Bt Research 2024, Vol.15, No.5, 223-231 http://microbescipublisher.com/index.php/bt 227 acceptance and trust in biopesticides can be influenced by misinformation and lack of awareness about their benefits and safety. Effective communication and education strategies are essential to address these concerns and promote the adoption of Bt-based control methods (Atsumi et al., 2012). International cooperation and harmonization of regulations are crucial for managing cross-border mosquito populations and ensuring the success of global mosquito control initiatives. 6 Case Studies 6.1 Bt-based dengue control in Singapore Singapore has been at the forefront of dengue control for over five decades, evolving its strategies to adapt to changing urban and environmental conditions. The Vector Control Unit (VCU) established in 1966 has been pivotal in reducing the Aedes House Index (HI) from 48% to less than 5% by the 1970s, and further to around 1% from the 1990s through proactive surveillance, risk-based prevention, and inter-sectoral cooperation (Zhao, 2024). The integration of new tools such as the Gravitrap and Wolbachia technology has been crucial in maintaining low dengue seroprevalence despite increasing outbreaks, attributed to low population immunity and the introduction of new viral variants (Sim et al., 2020; Ho et al., 2023). The success of Singapore’s program highlights the importance of continuous innovation and community engagement in vector control. 6.2 Challenges in Bt implementation in Sub-Saharan Africa Implementing Bt-based mosquito control in Sub-Saharan Africa faces significant challenges, including insecticide resistance and logistical constraints. The prevalence of resistance to commonly used insecticides such as organochlorines, organophosphates, pyrethroids, and carbamates has been increasing, driven by genetic mutations and behavioral adaptations in mosquito populations (Figure 2) (Gan et al., 2021). Additionally, the lack of infrastructure and resources for consistent monitoring and deployment of Bt-based solutions hampers effective control efforts. Continuous monitoring and the development of alternative control measures, such as genetic control technologies and long-lasting biological larvicides, are critical for overcoming these challenges and improving public health outcomes (Liu et al., 2020; Wang et al., 2021). Figure 2 Mechanism of insecticide resistance i.e. target site resistance (4.1), metabolic resistance (4.2), penetration resistance (4.3) and behavioural adaptation (4.4) (Adopted from Gan et al., 2021) 6.3 Lessons learned from global Bt-based mosquito control programs Global experiences with Bt-based mosquito control programs offer valuable lessons for enhancing efficacy and sustainability. The AWED trial in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, demonstrated the effectiveness of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes in reducing dengue incidence, providing robust evidence for the potential of genetic control strategies (Anders et al., 2018). Similarly, the In2Care® auto-dissemination device trial in the Philippines highlighted the importance of integrating novel tools into existing vector control frameworks to address urbanization and climate change challenges (Salazar et al., 2019). These case studies underscore the need for adaptive, evidence-based
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ4ODYzNA==