroids and 3 organophosphates) that are currently applied by local public health centers in the ROK. Based on the values of median lethal concentration (LC₅₀), Cx. tritaeniorhynchus larvae were most susceptible to chlorpyrifos (0.006 ppm), fenitrothion (0.022 ppm), fenthion (0.035 ppm) and bifenthrin (0.038 ppm), and were least susceptible to esbiol (1.722 ppm). In comparative resistance tests, the resistance ratios (RRs) of seven insecticides were compared among each other using two strains of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus that were collected from the same locality during 1992 and 2010. Culex tritaeniorhynchus demonstrated significantly increased RRs to pyrethroids over time, while demonstrating decreased RRs among the organophosphates. Among the pyrethroids, permethrin had the highest RR values of 182.1‐ and 833.3‐fold differences, followed by etofenprox with RRs of 138.4‐ and 224.1‐fold differences in values of LC₅₀ and concentration that produced 90% mortality (LC₉₀), respectively. Culex tritaeniorhynchus strains demonstrated the least amount of change in susceptibility to the organophosphates, chlorpyrifos, fenitrothion and fenthion with 0.020‐, 0.019‐ and 0.001‐fold differences in resistance ratios (RRLC₅₀), respectively.     

Historical review and surveillance of Japanese encephalitis, Republic of Korea, 2002–2004

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), transmitted by culicine mosquitoes, is endemic throughout much of South‐East Asia, extending to the Korean Peninsula. The zoonotic cycle is from large water birds to culicine mosquitoes, with swine as an amplifying host and man as an incidental host. Culex tritaeniorhynchus, the primary JEV vector in the Republic of Korea, populations peak in late August through to early September when most cases of Japanese encephalitis (JE) are reported. Cx. tritaeniorhynchus were observed near the Demilitarized Zone in each of the years that mosquitoes were assayed for JEV. Each year that vector mosquitoes were assayed for JEV, minimum field infection rates (number of JEV positive mosquites/1000 Cx. tritaeniorhynchus assayed) ranged from 0.31 to 3.27. The epidemiology of JE has been recorded in Korea for more than half a century, from 1949 to 2005. During a major epidemic in 1949, there were 5616 cases and 2729 deaths reported, with levels persisting near epidemic levels of 1000 cases annually thereafter until 1969. Following the introduction and government mandated mass immunization in 1971, JE decreased dramatically. Since 1984, 0–6 cases of JE have been reported each year. However, continued evidence of mosquitoes positive for JEV indicates that JE continues to be a civilian and military health threat to immunocompromised persons in Korea, as well as non‐immune US soldiers, civilians and their family members.     

Seasonal prevalence of the Culex pipiens group (Diptera: Culicidae) larvae occurring in a puddle in the basement of an apartment building

The seasonal prevalence of the Culex pipiens group larvae occurring in a puddle in the basement of an apartment building was investigated from June 1993 to May 1994 (Period I), and from June 1994 to May 1995 (Period II). Totals of 25 237 individuals in Period I and 4989 individuals in Period II were collected: they were all C. pipiens group larvae, most of which were C. pipiens molestus. In Period I, the larvae occurred at a relatively low density in the hot months July and August; density began to increase from the cooler late September, peaked in late November, and was maintained at a high level until the third week of December. In Period II, in which mean air temperature was 5°C higher as of July and August than in Period I, larvae sharply decreased in number by one‐fifth of the total volume in Period I, and showed a peak density in the third week of July, and the peak continued until mid‐December. In Period I, the low temperature was favorable for oviposition activity of C. pipiens molestus, and accounts for the higher density of larvae in Period I than in Period II. C. pipiens molestus mostly stopped laying eggs between early December and late January. Larvae were not collected in March and April 1994 and in April 1995. However, considering that adult mosquitoes had been collected throughout the two periods except in March 1994, adults of C. pipiens molestus are thought to appear throughout the year.     

