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. 2024 May 18;23(1):153.
doi: 10.1186/s12936-024-04985-0.

Characteristics of the Western Province, Zambia, trial site for evaluation of attractive targeted sugar baits for malaria vector control

Annie Arnzen  1 , Joseph Wagman  2 , Chama Chishya  3 , Erica Orange  4 , Thomas P Eisele  5 , Joshua Yukich  5 , Ruth A Ashton  5 , Javan Chanda  6 , Jimmy Sakala  6   7 , Benjamin Chanda  3 , Rayford Muyabe  3 , Tresford Kaniki  3 , Mwansa Mwenya  3 , Gift Mwaanga  8 , Will T Eaton  5 , Brooke Mancuso  5 , Alice Mungo  8 , Monicah M Mburu  8 , Nchimunya Bubala  8 , Ackim Hagwamuna  8 , Edgar Simulundu  8 , Kochelani Saili  3 , John M Miller  6 , Kafula Silumbe  6 , Busiku Hamainza  9 , Willy Ngulube  9 , Hawela Moonga  9 , Jacob Chirwa  9 , Thomas R Burkot  10 , Laurence Slutsker  11 , Megan Littrell  2
Affiliations

Characteristics of the Western Province, Zambia, trial site for evaluation of attractive targeted sugar baits for malaria vector control

Annie Arnzen et al. Malar J. .

Abstract

Background: The attractive targeted sugar bait (ATSB) is a novel malaria vector control tool designed to attract and kill mosquitoes using a sugar-based bait, laced with oral toxicant. Western Province, Zambia, was one of three countries selected for a series of phase III cluster randomized controlled trials of the Westham ATSB Sarabi version 1.2. The trial sites in Kenya, Mali, and Zambia were selected to represent a range of different ecologies and malaria transmission settings across sub-Saharan Africa. This case study describes the key characteristics of the ATSB Zambia trial site to allow for interpretation of the results relative to the Kenya and Mali sites.

Methods: This study site characterization incorporates data from the trial baseline epidemiological and mosquito sugar feeding surveys conducted in 2021, as well as relevant literature on the study area.

Results: CHARACTERIZATION OF THE TRIAL SITE: The trial site in Zambia was comprised of 70 trial-designed clusters in Kaoma, Nkeyema, and Luampa districts. Population settlements in the trial site were dispersed across a large geographic area with sparsely populated villages. The overall population density in the 70 study clusters was 65.7 people per square kilometre with a total site population of 122,023 people living in a geographic area that covered 1858 square kilometres. However, the study clusters were distributed over a total area of approximately 11,728 square kilometres. The region was tropical with intense and seasonal malaria transmission. An abundance of trees and other plants in the trial site were potential sources of sugar meals for malaria vectors. Fourteen Anopheles species were endemic in the site and Anopheles funestus was the dominant vector, likely accounting for around 95% of all Plasmodium falciparum malaria infections. Despite high coverage of indoor residual spraying and insecticide-treated nets, the baseline malaria prevalence during the peak malaria transmission season was 50% among people ages six months and older.

Conclusion: Malaria transmission remains high in Western Province, Zambia, despite coverage with vector control tools. New strategies are needed to address the drivers of malaria transmission in this region and other malaria-endemic areas in sub-Saharan Africa.

Keywords: Attractive targeted sugar bait; Malaria; Residual transmission; Site characterization; Vector control.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Map of the trial site located in Western Province, Zambia
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Drone image of vegetation surrounding household in the trial site
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Commonly found house types in the trial site Photo credit: Erica Orange
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Overview of IRS and ITN campaigns in the trial site from 2020 through 2022
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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