Aedes Control Using Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) in Malaysia

W. A. Nazni, G.-N. Teoh, S. I. Shaikh Norman Hakimi, M. A. Muhammad Arif, M. Tanusshni, M. A. Nuradila, A. Nurfarahin Hanini, I. A. Shazia, A.-M. Tan, H. Rabizah, M. D. Ahmad Zainuri, A. Hasnor Hadi, Y.-L. Cheong, A. Norazah, H. Maiga, R. S. Lees and L. H,  Genetically Modified and other Innovative Vector Control Technologies,  2021.

The continued occurrence of massive outbreaks of Aedes-borne viral diseases of dengue, chikungunya, Zika and yellow fever, in spite of intensive and extensive application of conventional control measures, necessitates application of new tools, such as sterile insect technique (SIT), to stem the tide. Sterile insect technique is a form of biological control method, whereby sterile male insects are released in overwhelming numbers in the wild. These sterile males compete with the wild males to mate with the wild females. The females mated with sterile males will produce sterile eggs that will not hatch. Sustained release of sterile males over a period of time will lead to suppression or elimination of the natural population. Sterility is induced by gamma ray from the radioisotope of cobalt-60 and cesium-137 or X-ray. SIT is safe, cost-effective and environmentally non-polluting, and insects are unable to develop resistance to this method. SIT has a strong track record of success in elimination of agricultural pests, and this led to increased interest in using SIT against mosquitoes of public health importance. Studies and trials against Aedes were conducted in the 1960s and, more recently, against Ae. albopictus with promising results. Attempts were also made to apply SIT for the control of Aedes in several countries. Malaysia’s first experience with SIT was in the 1990s, when the Malaysian Nuclear Agency teamed with the MARDI and local universities to sterilise an agricultural pest, the diamondback moth. To prepare for the possible threat of introducing the Old World screw worm (Chrysomya bezziana) into Australia from neighbouring countries, from 1995 to 2000, Australia and Malaysia undertook a collaborative myiasis control research project located at the Institut Haiwan, Kluang, Malaysia. The project assisted in suppression trials of the screw worm in Malaysia and supported research that developed and evaluated improved Old World screw worm suppression and eradication techniques. In 2014, in collaboration with the Malaysian Nuclear Agency, the IMR conducted preliminary studies to determine the optimum sterilising dose of gamma irradiation against Ae. aegypti. In addition, the impact of sterilisation on the biological parameters of Ae. aegypti was also determined. The most effective sterilising dose that did not adversely affect the male was determined to be 55 Gy. Subsequently, a new initiative of field release of sterile Aedes aegypti males for the control of dengue was initiated in 2019. This 2-year programme will aim to release gamma ray-sterilised Ae. aegypti males in three trial sites to reduce the natural mosquito population to a level below the threshold required for dengue transmission. To ensure public acceptance, public engagement, a prerequisite for a successful release programme, will be conducted intensively prior to the release.


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