Malaria Mosquito Controlled by Hormone Dibenzoylhydrazine (DBH) Treatment

Scientists use hormone dibenzoyl hydrazine (DBH) to affect the life cycle of a mosquito and prevent its spread.

Highlights

Malaria is a serious illness that is caused by Plasmodium and spread by female Anopheles mosquito.
Spraying the hormone dibenzoyl hydrazine (DBH) could disrupt the life cycle of the mosquito and prevent the spread of the parasite Plasmodium.
Mosquitoes that became resistant to pesticides could be controlled by the use of this hormone, promising better control.

Disruptions in hormone signaling can affect the ability of mosquitoes to transmit malaria-causing parasite, according to a study published in the Journal PLOS. This study could provide a new target for therapy, which could prevent the spread of the parasite by the mosquito.

Malaria

Malaria is a disease caused by mosquito-borne parasite Plasmodium, and it results in the development of fever, chills with flu-like symptoms. In 2015,

214 million new cases were identified
438,000 people died due to malaria
1500 new case are detected in the U.S every year

The malarial parasite gets lodged in the saliva of the mosquito as the mosquito feeds on the blood of an infected individual. When the mosquito feeds on another individual, the parasite is transmitted.

Malaria - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Prevention, Treatment
Malaria is caused by a parasite that enters blood through the bite of an infected mosquito. It is characterized by fever, vomiting, shivering, sweating and other symptoms.

‘Spraying dibenzoyl hydrazine(DBH) hormone at home could stop mosquito breeding.’

Malaria should be treated as it could lead to the development of cerebral malaria which is characterized by brain swelling and, ultimately, death. The disease is rampant in Sub-Saharan areas as well as in South Asian regions, and people from other countries are found to be at a high risk if they visit one of these countries.

There are concerted efforts by both public and Government organizations to prevent the spread of disease by spraying pesticides. However, mosquitoes are becoming increasingly resistant to these chemicals, necessitating a better method of control.

Disrupting the Ability to Transmit Parasite

Women More Likely to get Chikungunya When Compared to Men
Chikungunya is transmitted by mosquitoes. A study in a rural village of Bangladesh highlighted its risk factors and also provided clues for better management.

Flaminia Catteruccia and colleagues from The Harvard Chan School of Public Health aimed at disrupting the ability of the mosquito to transmit the parasites.

The adult female Anopheles gambiae which are the prime vectors for the malarial parasite in Sub-Saharan Africa were exposed to a chemical called DBH. The hormone DBH is found to affect the activity of the hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone that is important for many important essential biological processes associated with the mosquito.

Cerebral Malaria Caused by Immune Cells in the Brain
Brain swelling in cerebral malaria found to be caused due to immune cells that get attached to blood vessels, highlighting new target for therapy.

The effects of DBH on mosquitoes include:

Shortening of the lifespan of the mosquito
Reduction in the number of mosquito eggs produced
Does not allow successful mating of the mosquitoes
Development of the Plasmodium parasite is blocked

The hormone DBH that is used to control the spread of the parasite could be sprayed onto mosquito nets and indoors and it could prevent the spread of mosquitoes, as effectively as pesticides once could.

Malaria is a serious condition and the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) states that nearly 3.2 billion people are at high risk for the disease as they live in areas where the mosquito spreads. 106 countries are considered to be high risk while the United States completely eradicated malaria in the early 1950s. The incidence of malaria in the U.S is associated with travelers and immigrants who visit malaria endemic areas for a holiday.

Quiz on Malaria
Malaria is a common parasitic disease of the tropics, resulting in a million deaths every year. It is most commonly found in tropical countries. The symptoms of malaria include fever with chills, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Malaria fatalities can be reduced if they are detected early and treated appropriately

Current Methods to Prevent Malaria

Mosquito Nets for Windows - Doors, windows and beds are protected with mosquito nets that prevent the entry of mosquitoes. However, accidental entry due when doors or windows are opened results in the entry of mosquitoes and spread of disease.
Preventing Stagnation of Water - Stagnant water leads to mosquito breeding and increase in numbers. However, in Tropical regions and in rainy seasons, it is difficult to prevent the stagnation of water.
Pesticides - Pesticides are routinely sprayed on to reduce the number of mosquitoes. However, many mosquitoes are found to be resistant to these pesticides and continue to flourish.

In a recent study on mosquitoes as vectors in chikungunya fever it was found that more women were affected than men, since women were found more at home than men. The mosquitoes tend to stay in a very close area, biting individuals within the area and leading to the spread of disease. This has led to the belief that there should be better techniques that are designed to restrict the spread of the disease.

The current study that utilizes a hormone which affects the life cycle of a mosquito and which prevents the development of the parasite Plasmodium could prove to be effective in mosquito numbers and, thereby, infection rates.

References:

Malaria Facts - (https://www.cdc.gov/malaria/about/facts.html)
What Is Malaria? - (https://www.malarianomore.org/pages/what-is-malaria)

Source-Medindia