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Exploring alternative insecticide delivery options in a "lethal house lure" for malaria vector control.
Welbeck A Oumbouke1,2,3, Antoine M G Barreaux4,5,6,7, Innocent T Zran8
1Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK. welbeck.oumbouke@ivcc.com.
Scientific Reports
|March 25, 2023
Summary
The In2Care EaveTube effectively kills malaria mosquitoes for up to 4 months using insecticide powder. Alternative methods like long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) showed lower efficacy, indicating powder treatments remain superior for EaveTube vector control.
Area of Science:
- Medical Entomology
- Vector Control
- Public Health
Background:
- The In2Care EaveTube is a novel house modification designed to combat malaria by blocking and killing mosquitoes.
- Previous research indicated sustained effectiveness of insecticide-treated electrostatic netting in semi-field conditions.
- This study evaluates the EaveTube intervention within a cluster randomized controlled trial (CRT) in Côte d'Ivoire.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the residual efficacy of pyrethroid insecticides in EaveTubes under real-world village conditions.
- To explore the potential of existing malaria control tools, such as long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS), as alternative insecticide delivery systems within the EaveTube.
- To compare the effectiveness of different insecticide formulations and delivery methods against malaria vectors.
Main Methods:
- The "eave tube bioassay" method was employed to monitor the efficacy of beta-cyfluthrin over time.
- Release-recapture experiments in experimental huts were conducted to evaluate PVC tubes coated with pirimiphos methyl.
- The efficacy of various LLINs (PermaNet 3.0, Olyset Plus, Interceptor G2) as insecticide delivery systems was assessed.
- Residual activity bioassays were used to determine the duration of insecticidal effect.
Main Results:
- Beta-cyfluthrin treated EaveTubes maintained over 80% mortality against pyrethroid-resistant Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes after 4 months.
- PVC tubes with pirimiphos methyl showed comparable mosquito mortality (66.8%) to beta-cyfluthrin inserts (62.8%).
- All tested LLINs demonstrated significantly lower efficacy compared to powder treatments, with PermaNet 3.0 showing the highest mortality (50.4%) among LLINs.
- The efficacy of alternative delivery methods diminished rapidly, falling below 50% mortality within 2 months.
Conclusions:
- Insecticide powder treatments in EaveTubes exhibit prolonged residual efficacy against malaria vectors under village conditions.
- Existing malaria control technologies like LLINs are less effective as insecticide delivery systems within the EaveTube compared to powder formulations.
- Further research is necessary to optimize insecticide delivery strategies for the EaveTube to enhance malaria vector control efforts.
