Effect of ionising (gamma) radiation on female Anopheles arabiensis

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2017 Jan 1;111(1):38-40. doi: 10.1093/trstmh/trx013.

Abstract

Background: In a mosquito sterile insect technique programme the ideal scenario is to release male mosquitoes only. However, because there are currently no sex separation strategies which guarantee total female elimination, this study investigated the effect of irradiation on physiological and reproductive fitness of females of an Anopheles arabiensis genetic sexing strain.

Methods: Female pupae were irradiated at 70 Gy and the effects of irradiation on adult emergence, longevity, blood-feeding capability, mating ability, fecundity and fertility were assessed.

Results and conclusion: Irradiation reduced adult emergence and fecundity but did not affect adult survivorship, mating and blood feeding ability, which suggests that irradiated female mosquitoes can transmit disease pathogens.

Keywords: Gamma irradiation; Genetic sexing strain; Physiological and reproductive fitness; South Africa; Sterile insect technique.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anopheles / growth & development
  • Anopheles / radiation effects*
  • Behavior, Animal / radiation effects
  • Feeding Behavior / radiation effects
  • Female
  • Fertility / radiation effects
  • Gamma Rays*
  • Humans
  • Insect Vectors / growth & development
  • Insect Vectors / radiation effects*
  • Life Cycle Stages / radiation effects
  • Mosquito Control / methods*
  • Pupa / growth & development
  • Pupa / radiation effects*
  • Reproduction / radiation effects
  • Sexual Behavior, Animal / radiation effects