Insecticide susceptibility of Culex pipiens pallens (L.) and Aedes albopictus (Skuke) to five commonly used pesticides in the Republic of Korea

Field collected populations of two mosquito species, Culex pipiens pallens and Aedes albopictus, were tested for susceptibility to five pyrethroid insecticides using a topical application bioassay. The laboratory strain of Cx. pipiens pallens (KS‐CP) demonstrated the most and the lowest susceptibility to deltamethrin and d‐cis/trans prallethrine with LD₅₀ values of 0.00022 μg/♀ and 0.00178 μg/♀, respectively, while Ae. albopictus (KS‐AL) showed the greatest and the lowest susceptibility to phthalethrin and deltamethrin with LD₅₀ values of 0.00015 μg/♀ and 0.00085 μg/♀, respectively. Cx. pipiens pallens (JF‐CP) collected at a nearby rice field in Jeonju showed the greatest susceptibility to deltamethrin (LD₅₀ value of 0.0473 μg/♀) and the resistance ratios (RRs) and compared to the laboratory strain were 215 fold greater. JF‐CP demonstrated the lowest susceptibility to d‐cis/trans phenothrin (0.7697 μg/♀) with RRs 711.0 fold greater than the KS‐CP. An Ae. albopictus (JF‐AL) collected at a nearby forest in Jeonju showed the highest susceptibility to deltamethrin (0.00203 μg/♀) with RRs 2.4 fold greater than the KS‐AL. JF‐AL demonstrated the lowest susceptibility to d‐cis/trans prallethrine (LD₅₀ value 0.00646 μg/♀) with RRs 9.4 fold greater than the KS‐AL. JF‐AL demonstrated the greatest resistance to phthalethrin with RRs 39.3 fold greater than the KS‐AL. Resistance ratios of Cx. pipiens pallens between field and laboratory strains ranged from 215.0 to 711.0 and Ae. albopictus ranged from 2.4 to 39.3. These results indicate that the choice of effective insecticides to selected species of mosquito populations will result in more effective control against field strains of mosquito vectors and decrease environmental pollution.     

Population dynamics of pest mosquitoes and potential malaria and West Nile virus vectors in relation to climatic factors and human activities in the Camargue, France

The Camargue is an extensive wetland in the southeast of France, which is highly influenced by human activities. Large ponds, marshes and irrigated fields provide abundant potential breeding sites for mosquitoes. mosquitoes, which are important in terms of the nuisance they cause to people and animals, the limitations they impose on tourism and their potential threat to human health. Several of the mosquito species present are potential vectors of malaria and West Nile virus. Therefore, the population dynamics of these species were monitored over an entire breeding season during March-October 2005. Mosquito populations were sampled in two study areas once every 2 weeks, using CDC light traps baited with CO(2). Sixteen species were collected. The majority (98.7%) of the catch were Aedes caspius (Pallas) (Diptera: Culicidae), Culex modestus (Ficalbi), Culex pipiens L. and Anopheles hyrcanus (Pallas). The population dynamics of these species varied considerably in relation to the species' biology, climatic conditions (rainfall, temperature and season), water management, implementation of mosquito control campaigns and landscape use.     

Surveillance of vivax malaria vectors and civilian patients for malaria high-risk areas in northern Gyeonggi and Gangwon Provinces near the demilitarized zone,Republic of Korea, 2003–2006

After re-emergence of malaria in 1993, a continued increase in Plasmodium vivax cases was observed from 1993 to 2006 in northern Gyeonggi and Gangwon Provinces adjacent to the demilitarized zone separating North from South Korea. Annual parasite incidence per 1000 people ranged from 0.33 in 2004 to 0.89 in 2006. While malaria case rates declined (22.6%) in 2004, they increased 75.1% in 2005 and 51.7% in 2006 from the previous years. An initial incorrect diagnosis of 46.8% of malaria cases as common cold resulted in a mean delay of 1.3 days for the detection malarial parasites. Of the total cases, 10.2% from December to May were due to latent intrinsic incubation infections acquired the previous malaria season and the rest of the cases from June to November were either latent or short incubation infections. Overall, the peak anopheline population occurred from July to September, resulting in a similar peak in malaria cases. While malaria cases increased during 2005–2006, anopheline populations, based on trap indices, were not significantly different during 4 years of surveillance. To decrease the malaria patient infective period to mosquitoes, public health centers in Paju and Cheorwon in 2006 prescribed chloroquine + primaquine at days 0–3 after initial malaria diagnosis followed by an additional 11 days of primaquine (early primaquine treatment), rather than chloroquine on days 0–3 and primaquine on days 4–17 (delayed primaquine treatment). A reduction in the malaria parasite incidence during 2007 was recorded for the two locations offering the early primaquine treatment relative to other locations using the delayed primaquine treatment.     

