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ViewAttendees 1

10-Minute Paper

Medical, Urban, and Veterinary Entomology

MUVE: General

Exploring eBeam as an alternative radiation source for the screwworm eradication program

Wednesday, November 8, 2023
10:00 AM – 10:12 AM ET
Location: Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, National Harbor 3
In-Person
There are security, safety, logistical and economic reasons for exploring non-gamma radiation sources for sterile insect technique programs. We are assessing the feasibility of using eBeam to irradiate the primary screwworm. Using the secondary screwworm Cochliomyia macellaria as a model we have treated pupae with 0-100 Gy doses of eBeam radiation and observed negative correlations of dose with eclosion success and adult ovarian development. We are also using Monte Carlo simulations to assess custom design of an eBeam device for the program to determine if and how to deliver ~50 Gy to flies while also achieving as low a dose uniformity ratio as possible. While in early stages of assessment, the current results on both fronts are promising and suggest that eBeam may be a feasible path forward for future projects.