A protocol and training guidelines for mosquito sampling in remote areas with limited power supply
Song-Quan Ong,
Mahadimenakbar Mohamed Dawood,
Homathevi Rahman,
Mohd Farid Alias,
Mohd Arshil Moideen,
Ping-Chin Lee,
Jodi M Fiorenzano,
Nathaniel Christy,
Thomas McGlynn,
Noel Cote,
Andrew G. Letizia
Affiliations
Song-Quan Ong
Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Malaysia; Vysnova Partners, LLC, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA; Corresponding author at: Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Malaysia.
Mahadimenakbar Mohamed Dawood
Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Malaysia
Homathevi Rahman
Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Malaysia
Mohd Farid Alias
Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF), Malaysia
Mohd Arshil Moideen
Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF), Malaysia
Ping-Chin Lee
Biotechnology Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah 88400, Malaysia; Faculty of Science and Natural Resources, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah 88400, Malaysia; Vysnova Partners, LLC, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA
Jodi M Fiorenzano
U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit INDO PACIFIC, Singapore
Nathaniel Christy
U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit INDO PACIFIC, Singapore
Thomas McGlynn
U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit INDO PACIFIC, Singapore
Noel Cote
U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit INDO PACIFIC, Singapore
Andrew G. Letizia
U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit INDO PACIFIC, Singapore
Mosquito-borne diseases pose a significant threat in many Southeast Asian countries, particularly through the sylvatic cycle, which has a wildlife reservoir in forests and rural areas. Studying the composition and diversity of vectors and pathogen transmission is especially challenging in forests and rural areas due to their remoteness, limited accessibility, lack of power, and underdeveloped infrastructure. This study is based on the WHO mosquito sampling protocol, modifies technical details to support mosquito collection in difficult-to-access and resource-limited areas. Specifically, we describe the procedure for using rechargeable lithium batteries and solar panels to power the mosquito traps, demonstrate a workflow for processing and storing the mosquitoes in a -20 °C freezer, data management tools including microclimate data, and quality assurance processes to ensure the validity and reliability of the results. A pre- and post-test was utilized to measure participant knowledge levels. Additional research is needed to validate this protocol for monitoring vector-borne diseases in hard-to-reach areas within other countries and settings.
