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Northern Territory Department of Health Library Services Historical Collection
DL ~UST 595.772 . · DAV
1983
'1P1(€
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH~ AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
OD'4-c;~ -
HISTORICAL COLLECTION
flEDES flECiYPTI SURVEY INLAND flREflS FEBRUARY 1983
For more information contact:
NT Department of Health and Community Services Medical Entomology Branch P0Box40596
CASUARINA NT 0811 Telephone: 22 8333
Peter Whelan
Senior Medical Entomologist
I
1.0
AEDES AEGYPTI SURVEY INLAND AREAS FEBRUARY 1983
NORTHERN TERRITORY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY BRANCH
INTRODUCTION
Aedes aegypti is the recognised vector of the mosquito borne virus disease, dengue, in Australia. The recent epidemic of dengue in Queensland emphasises the need to know the possible occurence and distribution of Aedes aegypti in the Northern Territory. The previous Ae. aegypti survey of inland areas ( February 1980) indicated the presence of this mos qui to ( as larvae only) in Larrimah, and i t has subsequently been eradicated. As part of the continuing surveillance programme for this disease vector, an extensive survey of inland towns was conducted during February 1983. The survey extended as far south as Tennant Creek and eastwards to the Queensland/Northern Territory border, then along the Tablelands highway to Borroloola and finally along the Carpentaria highway, before returning to Darwin. A number of pastoral properties relatively close to the route were also surveyed.
At overnight stops, mos qui to traps were used to sample for the presence of Ae. aegypti and the general man-biting mosquito fauna in the vicinity. Larval surveys of natural breeding sites were included where time and opportunity permitted.
While in Tennant creek the two officers conducting the survey participated in the Mosquito Awareness display on Friday 11th February.
2.0 METHOD
To determine if Ae. aegypti was present irt the towns and properties visited the following sampling techniques were used:
2
1. an intensive survey for mosquito breeding in containers 2. man-biting mosquito catches
3. carbon dioxide (CO2 ) baited traps.
The latter two methods could only be used at sites of overnight stops.
Containers holding mosquito breeding were sampled for mature
\
specimens of each of the different looking mosquito larvae present. These specimens were preserved in 70% alcohol solution and identified on return to the laboratory.
Man-biting catches were conducted close to premises during the early mornings using a mouth aspirator.
CO2 baited traps were run all night, both at sites adjacent to premises and near likely mosquito breeding areas in the vicinity of the community.
3.0 RESULTS
Results of the container breeding surveys are displayed in Table 1. A total of 144 premises were examined in the 27 localities visited; 472 containers were found holding water and 32 of these held mosquito breeding. Eight (8) ditferent mosquito species were detected breeding in containers. No larvae of Ae. aegyPti were found. Culex quinquesfasciatus was the mosquito most commonly detected breeding in containers.
Results for the CO2 traps and man-biting catches are displayed in Tables 2 and 3. No adults of Ae. aegyPti were collected by these two metnods.
In general the numbers of mosquitoes taken in the CO2 traps were low. From the total of 30 CO2 traps set, 20 collected less than 50 specimens and only 5 collected 100 or more in one night. Most commonly collected species, in descending order were Ae. vigi~ax, ex. annulirostris, Ae. normanensis, ex. quinquefasciatus and
'
•
•
..
An. annulipes. These 5 species accounted for 91% of the total CO2 trap catches for the total trip. Only three mosquito species were taken in the early morning man-biting catches, Ae. vigilax being the most commonly collected.
The results of the general larval collections are given in Table 4.
4.0 DISCUSSION
4.1 Ae. aegypti SURVEY
At the time of the survey rainfall in the areas visited was, in general, substantially less than the average for that time of year. Uncharacteristically, the major wet season rain for many inland centres did not occur until March. Nevertheless a substantial number of containers holding water were located, but with only low incidence of mosquito breeding detected in them (32 out of 472). Aedes species commonly collected from containers during the previous survey (1980), such as Ae. notosciptus, Ae. tremulus and Ae. katherinensis, were detected only rarely or not at all. Ae. notoscriptus was not taken from containers, CO2 traps or man-biting catches. Ae. tremulus was only located breeding in containers on one occasion and apart from Larrimah, was not common in the CO2 traps and man-biting catches.
