Date of Award

January 2025

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Public Health (MPH)

Department

School of Public Health

First Advisor

Brian Weiss

Abstract

Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) has emerged as an important tool in the control of vector-borne diseases, providing an alternative to traditional chemical insecticides. Initially based on the irradiation of insects to induce sterility, SIT has proven effective in eradication campaigns, including the cases of the screwworm and tsetse fly. SIT’s primary strengths lie in its species specificity, environmental safety, and the avoidance of pesticide resistance. However, “classic” irradiating SIT is limited by high operational costs, reduced mating competitiveness of sterilized males, and difficulties in addressing high-density vector populations. Recent advancements in genetic-based SIT methods, such as the Release of Insects Carrying a Dominant Lethal (RIDL) and Female-Specific Lethal Gene systems (FFP), offer significant improvements by overcoming some of the limitations of irradiation-based SIT. These modern methods enhance control measures by increasing efficiency, reducing costs, and addressing the challenge of releasing only sterilized males. However, genetic SIT technologies also face challenges related to public acceptance, regulatory frameworks, and the potential for unintended ecological impacts. This thesis reviews the evolution of SIT by comparing traditional to modern approaches. Given the complexity of vector control, combining classic and genetic SIT methods may provide the most sustainable and effective solutions in combating vector-borne diseases in the future.

Comments

This is an Open Access Thesis.

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