Abstract
BackgroundAn increasing number of countries in sub-Saharan Africa are moving towards malaria-elimination, mostly thanks to successful vector control campaigns. However, elimination has proven challenging, resulting in the persistence of malaria transmission. It is now accepted that in order to eliminate malaria, new complementary vector control approaches must be developed. This study describes the development of a sugar-baited resting place containing a toxic dose of ivermectin for the control of Anopheles arabiensis.ResultsDose response experiments were performed in insectary conditions to determine the LD90 of ivermectin against An. arabiensis. Over 95% of An. arabiensis were knocked down 48 h post-sugar feeding on 10% sucrose solutions containing 0.01% ivermectin. When investigating different juices as attractants, it was observed that An. arabiensis preferred orange, watermelon and commercial guava juice over pawpaw, tomato, mango or banana, but were most likely to feed on simple 10% sugar solution. Using recycled materials, different bait prototypes were tested to determine the best design to maximize sugar feeding. Baits that offered a resting place for the mosquito rather than just a surface to sugar feed were more likely to attract An. arabiensis to sugar feed. The optimized prototype was then placed in different locations within a screen-house, colour-coded with different food dyes, containing competing vegetation (Ricinus communis) and experimental huts where humans slept under bed nets. Around half of all the released An. arabiensis sugar fed on the sugar baits, and approximately 50% of all sugar fed mosquitoes chose the baits close to outdoor vegetation before entering the huts.ConclusionsIvermectin is an effective insecticide for use in sugar baits. The design of the sugar bait can influence feeding rates and, therefore, efficacy. Sugar baits that offer a resting surface are more efficient and sugar feeding on the baits is maximized when these are placed close to peri-domestic vegetation. Attractive toxic sugar baited resting places may provide an additional vector control method to complement with existing strategies.
Highlights
An increasing number of countries in sub-Saharan Africa are moving towards malaria-elimination, mostly thanks to successful vector control campaigns
Its mode of action is quite different from current interventions as it targets mosquitoes when they sugar feed rather than host-seeking or resting which are traditionally targeted by long lasting insecticidetreated bed nets (LLINs) and indoor residual spray (IRS)
Sugar concoction and prototype design Anopheles arabiensis mosquitoes preferred to feed on orange (Citrus sinensis) to other fruit juices and just 10% sucrose solution (Table 1)
Summary
An increasing number of countries in sub-Saharan Africa are moving towards malaria-elimination, mostly thanks to successful vector control campaigns. Female mosquitoes feed on sugar mainly from plants in order to obtain energy for survival, flight and fecundity [7]. They quest for sugar before and after obtaining blood meal so as to maintain their fitness throughout their life. Its mode of action is quite different from current interventions as it targets mosquitoes when they sugar feed rather than host-seeking or resting which are traditionally targeted by LLINs and IRS. In such context, ATSBs may complement with existing vector control interventions. The intervention is technologically and operationally simple, environmentally safe and cost effective, characterizing its suitability for controlling malaria vectors in low and middle-income countries (LMIC)
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