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Approaches to Diseases Control Centered on Arthropod Vectors of Animal...
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Approaches to Diseases Control Centered on Arthropod Vectors of Animal and Human Pathogens

A special issue of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2025) | Viewed by 11122

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Karin Kirchgatter

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Instituto Pasteur, Sao Paulo 01027-000, Brazil
Interests: plasmodium; avian malaria; phylogenetic diversity; vector borne disease; morphometry; mosquitoes; DNA barcoding
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Carolina Romeiro Fernandes Chagas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Parasitology, Institute of Ecology, Nature Research Centre, 08412 Vilnius, Lithuania
Interests: wildlife diseases; wildlife conservation; haemosporidian parasites; vector-borne diseases; clinical pathology; parasite biology; host-parasite relationship
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Vector-borne diseases pose a significant challenge in both tropical regions and temperate zones. Changes in the global climate and landscape may directly contribute to the expansion of territories and the occurrence of severe outbreaks of vector-borne diseases, including those neglected by research. Mosquitoes, sandflies, biting midges, ticks, lice, and fleas are among the primary vectors responsible for the spread of such diseases. Research on the biology and ecology of vector arthropods, pathogen detection, vector competence and capacity assessment, population control measures, surveillance strategies, and other related topics is crucial in the development of comprehensive and integrative control approaches. Encouraging studies in this field is essential.

Dr. Karin Kirchgatter
Dr. Carolina Romeiro Fernandes Chagas
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Insects is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • medical entomology
  • arthropods
  • mosquitos
  • Diptera
  • vector biology
  • vector genetics
  • bioinformatics
  • computational biology
  • parasitology
  • arboviruses
  • disease control
  • disease surveillance

