Insecticidal paint: An alternate integrated vector management strategy for mosquito control

Abstract

Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among human populations and account for around 17% of the total global burden of communicable diseases and around 0.7 million deaths are caused annually. Mosquitoes of the genera Anopheles, Aedes, and Culex are the major vectors that transmit diseases like malaria, dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and filariasis. To combat the effects of such diseases, vector control, by insecticides or through biological control, is one of the key options. Chemical control is the major intervention used to control vector populations. However, due to the continuous overuse of insecticides, mosquitoes are becoming resistant to insecticides. New techniques, such as nanotechnology-based insecticidal formulations and insecticide paint, are being developed to increase the efficacy of insecticides and reduce the frequency of application. Insecticide paint might be advantageous in terms of residual efficacy, cost, and acceptability due to its easy application. In the present review, we discuss the currently used vector strategies, their limitations, and the advantages of insecticide paint utilization over present strategies in the Indian context. Further, different insecticidal paint formulations developed against different mosquito species and their future prospects for vector control in India are presented.