Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Identifier

2667

Cyril Patra

Date

2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Public Health

Major

Public Health

Concentration

Epidemiology

Committee Chair

Fawaz Mzayek

Committee Member

Debra Bartelli

Committee Member

Matthew Smeltzer

Abstract

West Nile Virus (WNV) is a vector-borne virus transmitted to humans through mosquitoes. Shelby County, Tennessee had 138 cases of WNV and 11 fatalities from 2002 to 2014. Genus Culex mosquitoes are an important vector for the disease. Since there is no treatment available, a WNV outbreak is a growing public health concern in Shelby County. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of commonly used insecticides in Shelby County and evaluate the presence of resistance. Partial resistance was found for permethrin, deltamethrin, chlorpyrifos, and bendiocarb. Permethrin performed the poorest in comparison to deltamethrin, chlorpyrifos, and bendiocarb. Deltamethrin and bendiocarb were found to be the most effective insecticides against the Culex mosquito population in Shelby County. The results of the study can be expected to support future consideration and planning towards handling insecticide resistance in hope of preventing a West Nile Virus epidemic in the community.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to the local University of Memphis Electronic Theses & dissertation (ETD) Repository.

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