The country’s largest institute of research to prevent mosquito-borne diseases, Vector Control Research Center is present in Puducherry. Millions of live and dead mosquitoes are present in this center which are being used for research. In such a situation, after many years of research, VCRC scientist Dr. Nisha Mathew and her team have prepared a nutritious diet for mosquitoes.
The ICMR-Vector Control Research Center has invented four types of artificial feeding for mosquitoes that will replace the ‘blood diet’ with a feeder device. Mosquitoes cause many viral diseases like Zika, Dengue, Chikungunya, Yellow fever etc. Researchers are investigating ways to reduce the spread of such diseases caused by mosquitoes.
Nutrient-rich diet: Dr. Nisha Mathew told that this diet has all the nutrients which are present in the blood. He said, “This formula diet will attract hungry female mosquitoes and test like blood. With the help of which they will produce healthy offspring like normal eggs. If required, it can be useful for lab research and mass production.”
Dr. Ashwani Kumar, Director, ICMR-VCRC also appreciated this step of the scientists. He said, “When these diets were tested, two diets were similar and the other two diets proved to be better than the blood diet. Eating them leads to healthier and larger number of eggs than a normal blood diet.”
Indigenous feeders for mosquitoes: Dr. Nisha also told about indigenous feeders for mosquitoes which have been patented. Dr. Nisha said, “It was very difficult to maintain the human body temperature, i.e. 37 degree Celsius, to a suitable temperature using normal water circulation or molten wax. So a device with controlled temperature was invented. It can easily replace the traditional hot water circulation based feeding device. Both these inventions have been patented and are ready to be manufactured.”
This invention is an artificial mosquito feed that is commercially acceptable and technically sound. It has great potential in the rearing of mosquitoes for research purposes and for mass production of mosquitoes. Significantly, female mosquitoes require human blood for reproduction. For this ICMR seeks help from local blood banks.