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 1655 KB  
Article
Impact of Integrated Control Interventions on Sandfly Populations in Human and Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis Control in Araçatuba, State of São Paulo, Brazil
by Keuryn Alessandra Mira Luz-Requena, Tania Mara Tomiko Suto, Osias Rangel, Regina Célia Loverdi de Lima Stringheta, Thais Rabelo Santos-Doni, Lilian Aparecida Colebrusco Rodas and Katia Denise Saraiva Bresciani
Insects 2026, 17(1), 125; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17010125 - 21 Jan 2026
Viewed by 492
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a serious vector-borne disease affecting humans and dogs, posing major public health challenges in endemic regions. Control efforts often target sandfly vectors, whose larvae and pupae develop in soil. Environmental management, such as removing organic matter, reducing moisture, and [...] Read more.
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a serious vector-borne disease affecting humans and dogs, posing major public health challenges in endemic regions. Control efforts often target sandfly vectors, whose larvae and pupae develop in soil. Environmental management, such as removing organic matter, reducing moisture, and pruning vegetation, aims to limit breeding sites and reduce sandfly populations. This study evaluated the impact of integrated interventions on sandfly behavior in priority areas for VL control in Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil. The control strategy combined environmental management, canine surveys, and educational actions across seven local work areas (LWAs). Between 2019 and 2021, CDC-type light traps were installed in intra- and peridomiciliary settings at twelve properties in LWA 5. Spatial risk analysis for canine transmission was conducted in LWAs 3 and 5 using a Generalized Additive Model, with results presented as spatial odds ratios. Vector prevalence was analyzed using negative binomial regression compared to historical municipal data. Intervention coverage averaged 52.91% of visited properties (n = 15,905), ranging from 48% to 76.8% across LWAs. Adherence to environmental management exceeded 85%. Of the 150 sandflies collected, 98.67% were Lutzomyia longipalpis and 1.33% Nyssomyia neivai. A 6% reduction in vector density was observed compared with historical data, although this difference was not statistically significant. Spatial risk varied among LWAs, indicating heterogeneous transmission levels. These findings suggest that integrated environmental and educational interventions may contribute to reducing vector density and that identifying priority areas tends to support surveillance and the effectiveness of disease control actions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Approaches to Diseases Control Centered on Arthropod Vectors of Animal and Human Pathogens)
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21 pages, 2701 KB  
Article
Development of Quantitative Real-Time PCR Tests for the Identification of Biting Midge Species and Clades (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) of the Obsoletus Group (Subgenus Avaritia), Including Important Viral Vectors in Europe
by Oliver Dähn, Bernd Hoffmann, Doreen Werner, Bruno Mathieu and Helge Kampen
Insects 2025, 16(5), 500; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16050500 - 7 May 2025
Viewed by 1851
Abstract
Species of the widespread Obsoletus Complex (Culicoides subgenus Avarita Fox, 1955) have been implicated as potential key vectors during the bluetongue and Schmallenberg epidemics in Central Europe in 2006 and 2012. Although extensive efforts have been made to clarify vector–pathogen relationships, one [...] Read more.
Species of the widespread Obsoletus Complex (Culicoides subgenus Avarita Fox, 1955) have been implicated as potential key vectors during the bluetongue and Schmallenberg epidemics in Central Europe in 2006 and 2012. Although extensive efforts have been made to clarify vector–pathogen relationships, one of the most important steps in this process—correct species identification—remains difficult, due to the presence of isomorphic species within the Obsoletus Group. To overcome the difficulties in morphological species identification, several PCR tests were developed. With the aim of developing a high-throughput PCR, capable of differentiating all putative vector species and newly described haplotypes of the subgenus Avaritia present in Europe, a dataset of 4407 published sequences of the mitochondrial (mt) cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) was used to develop specific primers and probes, which can either be applied in a singleplex PCR or in different multiplex PCR approaches. The real-time PCR achieved very high diagnostic sensitivity (100%) and specificity (91.7%) and reliably detected the three clades of C. obsoletus sensu stricto (s.s.) in a pool of specimens. Thus, the new real-time PCR approach will provide an excellent tool for large-scale monitoring, which could improve the understanding of the biology, geographical distribution, and habitat preference of European biting midge species involved in the transmission of bluetongue, Schmallenberg, and epizootic hemorrhagic disease viruses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Approaches to Diseases Control Centered on Arthropod Vectors of Animal and Human Pathogens)
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14 pages, 1392 KB  
Article
Species Composition and Ecological Aspects of Immature Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Phytotelmata in Cantareira State Park, São Paulo, Brazil
by Walter Ceretti-Junior, Antonio Ralph Medeiros-Sousa, Marcia Bicudo de Paula, Eduardo Evangelista, Karolina Morales Barrio-Nuevo, Ramon Wilk-da-Silva, Rafael Oliveira-Christe and Mauro Toledo Marrelli
Insects 2025, 16(4), 376; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16040376 - 2 Apr 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2039
Abstract
Phytotelmata are aquatic microenvironments formed by the accumulation of water and organic matter in cavities of plants. These microenvironments serve as breeding sites for various species of mosquitoes, including some of epidemiological importance. Our objective was to identify the mosquito fauna in these [...] Read more.
Phytotelmata are aquatic microenvironments formed by the accumulation of water and organic matter in cavities of plants. These microenvironments serve as breeding sites for various species of mosquitoes, including some of epidemiological importance. Our objective was to identify the mosquito fauna in these microenvironments and to analyze variations in mosquito fauna diversity between bromeliads, tree holes, and bamboo internodes in Cantareira State Park, São Paulo (CSP), Brazil, where there have been reports of yellow-fever epizootics in non-human primates and circulation of plasmodia. Collections were carried out monthly from February 2015 to April 2017. The bromeliads showed greater mosquito species richness and diversity than the tree holes and bamboo internodes, as well as a very different composition. Of the 11 genera collected and 49 taxa identified, Culex (Carrolia) iridescens, Cx. ocellatus, Cx. (Microculex) imitator, and Anopheles (Kerteszia) cruzii were the most abundant. The phytotelmata in the CSP showed significant differences in species richness, diversity, and composition and were found to support a diverse mosquito fauna to develop, including An. cruzii and the sylvatic yellow fever virus vector Haemagogus leucocelaenus. The finding of these epidemiologically important species highlights the key role played by phytotelma breeding sites as places of refuge and species maintenance for these vectors in green areas close to urban centers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Approaches to Diseases Control Centered on Arthropod Vectors of Animal and Human Pathogens)
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12 pages, 1441 KB  
Article
Molecular Characterization of Trypanosoma cruzi from Triatomine Species in São Paulo State, an Area Free of Vector-Borne Chagas Disease
by Eliana Ferreira Monteiro, Rubens Antonio da Silva, Arlei Marcili and Karin Kirchgatter
Insects 2025, 16(2), 161; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16020161 - 4 Feb 2025
Viewed by 2211
Abstract
Chagas disease (ChD) is a neglected tropical disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, endemic in 21 countries across the Americas, with increasing cases globally. In São Paulo, Brazil, vector control has focused on Triatoma infestans, but secondary triatomine species continue to pose [...] Read more.
Chagas disease (ChD) is a neglected tropical disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, endemic in 21 countries across the Americas, with increasing cases globally. In São Paulo, Brazil, vector control has focused on Triatoma infestans, but secondary triatomine species continue to pose transmission risks. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of T. cruzi in triatomine feces and characterize its genetic diversity using molecular techniques. Fecal samples were collected from 570 triatomines across 25 municipalities in São Paulo, followed by DNA extraction and PCR amplification targeting the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and the V7V8 region of the 18S rRNA gene. The results revealed a low overall infection rate (3.2%). However, excluding the triatomines collected in palm trees, all of which were negative, we found mainly Panstrongylus megistus in residences and peridomiciles, showing the highest infection rate (65%) for T. cruzi, followed by Triatoma sordida and Rhodnius neglectus. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed that DTU TcI was the most prevalent genotype, consistent with previous findings in the region. This study highlights the importance of continued vector surveillance, as these secondary species are capable of maintaining T. cruzi transmission in both urban and rural environments, underscoring the ongoing risk of ChD resurgence in São Paulo. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Approaches to Diseases Control Centered on Arthropod Vectors of Animal and Human Pathogens)
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Review

