Abstract

Although the diversity of mosquitoes found in French Polynesia and in much of the South Pacific is relatively limited, most of the species like Aedes polynesiensis and Aedes aegypti that have invaded the Pacific islands are known vectors of human diseases such as lymphatic filariasis (LF) and dengue respectively. Despite seven years of anti-filarial drug distribution through the Pacific Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis (PacELF) programme, lymphatic filariasis remains a serious health concern in French Polynesia, particularly in the Society islands and the Marquesas, with a high risk of resurgence when the programme will end. To ensure the success of the global LF elimination campaign supplemental control strategies are thus required. Because they are obligate vectors, mosquitoes provide additional targets that can complement existing anti-filariasis strategies. However, conventional control methods are inefficient against Aedes polynesiensis, thus precluding the use of otherwise efficient control approaches like insecticide-treated bednets, or indoor residual spraying. Such paucity in the arsenal of tools available to control Ae. polynesiensis raised the interest in innovative (bio)control strategies. An international research programme was initiated recently in French Polynesia to bring these novel technologies closer to the field to control and perhaps eliminate naturally isolated populations of mosquito disease vectors. This integrative research programme will aim at developing and testing biological and insecticidal approaches, culminating in a field trial with Ae. polynesiensis elimination as the goal. If proven successful, this integrated vector control strategy would ideally complement the ongoing MDA campaign to effectively break the disease transmission cycle in regions where Ae. polynesiensis is the primary vector of LF. The demonstration of an epidemiological impact on the transmission of a disease would likely encourage the development and implementation od sustainable vector control strategies to other regions of the Pacific where mosquito-borne diseases occur.