Which indoor residual spraying insecticide best complements standard pyrethroid long-lasting insecticidal nets for improved control of pyrethroid resistant malaria vectors?

Abstract

Background: Where resources are available, non-pyrethroid IRS can be deployed to complement standard pyrethroid LLINs with the aim of achieving improved vector control and managing insecticide resistance. The impact of the combination may however depend on the type of IRS insecticide deployed. Studies comparing combinations of pyrethroid LLINs with different types of non-pyrethroid IRS products will be necessary for decision making.

Methods: The efficacy of combining a standard pyrethroid LLIN (DuraNet®) with IRS insecticides from three chemical classes (bendiocarb, chlorfenapyr and pirimiphos-methyl CS) was evaluated in an experimental hut trial against wild pyrethroid-resistant Anopheles gambiae s.l. in Cové, Benin. The combinations were also compared to each intervention alone. WHO cylinder and CDC bottle bioassays were performed to assess susceptibility of the local An. gambiae s.l. vector population at the Cové hut site to insecticides used in the combinations.

Results: Susceptibility bioassays revealed that the vector population at Cové, was resistant to pyrethroids (<20% mortality) but susceptible to carbamates, chlorfenapyr and organophosphates (≥98% mortality). Mortality of wild free-flying pyrethroid resistant An. gambiae s.l. entering the hut with the untreated net control (4%) did not differ significantly from DuraNet® alone (8%, p = 0.169). Pirimiphos-methyl CS IRS induced the highest mortality both on its own (85%) and in combination with DuraNet® (81%). Mortality with the DuraNet® + chlorfenapyr IRS combination was significantly higher than each intervention alone (46% vs. 33% and 8%, p<0.05) demonstrating an additive effect. The DuraNet® + bendiocarb IRS combination induced significantly lower mortality compared to the other combinations (32%, p<0.05). Blood-feeding inhibition was very low with the IRS treatments alone (3-5%) but increased significantly when they were combined with DuraNet® (61% - 71%, p<0.05). Blood-feeding rates in the combinations were similar to the net alone. Adding bendiocarb IRS to DuraNet® induced significantly lower levels of mosquito feeding compared to adding chlorfenapyr IRS (28% vs. 37%, p = 0.015).

Conclusions: Adding non-pyrethroid IRS to standard pyrethroid-only LLINs against a pyrethroid-resistant vector population which is susceptible to the IRS insecticide, can provide higher levels of vector mosquito control compared to the pyrethroid net alone or IRS alone. Adding pirimiphos-methyl CS IRS may provide substantial improvements in vector control while adding chlorfenapyr IRS can demonstrate an additive effect relative to both interventions alone. Adding bendiocarb IRS may show limited enhancements in vector control owing to its short residual effect.

Fig 1. Monthly mortality rates of wild, free-flying pyrethroid-resistant Anopheles gambiae sensu lato entering experimental huts with pirimiphos-methyl CS IRS applied alone and in combination with DuraNet® in Covè, southern Benin.

Mortality was cumulated over successive months. Error bars represent 95% CI.

Fig 2. Monthly mortality rates of wild, free-flying pyrethroid-resistant Anopheles gambiae sensu lato entering experimental huts with chlorfenapyr IRS applied alone and in combination with DuraNet® in Covè, southern Benin.

Mortality was cumulated over successive months. Error bars represent 95% CI.

Fig 3. Monthly mortality rates of wild, free-flying pyrethroid-resistant Anopheles gambiae sensu lato entering experimental huts with bendiocarb IRS applied alone and in combination with DuraNet® in Covè, southern Benin.

Mortality was cumulated over successive months. Error bars represent 95% CI.

Fig 4. Mortality (72 h) of laboratory maintained, insecticide-susceptible Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto Kisumu colony exposed to IRS-treated hut walls in monthly, 30 mins wall cone bioassays in experimental huts in Covè, southern Benin.

Error bars represent 95% CI. Approximately fifty (50) 2–3 days old mosquitoes were exposed for 30 mins to each IRS treated hut in batches of 10 per cone and mortality recorded after 72 h.