Ae. katherinensis was not taken from containers or CO2 trap catches, and was only collected during a man-bi ting catch at Larrimah (the specimens were taken in flight around the collector and did not settle).
These results indicate that at the time of the survey conditions were not ideal for the breeding of Aedes species. This is because most containers had not been recently filled by rainfall and thus any Aedes species eggs present in containers remained unhatched.
4
As Ae. aegypti utilises similar breeding sites to those used by Ae. notoscriptus and the other Aedes species mentioned above, i t
is likely that had Ae. aegypti been present in any of the localities visited i t would have been in the form of eggs. While the lack of detection of Ae. aegypti during the survey indicates these areas are free of this vector mosquito, the lack of rain at the time of the survey does detract from the certainty of the result.
4.2 VECTOR MOSQUITO SURVEY
As in the previous inland survey, Ae. vigilax was collected in a number of localities remote from the coast, such as Larrimah, Elliott, Tennant Creek, and Daly Waters. Particularly high numbers were taken in the CO2 traps at Larrimah.
Although this species is known to be capable of dispersing long distances from its coastal breeding sites, the collection of moderate to high numbers of Ae. vigilax in the four CO2 traps at Larrimah could be an indication of breeding site(s) more local.
Brackish areas associated with inland drainage basins may possibly provide suitable breeding sites for Ae. vigilax. Future surveys at Larrimah should include Birdum Creek to find if there are any likely breeding sites for Ae. vigilax in this area.
Moderate numbers of Ae. normanensis were collected in the CO2 t raps in Larrimah. Rainfall records for this locality indicate significant rainfall (22 mm) about one week prior to the time of the visit. Such rainfall is likely to have been sufficient to flood breeding sites of Ae. normanensis in the vicinity of Larrimah.
Larval Ae. normanensis were taken from two sites (Katherine and • Borroloola) during the survey.
High numbers of ex annulirostris collected in the CO2 trap at the Tennant Creek sewerage ponds probably originated from the final evaporation pond. Many other likely breeding sites for ex annul- irostris in the vicinity of Tennant Creek, such as borrow pi ts
and stormwater drains, were found to be dry at the time of the visit. The CO2 trap catch at the Mary Ann Dam site indicates this area was not an important source of this species. Thus at the time of the visit, the most important breeding site for Cx annulirostris in the vicinity of Tennant Creek, was the sewerage effluents. Sewage ponds need to be maintained weed free to promote wave action, to ensure they are unsuitable for mosquito breeding. Excess effluents need to be disposed of such that they do not create mosquito breeding sites.
The moderate to high numbers of Ae. vigilax taken in the CO2 traps at Borroloola most likely originated from tidally influenced breeding sites associated with the McArthur River. As mentioned earlier this species is known as a long distance flier.
Such dispersal would probably be aided by prevailing winds and the presence of favourable environments, such as vegetated river valleys with the elevated humidity and protection from strong winds.
Considering the evident dryness of the countryside in the vicinity of Borroloola, i t is likely that remnant pools in the nearby McArthur river valley were the source of the ex. annuli- rostris specimens taken in the CO2 traps in the community.
The larval survey did detect breeding of ex. annulirostris in a cut off pool close to the vehicle crossing (see table 5).
However, the CO2 trap adjacent to the vehicle crossing collected very few Cx. annulirostris. Perhaps more extensive ex. annuli- rostris breeding sites were present further downstream nearer the northern end of the community. This area downstream of the crossing should be examined during future surveys to determine i f any Cx. annulirostris breeding sites, likely to be important to Borroloola, are present.
