Permethrin-impregnated bednets are more effective than DDT house-spraying to control malaria in Solomon Islands

Abstract

A field trial compared DDT house-spraying with permethrin-impregnated bednets for malaria control in Solomon Islands from 1987 to 1991. Mortality-rates of malaria vector Anopheles farauti in exit window traps were 11.6% from an untreated hut, 10.1% from a hut sprayed with DDT 2 g/m2, and 98% of those from a hut in which the occupants used bednets treated with permethrin 0.5 g/m2. Since bioassays of the DDT-sprayed walls (15 min exposure in W.H.O. standard test cones) gave 77% mortality of An.farauti, it was concluded that the insignificant impact of DDT could be explained by the exophilic behaviour of endophagic vectors, whereas the greater impact of permethrin was attributed to the more effective exposure of An.farauti females to the impregnated bednets-attracted by the occupants. The parous rate was higher indoors, except in the area with permethrin-impregnated bednets. It was therefore concluded that permethrin-impregnated bednets reduced the mean longevity of An.farauti and hence its vectorial capacity. The circumsporozoite (CS) antigen positivity rate of An.farauti in the DDT area was 0.18% outdoors, significantly less than 1.42% indoors. In the comparison area CS rates were 0.65% outdoors and 0.75% indoors. CS antigen was not detected in An.farauti from the bednet area, indicating the apparent prevention of malaria transmission. As DDT spraying was so much less effective, it was discontinued in 1993 and permethrin-impregnated bednets are now the principal malaria control method in Solomon Islands.