BackgroundInsecticide-treated nets and indoor residual spraying of insecticides are used as the major vector control interventions in the fight against malaria. Measuring the actual amount of deposits of insecticides on bed nets and walls is essential for evaluating the quality and effectiveness of the intervention. A colorimetric “Test Kit” designed for use as a screening tool, able to detect the type II pyrethroids on fabrics and sprayed walls, was used for the first time to detect deltamethrin on long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) deployed on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea.MethodsLLINs were analysed using the colorimetric Test Kit performed in situ, which leads to the formation of an orange-red solution whose depth of colour indicates the amount of type II pyrethroid on the net. The kit results were validated by measuring the amount of extracted insecticide using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode array detection (DAD).ResultsDeltamethrin concentration was determined for 130 LLINs by HPLC-DAD. The deltamethrin concentration of these nets exhibited a significant decrease with the age from 65 mg/m2 (<12 months of use) to 31 mg/m2 (>48 months; p<0.001). Overall, 18% of the nets being used in households had <15 mg/m2 of deltamethrin, thus falling into the failed category as assessed by the colorimetric Test Kit. This was supported by the bioassay determined bio-efficacy of the nets with ≥80% mortality following the World Health Organization (WHO) minimal effectiveness criteria. The Test Kit was field evaluated in situ and found to be rapid, accurate, and easy to use by people without laboratory training. The Test Kit was shown to have a reliable linear relationship between depth of colour produced and deltamethrin concentration (R2 = 0.9135).ConclusionResults of this study show that this colorimetric test was a reliable method to assess the insecticidal content of LLINs under operational conditions. The Test Kit provides immediate results and offers a rapid, inexpensive, field-friendly alternative to the complicated and costly methods as HPLC and WHO cone bioassays which also need specialist staff. Thus, enabling National Malaria Programs to gain access to effective and affordable monitoring tools for use in situ.
BackgroundLong-lasting efficacy of insecticide treated nets is a balance between adhesion, retention and migration of insecticide to the surface of netting fibres. ICON® Maxx is a twin-sachet ‘home-treatment kit’ of pyrethroid plus binding agent, recommended by the World Health Organization for long-lasting, wash-fast treatment of polyester nets. While knitted polyester netting is widely used, fine woven polyethylene netting is increasingly available and nets made of cotton and nylon are common in Africa and Asia. It is important to investigate whether ICON Maxx is able to fulfill the WHO criteria of long-lasting treatment on a range of domestic fabrics to widen the scope for malaria protection.Method This study was a controlled comparison of the bio-efficacy and wash-fastness of lambda-cyhalothrin CS, with or without binder, on nets made of cotton, polyethylene, nylon, dyed and undyed polyester. Evaluation compared an array of bioassays, WHO cone and cylinder, median time to knockdown and WHO tunnel tests using Anopheles mosquitoes. Chemical assay revealed further insight. ResultsICON Maxx treated polyethylene and polyester netting met the WHO cone and tunnel test bio-efficacy criteria for LLIN after 20 standardized washes. Although nylon and cotton netting failed to meet the WHO cone and cylinder criteria, both materials passed the WHO tunnel test criterion of 80% mortality after 20 washes. All materials treated with standard lambda-cyhalothrin CS without binder failed to meet any of the WHO bio-efficacy criteria within 5 washes. ConclusionThe bio-efficacy of ICON Maxx against mosquitoes on netting washed up to 20 times demonstrated wash durability on a range of synthetic polymer and natural fibres: polyester, polyethylene, nylon and cotton. This raises the prospect of making the insecticide-binder kit into an effective approach for turning untreated nets, curtains, military clothing, blankets - and tents and tarpaulins as used in disasters and humanitarian emergencies - into effective malaria prevention products. It may provide a solution to the problem of reduced LLIN coverage between campaigns by converting commercially sourced untreated nets into LLINs through community or home treatment. It may also open the door to binding of non-pyrethroid insecticides to nets and textiles for control of pyrethroid resistant vectors.
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