Seasonal prevalence of mosquitoes, including vectors of Brugian filariasis, in southern islands of the Republic of Korea

A survey of mosquitoes, including the vector status of Brugia malayi filariasis and their relative larval density, was conducted from 2002 to 2005 at several southern remote islands of Jeollanam-do (province), Gyeongsangnam-do, and Jeju-do, Korea, where filariasis was previously endemic. Overall, a total of 9 species belonging to 7 genera were collected. Ochlerotatus togoi (formerly known as Aedes togoi), Anopheles (Hyrcanus) group, and Culex pipiens were the predominant species captured at all areas. Oc. togoi larvae were most frequently collected at salinity levels <0.5% during June and July, with densities decreasing sharply during the rainy season in August. The most likely explanation for the eradication of filariasis in these areas is suggested to be an aggressive treatment program executed during the 1970s and the 1990s. However, high prevalence of the vector mosquitoes may constitute a potential risk for reemerging of brugian filariasis in these areas.     

Insecticide susceptibility and resistance of larvae of the Anopheles sinensis Group (Diptera: Culicidae) from Paju, Republic of Korea

The susceptibility of members of the Anopheles sinensis Group in Korea to insecticides was evaluated under laboratory conditions using 15 insecticides currently used by local public health centers in Korea. The insecticides included eight pyrethroids, six organophosphates and a pyrazol analogue. Based on their LC₅₀ values, the order of susceptibility of An. sinensis larvae to the insecticides was bifenthrin, chlorfenapyr, α-cypermethrin and λ-cyhalothrin, with values of 0.009, 0.04, 0.06 and 0.08 p.p.m., respectively. The least susceptibility was obtained with fenitrothion, with an LC₅₀ of 7.7 p.p.m. In the comparative resistance test, the resistance ratios (RR) of 14 insecticides were compared to each other using two strains of members of the An. sinensis Group collected in the locality in 2001 and 2008. Anopheles spp. demonstrated higher RR to organophosphates such as fenthion, and low RR for the pyrethroids. Among the organophosphates, fenthion had the highest RR of 33.3 and 270.0 fold differences for LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values, respectively. Among the pyrethroids, permethrin was observed to have the highest RR of 3.8 and 1.8 fold differences for LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values, respectively. However, there were no significant differences in susceptibility to chlorfenapyr, chlorpyrifos, deltamethrin and fenitrothion. An. sinensis s. l. was more susceptible to the six insecticides bifenthrin, λ-cyhalothrin, α-cypermethrin, cypermethrin, cyfluthrin and pyridafenthion, showing 0.03, 0.06, 0.3, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.4 fold differences in resistance rates (RR LC₅₀), respectively.     

Seasonal Abundance of Deer and Horse Flies (Diptera: Tabanidae) in the Northern Part of Gyeonggi-do,Republic of Korea

The seasonal abundance of horse and deer flies (family Tabanidae) was analyzed using Mosquito Magnet^® traps at 5 sites located near/in the demilitarized zone, northern Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea from late April to early October for 4 consecutive years (2010-2013). A total of 2,999 horse and deer flies (tabanids) belonging to 5 genera and 20 species were collected. Chrysops mlokosiewiczi (90.9%) was the most frequently collected, followed by Haematopota koryoensis (4.8%) and C. suavis (1.0%). The remaining 17 species comprised only of 3.3% of all species collected. C. mlokosiewiczi demonstrated bimodal peak populations during mid-June and early August, while H. koryoensis demonstrated a unimodal peak during mid-July. Overall numbers of tabanids collected were influenced by the previous year’s winter temperatures and precipitation. Population abundance was influenced by habitat with most of tabanids collected from habitats near forested areas, followed by rice paddies, and a beef farm.