Impacts of dual active-ingredient bed nets on the behavioural responses of pyrethroid resistant Anopheles gambiae determined by room-scale infrared video tracking.

Background: The success of insecticide treated bed nets (ITNs) for malaria vector control in Africa relies on the behaviour of various species of Anopheles. Previous research has described mosquito behavioural alterations resulting from widespread ITN coverage, which could result in a decrease in net efficacy. Here, behaviours were compared including timings of net contact, willingness to refeed and longevity post-exposure to two next-generation nets, PermaNet 3.

A closer look at the WHO cone bioassay: video analysis of the hidden effects of a human host on mosquito behaviour and insecticide contact.

Background: The WHO cone test is one of three tests currently used to evaluate the efficacy of insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs). It generates two test outputs, knockdown and 24-h mortality, both indicative of immediate toxicity but that reveal little about the nature of mosquito and ITN interaction or how results translate to real-world settings.

Methods: A human arm held 5 mm behind the net surface acted as a host attractant during cone tests and a smartphone was used to capture mosquito behaviour in the cone.