which can damage digestive tract of the mosquito larvae (Sanahuja et al. 2011).
Research on Bt in the context of mosquito vector control started in 1986 with
isolation of B. thuringiensis strain from dead larvae of An. stephensi in Lorestan
Province, Iran (Gezelbash et al. 2014). Following up, field assay of Teknar
® , Bt-H14
based product, was carried out on culicine and anopheline larvae in rice field of
Kazeroon, Fars. The Teknar
® was more effective on culicine than anopheline larvae
(Motabar et al. 1987). Anophelines usually rest on the water surface while the
aforementioned Bt formulation settled to the bottom of breeding sites. Fayaz and
Moazami (1987) and Fayaz et al. (1988) could develop a media and formulation of
Bt-H14 based on molasses and cornsteep liquor which proved very effective against
C. pipiens and An. stephensi. Despite of high efficacy of locally produced Bt,
e.g. Teknar
® , Bactimos
® in field (Motabar et al. 1987; Zaim et al. 1992; Kasiri
and Zaim 1997; Mousakazemi et al. 2000), Bioflash
® proved low to moderate
effectiveness (Gezelbash et al. 2014). Resistance of mosquito vectors to Bt has not
been reported (Shahi et al. 2013).
Bioflash
® (10% a.i.) slow release corn grit formulation remains effective for
3 weeks in various breeding habitats at concentration of 1800 ITU/ml (WHO
2013b). Laboratory and field evaluations of this product obtained inconsistent results
concerning biological control of anopheline vectors of malaria (Shahi et al. 2013;
Gezelbash et al. 2014). Nevertheless, biological control using Bt continues to be
integrated with chemical control and personal protection measures against malaria
vectors in Iran (Hanafi-Bojd et al. 2010, Fekri et al. 2013). Around 14 Â 10
6 m
2 of
mosquito larval habitats have been treated by Bioflash
® in the past two years in the
country (personal communication).
Although hosts of Lysinibacillus sphaericus (Bacillaceae) are not as diverse as Bt
strains (Brown et al. 2004), high persistence of this aerobic bacterium in wild due to
recycling from dead mosquito larvae makes it more effective for combating the
Culicid larvae (Ganushkina et al. 2000).
There are few studies regarding field efficacy of L. sphaericus against mosquito
vectors in Iran (Hayat-gheib 1988) and knowledge gaps still remain in successful
application of L. sphaericus against culicidae larvae.
16.2.1.2.4 Entomopathogenic Fungi
The first record of entomopathogenic fungus, Coelomomyces irani
(Coelomomycetaceae) (Fig. 16.2) was reported from An. maculipennis, the main
malaria vector in Europe and Mediterranean countries, from Gilan province in 1988
(Weiser et al. 1991). Coelomomyces indicus and Coelomomyces sp. have been
isolated from An. culicifacies and An. superpictus in Southeastern and West Central
Iran, respectively (Azari-Hamidian and Abai 2019).
Iranian isolates of Beauveria bassiana (Cordycipitaceae) and Metarhizium
anisopliae (Clavicipitaceae) were evaluated against An. stephensi Chabahr strain.
Both B. bassiana and M. anisopliae isolates had high virulence on 1st and 2nd instar
larvae and caused 97–100% mortality at 7 days post-inoculation with LT 50 range of
584
H. H. Allahverdipour and K. Akbarzadeh
Research on Bt in the context of mosquito vector control started in 1986 with
isolation of B. thuringiensis strain from dead larvae of An. stephensi in Lorestan
Province, Iran (Gezelbash et al. 2014). Following up, field assay of Teknar
® , Bt-H14
based product, was carried out on culicine and anopheline larvae in rice field of
Kazeroon, Fars. The Teknar
® was more effective on culicine than anopheline larvae
(Motabar et al. 1987). Anophelines usually rest on the water surface while the
aforementioned Bt formulation settled to the bottom of breeding sites. Fayaz and
Moazami (1987) and Fayaz et al. (1988) could develop a media and formulation of
Bt-H14 based on molasses and cornsteep liquor which proved very effective against
C. pipiens and An. stephensi. Despite of high efficacy of locally produced Bt,
e.g. Teknar
® , Bactimos
® in field (Motabar et al. 1987; Zaim et al. 1992; Kasiri
and Zaim 1997; Mousakazemi et al. 2000), Bioflash
® proved low to moderate
effectiveness (Gezelbash et al. 2014). Resistance of mosquito vectors to Bt has not
been reported (Shahi et al. 2013).
Bioflash
® (10% a.i.) slow release corn grit formulation remains effective for
3 weeks in various breeding habitats at concentration of 1800 ITU/ml (WHO
2013b). Laboratory and field evaluations of this product obtained inconsistent results
concerning biological control of anopheline vectors of malaria (Shahi et al. 2013;
Gezelbash et al. 2014). Nevertheless, biological control using Bt continues to be
integrated with chemical control and personal protection measures against malaria
vectors in Iran (Hanafi-Bojd et al. 2010, Fekri et al. 2013). Around 14 Â 10
6 m
2 of
mosquito larval habitats have been treated by Bioflash
® in the past two years in the
country (personal communication).
Although hosts of Lysinibacillus sphaericus (Bacillaceae) are not as diverse as Bt
strains (Brown et al. 2004), high persistence of this aerobic bacterium in wild due to
recycling from dead mosquito larvae makes it more effective for combating the
Culicid larvae (Ganushkina et al. 2000).
There are few studies regarding field efficacy of L. sphaericus against mosquito
vectors in Iran (Hayat-gheib 1988) and knowledge gaps still remain in successful
application of L. sphaericus against culicidae larvae.
16.2.1.2.4 Entomopathogenic Fungi
The first record of entomopathogenic fungus, Coelomomyces irani
(Coelomomycetaceae) (Fig. 16.2) was reported from An. maculipennis, the main
malaria vector in Europe and Mediterranean countries, from Gilan province in 1988
(Weiser et al. 1991). Coelomomyces indicus and Coelomomyces sp. have been
isolated from An. culicifacies and An. superpictus in Southeastern and West Central
Iran, respectively (Azari-Hamidian and Abai 2019).
Iranian isolates of Beauveria bassiana (Cordycipitaceae) and Metarhizium
anisopliae (Clavicipitaceae) were evaluated against An. stephensi Chabahr strain.
Both B. bassiana and M. anisopliae isolates had high virulence on 1st and 2nd instar
larvae and caused 97–100% mortality at 7 days post-inoculation with LT 50 range of
584
H. H. Allahverdipour and K. Akbarzadeh