Application of deltamethrin-impregnated bednets for mosquito and malaria control in Yunnan, China

The results of research in China in recent years show that: 1) Different laboratory sensitivity of adult Anopheles minimus, An. sinensis and Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus to deltamethrin exist in Yunnan. Although the range and duration for the use of permethrin and deltamethrin was limited, resistance of An. minimus, An. sinensis and Cx. pipiens quinquefasciatus to different extent in some areas existed. 2) On walls built with cement and covered with a thin layer of lime on which deltamethrin at a dosage of 0.025 g/m2 was sprayed, 100% of the mosquitos were stricken down within 3 days, 80% at the 15th day, 50% at the 20th day. The residual effectiveness on the bamboo and wood walls was good and could last for over 40 days, but on the mud walls a mortality of only 40% on the spraying day was observed, indicating that deltamethrin was not suitable for this purpose. Deltamethrin spraying reduced total caught mosquitos within 30 days, but there was no difference between the effects of deltamethrin (0.025 g/m2) and DDT (2 g/m2) at the 60th day. Deltamethrin effect on reducing densities of endophilic An. vagus, An. culicifacies and exophilic An. philippinensis was better than that of DDT (lasting over 60 days), but its effect on semi-endophilic An. sinensis lasted only 15 days. Against An. mininus, it showed good effects within 20 days but did not last as long as DDT (60 days). Residual deltamethrin and DDT spraying could both control malaria vectors, reduce the infection of infants by malaria, and reduce malaria parasite carrier rates (within 50 days). 3) Laboratory experiments showed that deltamethrin-impregnated bednets at a dosage of 0.015 g/m2 had a positive effect on An. minimus. The residual effect of unwashed deltamethrin-impregnated bednets at a dosage of 0.015 mg/m2 against An. sinensis was apparent and could last for 13 months. When an impregnated bednet was washed for the first time at the 12th month, its mortality effect on An. sinensis was reduced quickly to lower than 50%. The residual effect could last for 2-3 months when washed at the 6th month, but was lost when washed for the second time at the 12th month. 4) The effects of the impregnated-bednets on An. sinensis were different, even opposite, between different investigations. However, the treated bednets caused the density of An. minimus in houses to fall by 67.94%, and the total density in houses and cattle shelters by 67.91%. Moreover, it could shorten the life span of An. minimus. It did not work on the outdoor density of An. minimus. It is necessary to integrate with other measures, for achieving the desired effect.