G. Davis K. Hodder
14.4A:D
14.8:U:
TABLE l. Ae aegypti SURVEY - INLAND AREAS - FEB. 1983
LOCATION NO. PREMISES NO. PREMISES NO. CONTAINERS NO. CONTAINERS NO. CONTAINERS POSITIVE FOR EACH SPECIES EXAMINED WITH MOSQUITO WITH WATER WITH LARVAE ~
~ n n n n n n
BREEDING (1) X X X X X X
rt PJ PJ 0 ::l"' t-0 ..0 {J)
ti ::1 ::1 ti PJ s::: s::: t-0
(1) ::1 ~ I-'· f--' f--' I-'·
::l s::: s::: ~ I-'· f--' ::1
s::: f--' f--' I-'· Hi s::: ..0 f--'
f--' I-'· I-'· 0 PJ Ul i:; °'
s::: t-0 ti PJ X (D -...J
{J) (1) 0 s::: I-'· Hi
Ul Ul Q.. I-'· PJ
rt PJ Ul
ti 0
I-'· I-'·
Ul PJ
rt s:::
Ul
LARRIMAH 11 3 68 8 1 1 1 4 3 1
DALY WATERS 12 4 40 4 1 1 2
DUNMARRA 1 0 10 0
NEWCASTLE WATERS 6 0 37 0
ELLIOTT 13 2 6 2 1 1 1
RENNER SPRINGS 1 1 8 1 1
HELEN SPRINGS 1 1 11 1 1
BANKA BANKA STATION 1 0 6 0
THREE WAYS 1 1 10 1 1 1
NOBLES KNOB MINE 14 1 22 1 1
PEKO MINE 1 1 4 1 1 1
LOCATION NO. PREMISES NO. PREMISES NO. CONTAINERS NO. CONTAINERS NO. CONTAINERS POSITIVE FOR EACH SPECIES EXAMINED WITH MOSQUITO WITH WATER WITH LARVAE ~
g;
() () () () () ()BREEDING CD X X X X X X
rt 1-i § p., :::1 0 1-i ::r p., tu C i-0 C tu Ul
CD :::1 :::1 I-'· I-' I-' I-'·
:::I C C :::1 I-'· I-' :::1
C I-' I-' I-'· Hi C i-0 I-'
I-' ... I-'· 0 p., en C
°'
C tu r! p., X (1) -....J
Ul CD 0 C ... Hi
Ul Ul 0.. ... p.,
rt p., Ul
1-i 0
... ...
Ul Pl
rt C Ul
TENNANT CREEK 41 4 33 4 4
WARREGO MINE 12 1 13 1 1
FREWENA (Closed down) 1 0 0 0
BARRY CAVES 1 0 2 0
AVON DOWNS POLICE STATION l 0 .17 0
SOUDAN STATION .1 0 .10 0
ALROY DOWNS STATION .1 1 19 1 1
BRUNETTE DOWNS STATION .1 .1 39 2 2
WALHALLOW STATION l 1 28 1 1
MALLAPUNYAH STATION .1 0 8 0
BALBIRINI STATION .1 1 1 1 1
C
~
14.8:U :
TABLE I. contd. Ae aegypti SURVEY - INLAND AREAS - FEB. 1983
LOCATION NO. PREMISES NO. PREMISES NO. CONTAINERS NO. CONTAINERS NO. CONTAINERS POSITIVE FOR EACH SPECIES EXAMINED WITH MOSQUITO WITH WATER WITH LARVAE ::i:,.
5'
() () () () () ()BREEDING (D X X X X X X
rt p., p., 0 ~ ~ i-0 Ul
~ ~ ~ ~ p., C C ~
(D ~ ~ I-'· t-' t-' t-'·
s ~ C :::, I-'· t-' :::,
C t-' t-' I-'· H) C i-0 t-'
t-' t-'· I-'· 0 p., C/l C O'I
C ~ ~ p., X (D ....J
C/l (D 0 C I-'· H)
C/l C/l p, I-'· p.,
rt p., C/l
~ 0
I-'· I-'·
C/l p.,
rt C C/l
McARTHUR RIVER MINE CAMP
(M.I.M.) 1 0 15 0
BORROLOOLA .16 1 47 2 1 1 1
McARTHUR RIVER STATION 1 .1 10 1 1
TANUMBIRINI STATION 1 0 4 0
DALY WATERS INN 1 0 4 0
TOTALS .144 25 472 32 1 5 7 5 1 4 15 1
CO2 TRAP COLLECTIONS (NUMBER OF FEMALE MOSQUITOES CAUGHT IN ONE TRAP IN ONE NIGHT) - NUMBER OF MAIES IN BRACKETS
LOCATION DATE SPECIES COLLECTED
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
s' s' s'
() ()ro ro ro ro ro ro ro ro X X
tr ro ~ (T <: {/) ...