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26 pages, 389 KB  
Review
Cockroaches as Vectors of Pathogens and Antimicrobial Resistance: Evidence from Healthcare, Community, and Agricultural Settings
by Assia Derguini and Nosiba S. Basher
Insects 2026, 17(3), 310; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17030310 - 13 Mar 2026
Viewed by 1586
Abstract
Synanthropic cockroaches, especially Blattella germanica and Periplaneta americana, are persistent pests of human dwellings, healthcare facilities, food establishments, farms, and transport infrastructure. Accumulating field and laboratory studies indicate that synanthropic cockroaches carry clinically important bacteria, fungi, and parasites, including multidrug-resistant strains harbouring [...] Read more.
Synanthropic cockroaches, especially Blattella germanica and Periplaneta americana, are persistent pests of human dwellings, healthcare facilities, food establishments, farms, and transport infrastructure. Accumulating field and laboratory studies indicate that synanthropic cockroaches carry clinically important bacteria, fungi, and parasites, including multidrug-resistant strains harbouring extended-spectrum β-lactamase, carbapenemase, and other antimicrobial-resistant determinants. Cockroaches acquire these organisms from sewage, waste, food residues, animal excreta, and contaminated clinical environments, and retain them on the cuticle and within a complex gut microbiota. Dissemination is predominantly mechanical, via contact transfer and deposition of regurgitate and faeces on food, equipment, and surfaces, but may be amplified by gut colonisation, microbial interactions, and horizontal gene transfer within the cockroach microbiome. In hospitals, cockroaches can connect high-burden reservoirs (drains, waste areas, kitchens) with vulnerable units, including intensive care units (ICUs), neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), burn units, and haemato-oncology wards. In food and livestock systems, they may contaminate housing, ingredients, and finished products, enabling spillover along supply chains and at ports. This review synthesises current evidence and highlights the following priorities: integrate cockroaches into infection prevention, food safety, and biosecurity; incorporate cockroach sampling into antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and genomic surveillance; and advance mechanistic research on cockroach–microbiota–pathogen interactions to improve pest management and safely explore cockroach-derived antimicrobial compounds. In this review, we distinguish external mechanical carriage (cuticular contamination) from internal gut carriage; we use “gut colonisation” only when persistence/replication or prolonged shedding is demonstrated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Approaches to Diseases Control Centered on Arthropod Vectors of Animal and Human Pathogens)

Other

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31 pages, 8050 KB  
Systematic Review
A Systematic Review of Aircraft Disinsection Efficacy
by Gregory Hawley, Michael Klowak, Syed Zain Ahmad, Candice Madakadze, Jahmar Hewitt, Aquilla Reid-John, Asal Adawi and Andrea K. Boggild
Insects 2025, 16(9), 911; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16090911 - 1 Sep 2025
Viewed by 1461
Abstract
Disinsection of aircraft and other conveyances is recommended to prevent the international spread of disease-carrying mosquitoes. A systematic review synthesized the effectiveness of adult mosquito disinsection aboard international air, marine, and land conveyances, using literature available up to 31 May 2025. Nineteen experimental [...] Read more.
Disinsection of aircraft and other conveyances is recommended to prevent the international spread of disease-carrying mosquitoes. A systematic review synthesized the effectiveness of adult mosquito disinsection aboard international air, marine, and land conveyances, using literature available up to 31 May 2025. Nineteen experimental trials, nine of which included an unexposed control arm, were synthesized. The studies were generally of poor quality with high risk of bias, and adherence to WHO guidelines was 33.30% (range: 18.20–60.5%). Across comparator trials of aircraft disinsection, the odds of mosquito mortality in the treated groups compared to control groups was 163.60 (95% CI 147–182), and the relative risk of mosquito death was 14.24 (95% CI 12.99–15.63). The direction of effect was consistent across mosquito species, methods of disinsection, types of aircraft, and insecticides, though the magnitude of the effect varied widely. The only WHO-recommended insecticide tested in a controlled trial was 2% d-phenothrin, which demonstrated an odds ratio of 171.70 (95% CI 139.10–212) and a relative risk of 20.08 (95% CI 16.53–24.43) for mosquito mortality. The lack of adherence to WHO guidelines raises uncertainty about the real-world effectiveness of disinsection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Approaches to Diseases Control Centered on Arthropod Vectors of Animal and Human Pathogens)
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