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USDA, military continue war on insects

Agricultural Research, April, 1994 by Ralph Bram

The Cold War may be over, but the war against insects isn't.

Mosquitoes, ticks, flies, and other pests continue to spread diseases throughout the world--posing a threat to our soldiers on military missions.

Last year, the World Health Organization predicted that by the year 2010, 4 million people will die each year from the top five tropical diseases unless new drugs and other controls are developed. Four of these--malaria, leishmaniasis, sleeping sickness, and lymphatic filariasis--are spread by flies or mosquitoes.

Malaria, still top killer among the tropical diseases, infects an estimated 300 million people worldwide, according to a 1992 WHO report. The WHO said malaria poses a threat to 40 percent of the world's population.

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We in the United States are fortunate to be generally free of malaria and other tropical diseases. But when our soldiers are sent to foreign lands, they are exposed to numerous insects and the exotic diseases they carry.

Helping protect servicemen and women against disease was one of the main reasons for the birth of cooperative research between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the military. It began in 1942, when USDA offered its scientific expertise to help develop protections for soldiers against insectborne diseases and stored-product pests. One of the biggest success stories coming from that research was the 1950's discovery of the insect repellant called deet--now the active ingredient in nearly all commercial insect repellants.

The cooperative relationship between USDA and the Defense Department remains today--and the benefits are continuing for our soldiers. During both Operation Desert Storm against Iraq and the Somalia mission, our soldiers used a cream containing deet to protect against mosquitoes that are malaria vectors, sand flies carrying leishmaniasis, and other insects. In Somalia, uniforms, tents, and bed netting treated with the insecticide permethrin offered added protection.

Our scientists are building on earlier findings. They are continuing to synthesize and screen new potential repellants and insecticides--for mosquitoes, ticks, flies, and other insects--that are safe and effective in any environment. They're also planning field trials this year on a potential biocontrol for house flies and another for mosquitoes that transmit yellow fever, dengue, and malaria.

Indoor insects such as cockroaches and fleas--both of which contribute to allergy problems and could play a role in disease transmission--have also been targeted with repellants, insecticide baits, and by managing airflow and other environmental factors inside buildings. ARS plans to seek approval for new fire ant repellants--and continues to study a biocontrol organism that reduced fire ant populations by 94 percent under field conditions in Argentina.

We're also developing computer models to predict outbreaks of malaria, dengue, Lyme disease, and other insectborne diseases. This will help military medical personnel track insect and disease trends in foreign countries and better plan protective measures for our troops. In addition, genetic "fingerprinting" research on anopheline mosquitoes has helped in identifying those species most likely to transmit malaria.

Our research to aid the military extends beyond medical and veterinary entomology. Our scientists are also studying ways to stop stored-product insects--the kinds that infest grain bins and contaminate food supplies. And we're working on improved packaging to keep insects from eating a soldier's well-earned meal or from destroying uniforms, blankets, and other equipment held in storage anywhere in the world.

These recent accomplishments and others were highlighted in January during the Armed Forces Pest Management Board's annual meeting to review USDA pest management research of interest to the military. It was clear from that meeting that though we've made great strides over the years, the insect war has, indeed, outlasted the Cold War--and that we have to keep fighting if we're going to stay one step ahead of the next potential insect attack.

Food & Beverage Industry

USDA, military continue war on insects

Agricultural Research, April, 1994 by Ralph Bram

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