~ Pl ::r' § tr
Pl I-' 0 ti I-'· to 0 '?' ..,. ~ I-'· I-'·
::, 0
~ ro I.Q 0 Pl I-'· ::, I-' ~ (T
0 ::r' s I-'· ::r' 0 0 i::: I-' i::: Pl
ti 0 Pl i::: I-' -....)
- -
(T I-' I-'· I-' (D0 (D ::, I-' p, CJ' C I-'· I-'· ::,
Hi ::, (D C X {/) {/) Cl) t-a ti I-'·
(T {/) ~ Cfl t-a '0 (D 0 0
I-'· I-'· Cl) {/) Cl) ti
Pl Cfl I-'· (T ::r'
::, Cfl * * ti '<
C I-'· ::,
Cfl Ul 0
::r' i:::
Cfl
LARRIMAH
.
Road House 9/2/83 30 .1 54 l 1 12
( 1)
Railway Cottage No. 3 9/2/83 1 67 12 92 6 2 4
(.1) (.15) Adjacent to Town
Water storages. 9/2/83 1 8 1 16 2 8
Larrirnah Hotel 9/2/83 2 6 2
-
ELLIOTT
Adjacent to supermarket .10/2/83 1
Lake Woods 10/2/83 .1 6 13 3
House adjacent to '
Police Station 10/2/83
.
2Caraven Park, at rear 10/2/83 4 1 1 1 2
()
X
~ ~ I-'·
~ ~
C (D Hi p, Cfl I-'· 0 PJ
(T . ~ Cfl
2
4
1
~ t-a ~
~ 0 (T
0 I-' Pl
(T (D
ti PJ I-' I-'·
Cfl
1
2
101
188
36 10
2 23 5 9
14.8:U: 1
TABLE 2. Ae aegypti SURVEY - INLAND AREAS - FEB. 1983
CO2 TRAP COLLECTIONS (NUMBER OF FEMALE MOSQUITOES CAUGHT IN ONE TRAP IN ONE NIGHT) - NUMBER OF MAI.ES IN BRACKETS
LOCATION
T 3 5
ENNANT CREEK
1 M
s
8 Haddock Street Kittle Street
6 Leichardt Street ary Ann Dam,below ewerage Ponds
C AMOOWEALt QLD
wall
-
A djacent to Butcher's shop
H ospital Grounds
R ear of house,western end Francis Street
C aravan Park
DATE
12/2/83 12/2/83
12/2/83 12/2/83 12/2/83
13/2/83 13/2/83
13/2/83
13/2/83
::t:" ::t:" ::t:" ::t:" ~
CD CD CD CD CD
tJ' CD ::s rt <
Pl I-' 0 ti I-'·
::s 0
g
CD I.Q0 ::r' 8 I-'·
ti 0 Pl C I-'
0 CD ::s I-' Pl
Hi ::s CD C X
rt Ul ::s en
t-J· 1-J· Ul
p, en I-'·
::s en
C Ul
2
3
.15 .1
1
SPECIES COLLECTED
::t:" ~ ::t:" ~ ~
s'
()CD CD CD X
en ...
