Integrated Assessment of Mosquito-Borne Diseases in Ottapalam, Palakkad, Kerala
P. Lakshmi Devi Menon
Department of Zoology, NSS College, Ottapalam, Kerala, India.
Jibish Mathew
Department of Electronics, Prajyothi Niketan College, Pudukad, Thrissur, Kerala, India.
Midhu K. Johnson *
Department of Zoology, Christ College, Irinjalakuda, Kerala, India.
Honey Sebastian
Department of Zoology, Vimala College, Thrissur, Kerala, India.
S. G. Smitha
Department of Zoology, NSS College, Ottapalam, Kerala, India.
A. Aparnna
Department of Zoology, NSS College, Ottapalam, Kerala, India.
P. Ardra
Department of Zoology, NSS College, Ottapalam, Kerala, India.
V. P. Shibila Sherin
Department of Zoology, NSS College, Ottapalam, Kerala, India.
M. Sreelakshmi
Department of Zoology, NSS College, Ottapalam, Kerala, India.
K. Abhiram
Department of Zoology, NSS College, Ottapalam, Kerala, India.
P. Anchana
Department of Zoology, NSS College, Ottapalam, Kerala, India.
P. P. Muhammed Sinan
Department of Zoology, NSS College, Ottapalam, Kerala, India.
K. Amal Krishna
Department of Zoology, NSS College, Ottapalam, Kerala, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The present multi-component observational and exploratory study assessed reported mosquito-borne disease patterns, community knowledge and preventive practices, household larval indices, and a pilot device-exposure experiment in Ottapalam, Palakkad, Kerala. Local annual case counts for 2021-2025 were abstracted from Primary Health Centre (PHC) Lakkidi records and interpreted alongside official state and national surveillance data. A community survey included 105 participants recruited through Google Forms and face-to-face interviews, and entomological surveillance covered 100 households in Wards 13, 14 and 15. The PHC summary recorded dengue cases of 11, 7, 21, 45 and 10 from 2021 through 2025, respectively. One malaria case was recorded in 2022 and two in 2024; values for 2021, 2023 and 2025 were not stated in the available local summary. No chikungunya cases were recorded in that summary. Survey responses indicated high general awareness but less consistent routine source-reduction behaviour. Six of 100 houses and six of 50 observed containers were positive for mosquito larvae, yielding a House Index of 6%, Container Index of 12% and Breteau Index of 6; no pupae were detected. In the pilot experiment, 20 Aedes albopictus eggs were assigned to each condition. Hatching began on day 5 under device-exposure conditions and on day 8 in the control condition, and the observed developmental stages were shorter under device exposure. No ovicidal or larvicidal effect was observed. Because acoustic dose was not calibrated, independent vessel replication was not documented, and a small device-associated temperature increase was observed, acoustic and thermal contributions cannot be separated. The findings support continued source reduction, community engagement, surveillance and integrated vector management, while acoustic approaches should remain experimental until tested under calibrated, independently replicated and temperature-controlled conditions.
Keywords: Mosquito-borne diseases, dengue, malaria, chikungunya, Aedes albopictus, community awareness, larval indices, House Index, container index, breteau index, ultrasonic device, integrated vector management