Abstract
BackgroundThere is a global consensus that new intervention tools are needed for the final steps toward malaria elimination/eradication. In a recent study in Burkina Faso, the Lehmann Funnel Entry Trap (LFET) has shown promising results in the reduction of mosquito densities, even in areas where insecticide resistance is as high as 80%. The LFET requires no chemicals and is self-operated. However, one of the issues with the original LFET is the size of the funnel, which often occupies too much space within users’ homes. Here, the performance of three new, smaller-sized LFET prototypes that combine a screening and killing effect on mosquitoes was assessed.MethodsThe study was carried out over three months during the rainy season in low and high malaria vector density sites, Soumousso and Vallée du Kou, respectively. The original LFET (or ‘Prototype 1’/‘P1’) was modified to produce three new prototypes, which were referred to as prototype 2 (‘the Medium’ or ‘P2’), prototype 3 (P3) and prototype 4 (P4). Each of the new prototypes was tested on eight days per month over the three-month period to assess their effectiveness in trapping and killing mosquitoes entering houses through the windows compared to the original LFET.ResultsOverall, 78,435 mosquitoes (mainly Anopheles gambiae sensu lato) were collected in the two study sites, both in the traps and in the houses. A total of 56,430 (72%) mosquitoes were collected from the traps. In Vallée du Kou, the original LFET caught a greater number of mosquitoes than the medium (prototype 2), whereas no difference was observed between the other new prototypes (3 and 4) and the medium. In Soumousso, both the original and medium LFETs collected significantly greater numbers of mosquitoes compared to prototypes 3 and 4.ConclusionThis study has shown that the new LFET prototypes are effective in trapping mosquitoes in high mosquito density settings. A large-scale study with one of the prototypes will be needed to assess community acceptance of the traps and their ability to control malaria vectors.
Highlights
There is a global consensus that new intervention tools are needed for the final steps toward malaria elimination/eradication
In order to manage the spread of mosquito insecticide resistance, one important consideration is the effective monitoring of mosquito vector populations, a key element of vector management and assessment of mosquito borne disease [5]
Out of 76,558 An. gambiae mosquitoes collected in both traps and houses, 75,471 were caught in VK3 and 1087 in Soumousso, whereby 72% and 60% respectively were collected from the traps (Table 1)
Summary
There is a global consensus that new intervention tools are needed for the final steps toward malaria elimination/eradication. In a recent study in Burkina Faso, the Lehmann Funnel Entry Trap (LFET) has shown promising results in the reduction of mosquito densities, even in areas where insecticide resistance is as high as 80%. Approaches that exploit insect behaviour with regards to house entry have been explored as part of malaria vector control strategies [17, 18]. These ideas were brought together in the design of the original Lehmann’s Funnel Entry Trap (LFET), a window trap exploiting mosquito endophilic and anthropophilic behaviours and entry route [19]. The original LFET prototype occupied too much space, impacting residents’ enthusiasm for continuous use. In response to this major issue, the original LFET was scaled down
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