~ Pl ::T §
to 0 . .,,. ::s I-'·
0 E? I-'· ::s I-' ::s
::T C) C) C I-' C
- i ... ... rt I-' I-'· I-'
(JI C I-'· I-'·
en en Ul 'U ti
'U ro CD 0
en Ul
*
*
rt tit-J·
(1)
1
1 1
27 1 7
4 .1 175
I 2 2 17
1 3 65
( 1)
1 6 26
( 1) (2)
5 5
() ()
X X
tr ~
I-'· C
rt I-'·
Pl ::s
CD ~
::s C
I-'· CD
0 Hi
Ii Pl
::r' en t.<: C)
::s 1-J·
C) p,
::r' rt
C C
en en
5 24 ( 2)
9
14 ( 1)
4
1
~
'U C
::s
0 rt 0 I-' Pl rt CD p, Ii I-' 1-J·
en
.
0 t-3 t-3 ::t:" t-t (/)
5 27
14 51 180
21 83
37
12
CO2 TRAP COLLECTIONS (NUMBER OF FEMALE MOSQUITOES CAUGHT IN ONE TRAP IN ONE NIGHT)
LOCATION DATE SPECIES COLLECTED
~ (D ::i,, ::i,, (D ::i,, (D ::i,, (D ::i,, (D ::i,, (D ::i,, (D
.
~tr (D ::s rt ~ Ul ... ... p,
§ r-' () 0
g
Ii (D lQ I-'· ~.
0 () ::s: p, ~-() ::,-" s I-'· ::,-" () ()
Ii 0 § C r-' '1 rt
0 (D r-' p, 0) C
Hi ::s (D C X Ul Ul Ul
rt Ul ::s Ul ~ ~
I-'· I-'· Ul
§ Ul I-'· Ul * *
C Ul
BRUNETTE DOWNS
Managers house 14/2/1983 Adjacent to fencing
contractors house 14/2/1983 1
Cattle yard near sheds 14/2/1983 1
Rear house No. 2 (Guests)
adjacent to lagoon 14/2/1983 BORROLOOLA
Professional fishermans
residence 15/2/1983 24
House next to take-away
food shop 15/2/1983 112 2
Mechanics house 15/2/1983 24
~ ~ () X () X () X ~ t-3
. .
p, ::,-"
§ tr ~ ~
::s I-'· I-'· C §
::s r-' ::s rt I-'·
C r-' C p, ::s ()
r-' I-'· r-' (D ~ rt
I-'· I-'· ::s C 0
~ Ii I-'· (t) r-'
(D 0 0 Hi p,
Ul Ul Ii p, rt
rt ::,-" Ul (D
Ii ~ () Ii
I-'· ::s I-'· p,
Ul () p, r-'
::,-" rt I-'·
C C Ul
Ul Ul
9 9
3 4
4 5
1 1
58 82
11 1 126
23 12 59 I)
14.8:U: 4-
TABLE 2. Ae aegypti SURVEY - INLAND AREAS - FEB. 1983
CO2 TRAP COLLECTIONS (NUMBER OF FEMALE MOSQUITOES CAUGHT IN ONE TRAP IN ONE NIGHT) - NUMBER OF MAIES IN BRACKETS
LOCATION
B ORROLOOLA (Cont'd) ealth Clinic H
V ehicle Crossing, McArthur River,approz
1.5km SE of town
DALY WATERS MOTOR INN R oadside, 1km S of
Motor Inn -
Roadside,. lkm N of Motor Inn
In horse yard at rear of Motor Inn
Adjacent to Manager's Residence
DATE
.15/2/83
15/2/83
16/2/83
16/2/83
16/2/83
16/2/83
* Specimens forwarded to Dr. E,
TOTAL
N. Marks, Q.I.M.R.
SPECIES COLLECTED
::c,i ::c,i ::c,i ::c,i ::c,i ::c,i ::c,i ::c,i
~ ~ ~ n
(D (D (D (D (D (D (D (D X
.
