Bio-efficacy, physical integrity, community usage and washing practices of mosquito nets treated with ICON MAXX long-lasting insecticidal treatment in India

Sudhansu Sekhar Sahu,Kasinathan Gunasekaran,Kilakootil Narayanan Vijayakumar,Purushothaman Jambulingam

doi:10.1590/0074-02760160287

Sudhansu Sekhar Sahu, Kasinathan Gunasekaran + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/0074-02760160287

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Abstract

BACKGROUND New brands of potential long lasting insecticide nets (LLINs) and LLIN treatment kits require field evaluation before they are used in a vector control programme.OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to evaluate the bio-efficacy, usage, washing practice and physical integrity of nets treated with LLIN treatment kit, ICON MAXX in a phase III field trial in Odisha state, India.METHODS A total of 300 polyester nets treated with ICON MAXX and 140 polyester nets treated conventionally with lambda-cyhalothrin CS 2.5% ITNs were distributed. The bio-efficacy was evaluated with WHO cone bioassay. The chemical analysis of netting pieces was done at the beginning, after 12 and 36 months of the trial.FINDINGS After one year of distribution of nets, the bioassay showed 100% mortality on both ITNs and ICON MAXX treated nets. At 36 months, the overall pass rate was 58.8% and the mean lambda-cyhalothrin content of LLINs was 34.5 mg ai/m2, showing a loss of 44.4% of the original concentration.CONCLUSION ICON MAXX treated LLIN was found to retain bio-efficacy causing 97% knockdown of Anopheles stephensi up to 30 months and met the WHOPES criteria. However, the desired bio-efficacy was not sustained up to 36 months.

Highlights

New brands of potential long lasting insecticide nets (LLINs) and LLIN treatment kits require field evaluation before they are used in a vector control programme
The analysis further showed that after one year of household use, the mean lambda-cyhalothrin content decreased to 45.2 mg/ m2 in LLIN corresponding to 72.9% of the baseline content and to 13.7 mg/m2 in the insecticide treated nets (ITNs) corresponding to 64% of the lambda-cyhalothrin content at baseline
Taking into consideration the safety, efficacy and resistance to washing of nets treated with ICON MAXX in laboratory and small-scale field studies, it was recommended by World Health Organisation Pesticide Evaluation Scheme (WHOPES) for large-scale (Phase III) field studies to confirm the long lasting efficacy of the treatment as a requirement for developing full recommendations on the use of the ICON MAXX (WHO 2007c)

Summary

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to evaluate the bio-efficacy, usage, washing practice and physical integrity of nets treated with LLIN treatment kit, ICON MAXX in a phase III field trial in Odisha state, India. The rapid loss of bio-efficacy of ITNs due to washing, and low re-treatment rates, in difficult-to-reach areas, limit the operational effectiveness of ITNs programme (Lines 1996, Jambulingam et al 2008) To overcome these operational constraints, factory made long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) and long-lasting net treatment kits have been advocated (WHO 2007a, Malima et al 2008). In the current Phase III (large-scale) field trial, polyester nets treated with the new long-lasting treatment kit, ICON MAXX (hereafter reffered as LLINs) were evaluated against Anopheles fluviatilis, the major malaria vector in the study area in comparison with polyester nets conventionally treated with the same insecticide (lambda-cyhalothrin) (hereafter referred as ITN) in a Plasmodium falciparum endemic area of Odisha state in India in collaboration with the WHOPES to assess the bio-efficacy, usage, washing practice and physical integrity of nets over a period of three years

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