Abstract
Since ancient times, many medically significant pathogens and parasites, such as viruses, bacteria, and protozoans, are transmitted by mosquitos and caused serious illnesses such as dengue fever, malaria, encephalitis, yellow fever, and filariasis. This suggest the need for continuous development of new and appropriate control measures of mosquito- borne diseases in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere. This study investigated the potential of local bacteria isolated from the soil of Rahat region of Makkah, Saudi Arabia for the biological control of the mosquito, Aedes aegypti larvae, a major cause of dengue fever. The bacteria were identified using morphological and molecular characteristics. Bioassays were used to determine the pathogenicity of various strains against Aedes aegypti larvae. A total of 66 different bacteria were isolated. Overall, two (3.03%) of the 66 bacteria tested caused mortality in the A. aegypti larvae, and only two (Bacillus velezensis, and Priestia megaterium) of these occasioned 100% mortality in 24 h. The findings of this study demonstrated that local isolates found in the soils of the Rahat region of Makkah, Saudi Arabia have larvicidal activity against the larvae of Aedes aegypti. Further research is needed to better understand and identify other mechanisms involved in the production of larvicidal toxins in these isolates.