tr (D ::s rt <: Ul ...-... ~ Pl ::r §
Pl I--' 0 Ii I-'· ~d 0 '? ,-::,, ::s I-'·
::s 0 Ii (D l.Q 0 Pl I-'· ::s I--' ::s
0 ::r s s I-'· ::r 0 0 s:: I--' s::
Ii 0 Pl s:: I--' --..) .._, .._, rt I--' I-'· I--'
0 (D ::s I--' Pl O'\ s:: I-'· I-'·
I-ti ::s (D s:: X Ul Ul Ul 1-Q Ii
rt Ul ::s Ul 1-Q fd (D 0
I-'· I-'· Ul Ul Ul
Pl Ul I-'·
* * rt
::s Ul Ii
s:: I-'·
Ul !Jl
91 2 25
42 30 2
1
1 2
I
10 2 9 1
8 1 2 3
for confirmation of identifications :
n n
X X
.
tr i-0
I-'· s::
rt I-'·
Pl ::s
(D i-0
::s s::
I-'· (D
0 I-ti
Ii Pl
::r Ul
'-< ::s 0 I-'·
0 Pl
::r rt
s:: s::
Ul Ul
8
3
3
6
1-Q f-3
1-Q s::
::s 0 rt 0 I--' Pl rt
(D
Ii Pl I--' I-'·
Ul
.
126
77
l
3
25
20 1342
MAN BITING COLLECTIONS (NUMBER OF FEMALE MOSQUITOES CAUGHT BY ONE COLLECTOR IN THE TIME GIVEN)
LOCATION DATE TIME SPECIES
LARRIMAH
Hotel 9/2/1983 0650-0720 4
Roadhouse 9/2/1983 0650-0720 2* 7 3
Inside Med. Ento. Mobile Lab. 9/2/1983 0730 1
ELLIOTT
House next to Police Station 10/2/1983 0650-0720 NIL CATCH Beneath trees adjacent to 10/2/1983 0650-0720
Supermarket 6
TENNANT CREEK
16 Leichardt Street 12/2/1983 0640-0710 NIL CATCH MT ISA MINESi McARTlillR RIVER 14/2/1983 1500
caretakers house 4
* Not man biting.
Specimens caught in flight around collector
C: C
..c
14.8:U: 6
TABLE. 3. Ae aegypti SURVEY - INLAND AREAS - FEB. 1983
MAN BITING COLLECTIONS (NUMBER OF FEMALE MOSQUITOES CAUGHT BY ONE COLLECTOR IN THE TIME GIVEN)
LOCATION DATE
BRUNETTE DOWNS
Rear of house next to stock 14/2/1983 inspector
BORROLOOLA
Dept. of Transport & Works yard 15/2/1983 Professional Fishermans house 15/2/1983
DALY WATERS MOTOR INN
In accommodation area 16/2/1983
. .
TIME
0600-0630
0640-0710 0650-0720
0630-0700
NIL CATCH
2 8
1
Pl ::s ::s C I-' I-'·
0 ti Ul
rt ti I-'·
Ul
1
SPECIES
DATE
8/2/83
11/2/83
14/2/83
15/2/83
15/2/83
15/2/83
Ae. aegypti SURVEY - INLAND AREAS FEB, 1983 LARVAL COLLECTIONS
LOCATION KATHERINE Near Northmeat Abattoir
TENNANT CREEK
MALLAPUNYAH STATION
CARPENTARIA HWY.
42km. from Borroloola.
CARPENTARIA HWY.
25km. from Borroloola~
BORROLOOLA
BREEDING SITES SPECIES COLLECTED Small, shallow, rain-
filled pool in wheel rut.
Sunlit, no vegetation. Ae. normanensis Small grassy pools
beneath roadside
watering point. ex. annulirostris Drying creekline near
houses. Semi-shaded in isolated pools, with native grass and green algae. Fish present.
ex. squamosus
An. annulipes
ex. annulirostris Large pool i.n drying creek
bed. Semi-shaded, shallow with native grass, water lilies, green algae and decaying debris. Water bugs and dragon fly
larvae present. ex. Normanton sp.
Rain filled roadside depression, shallow, open & sunlit, with native grasses. Water beetles and water bugs present.
Semi-shaded cut-off pool in valley of McArthur River, upstream side of vehicle crossi_ng l . 5km
Ae. normanensis
SE of townp ex, annulirostris