Field testing of a lightweight, inexpensive, and customisable 3D-printed mosquito light trap in the UK

Tomonori Hoshi,Shigeharu Sato,Bumpei Tojo,Jolyon M Medlock,Satoshi Kaneko,Kazuhiko Moji,Victor A Brugman,Gaku Masuda,Thomas Ant,James G Logan

doi:10.1038/s41598-019-47511-y

Abstract

Mosquito surveillance is a fundamental component of planning and evaluating vector control programmes. However, logistical and cost barriers can hinder the implementation of surveillance, particularly in vector-borne disease-endemic areas and in outbreak scenarios in remote areas where the need is often most urgent. The increasing availability and reduced cost of 3D printing technology offers an innovative approach to overcoming these challenges. In this study, we assessed the field performance of a novel, lightweight 3D-printed mosquito light trap baited with carbon dioxide (CO2) in comparison with two gold-standard traps, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) light trap baited with CO2, and the BG Sentinel 2 trap with BG-Lure and CO2. Traps were run for 12 nights in a Latin square design at Rainham Marshes, Essex, UK in September 2018. The 3D-printed trap showed equivalent catch rates to the two commercially available traps. The 3D-printed trap designs are distributed free of charge in this article with the aim of assisting entomological field studies across the world.

Highlights

Mosquito surveillance is fundamental to the monitoring of vector-borne disease risk and the planning and evaluation of vector-control strategies
Rainham Marshes is a site targeted as part of routine mosquito surveillance by Public Health England due to possible risk of incursion of invasive mosquito species and exotic pathogens
The 3D-printed trap design was successfully produced with a reduced size and weight compared to the two commercial traps (Fig. 1 & Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

Mosquito surveillance is fundamental to the monitoring of vector-borne disease risk and the planning and evaluation of vector-control strategies. These technological developments mean that an organisation would only require a one-time purchase of a 3D printer setup and, with the availability of an appropriate digital model, could produce multiple traps at a low cost per trap. We compared the sampling efficacy of our 3D-printed mosquito light trap with the CDC light trap and BG-Sentinel 2 trap in Rainham Marshes, Essex, United Kingdom (UK). This is a managed area of grazing marshland in the Thames Estuary region which supports abundant populations of wildlife and is situated close to both London and to areas of similar marshland habitat where large mosquito populations have been described[10]. We present results of the trap comparison study and discuss the potential for wider adoption of 3D-printing into trap design and the incorporation of the 3D-printed light trap into vector surveillance programs

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion