Effect of seed kernel aqueous extract from Annona squamosa against three mosquito vectors and its
impact on non-target aquatic organisms
Mosquitoes are more responsible for the spread of several
transmitted diseases than any other group of arthropods are[1].
Mosquito-borne diseases still remain a major health problem in both
human and veterinary sectors. These diseases are more prevalent
in 128 countries, mainly tropical and subtropical countries causing
millions of deaths. The biological control of immature stages
now appears to be the most powerful tools of control the target
populations of Culicidae and other dipteran pests. In worldwide
around 3.9 billion people were affected by mosquito disease[2].
Anopheles stephensi (An. stephensi) is only responsible for the
transmissions of malaria in urban regions of India which is endemic
in 91 countries with about 40% of the world’s inhabitants at risk.
Up to 500 million cases occur every year, and 90% of them are in
Africa, and there are up to 2.7 million deaths yearly. Aedes aegypti
(Ae. aegypti) is a vector of dengue that carries the arbovirus solely
responsible for dengue diseases. Recently, the occurrence of dengue
has increased dramatically throughout the world. An estimated
500 000 people with severe dengue require hospitalization each
year, a large proportion of whom are children. About 2.5% of those
affected die[2]. Culex quinquefasciatus (Cx. quinquefasciatus)
is an important mosquito vector of lymphatic filariasis which is
a widely distributed tropical disease. Microfilaria is transmitted
to humans by different mosquitoes like Culex species, with a
special reference to Cx. quinquefasciatus. Lymphatic filariasis
(elephantiasis) infects about 120 million people in tropical areas
of Africa, India and Southeast Asia. In India more than 40 million
people were affected by mosquito diseases annually[3]. In earlier
days mosquito was controlled using synthetic chemicals known
as organophosphate, organochlorine and pyrethroid, etc. Although
these insecticide applications were highly effective against the target
vector species, it was facing a threat due to the progress of resistance to chemical insecticides resulting in rebounding vectorial capacity. It
has also provoked undesirable effects including toxicity to non-target
organisms and fostered environmental and human health concerns.
Several investigators have been resorted to explore the plant source
as an alternate and to find eco-friendly bio-active compounds that are
biodegradable into nontoxic products and potentially suitable for the
use of mosquitoes control[4].