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Deltamethrin Persistence on Textiles Used to Make Visual Targets for Tsetse Fly Control is Positively Correlated With
Emmanuel Kamba Mebourou1, Martine Bourquin1, Francis Oloo2
1Animal Physiology Laboratory, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Rue Emile-Argand, Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
Journal of Medical Entomology
|April 7, 2020
Summary
Higher polyester content in textiles improves deltamethrin insecticide retention against tsetse flies. This enhanced insecticide persistence on polyester-based targets can improve control of African trypanosomiasis vectors.
Area of Science:
- Entomology and Parasitology
- Materials Science
- Environmental Chemistry
Background:
- Insecticide-impregnated targets are crucial for controlling tsetse fly populations, vectors of African trypanosomiasis.
- The efficacy of these targets relies on the persistence of insecticides like deltamethrin on textile materials.
- Weathering significantly impacts insecticide retention on textiles, affecting long-term control strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effect of varying polyester content in textiles on deltamethrin retention after weathering.
- To assess the insecticidal efficacy of weathered textiles against the tsetse fly, Glossina pallidipes.
- To identify optimal textile compositions for durable tsetse fly control targets.
Main Methods:
- Four textile types with increasing polyester proportions (0-100%) blended with cotton and viscose were impregnated with deltamethrin.
- Impregnated textiles were weathered for 18 months in Lambwe Valley, Kenya, with samples collected quarterly.
- Deltamethrin content was quantified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and knockdown/mortality tests were performed on Glossina pallidipes.
Main Results:
- Textiles with higher polyester content demonstrated superior deltamethrin retention; 100% polyester retained 17 mg/m2 after 9 months.
- Even after 18 months of weathering, 100% polyester textiles effectively knocked down tsetse flies within 2 hours.
- Higher deltamethrin availability on polyester textiles correlated with increased efficacy, with LD50 for G. pallidipes estimated at 28.8 mg/m2.
Conclusions:
- Polyester-rich textiles significantly enhance the weatherfastness and retention of deltamethrin for tsetse fly control.
- 100% polyester and 65:35 polyester/viscose textiles offer promising durability for insecticide-treated targets.
- Optimizing textile composition is key to improving the long-term efficiency of tsetse vector control programs.
