Opportunity indicators, niches and challenges for available and emerging vector control technologies targeting adult malaria vectors
| Technology | Human indicator | Entomological indicator | Niche | Challenges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physical mosquito proofing of | ||||
| Residential housing | At least partially sedentary lifestyles and sleep indoors | At least one-third of historical or current human exposure to vectors occurs indoors | Almost ubiquitous | Establish systems for promotion and subsidisation of affordable materials |
| Temporary or mobile shelters | At least partially migrant lifestyles and sleep in shelters | Almost ubiquitous | Develop locally appropriate, affordable prototype products | |
| Traps or insecticide-treated window screens, eave tubes or eave baffles for killing mosquitoes attempting to enter houses or shelters | Sleep indoors or inside shelters | At least one-third of historical or current human exposure to vectors occurs indoors and at least one-third of blood meals are obtained from humans | Almost ubiquitous | Establish systems for promotion and subsidisation of affordable materials, including insecticide retreatments Develop locally appropriate, affordable prototype products |
| Insecticide-treated clothing or emanators for vapour-phase repellent, incapacitant and/or lethal insecticide | Outdoor activities common during hours of darkness | At least one-third of current human exposure to vectors occurs outdoors | Almost ubiquitous | Reformulation of volatile pyrethroids to maximise affordability, durability and safety Development of products with non-pyrethroid active ingredients |
| Insecticide treatments for livestock | Livestock ownership | At least one-third of vector blood meals are obtained from identified livestock species | Almost ubiquitous | Identify products which most effectively perform both their primary veterinary function and kill locally important malaria vectors |
| Insecticidal sugar baits | None known | Most vectors can be labelled with dyed baits lacking insecticide or killed by baits including insecticide | Unknown | Identify best available products and bespoke prototypes Map out geographic extent and variability of high sugar feeding rates and corresponding potential for impact Identify consistently optimal environmental targets and delivery strategies Demonstrate lack of environmental impact on non-target species of arthropods, pollinators in particular |
| Insecticidal aerosols or fogs targeted at mosquitoes when they disperse, rest or form mating swarms | None known | Most vectors can be labelled by dyed with formulations lacking insecticide or killed by formulations including insecticide | Possibly west and central Africa | Identify best available products and bespoke prototypes Map out geographic extent and variability of swarming within human settlement and corresponding potential for impact Identify consistently optimal environmental targets and delivery strategies Demonstrate lack of environmental impact on non-target species of arthropods |
The indicators, prioritisation threshold values and niches for application of these vector control technologies are synthesised from a previous detailed review and modelling analyses.3 ,9 ,10 ,52–55 For referenced discussion of the methodology required to survey each indicator, see the first paragraph of the section entitled Exploiting the full potential of existing entomological field techniques.