A household randomized, controlled trial of the efficacy of 0.03% transfluthrin coils alone and in combination with long-lasting insecticidal nets on the incidence of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax malaria in Western Yunnan Province, China.

Background: Mosquito coils are the most commonly used household insecticidal product in the world with sales exceeding 50 billion coils, used by two billion people worldwide annually. Despite strong evidence that coils prevent mosquito bites a systematic review concluded that there is no evidence that burning mosquito coils prevents malaria acquisition. Therefore, the current trial was designed to measure and compare prevention of malaria infection by mosquito coils or long-lasting insecticidal net (LLIN) or a combination of the two in Yunnan, China in the Greater Mekong sub-region.

Risk factors for mosquito house entry in the Lao PDR.

Background: Construction of the Nam Theun 2 hydroelectric project and flooding of a 450 km(2) area of mountain plateau in south-central Lao PDR resulted in the resettlement of 6,300 people to newly built homes. We examined whether new houses would have altered risk of house entry by mosquitoes compared with traditional homes built from poorer construction materials.

Methodology/principal Findings: Surveys were carried out in the Nam Theun 2 resettlement area and a nearby traditional rice farming area in 2010.

Risk factors for the presence of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in domestic water-holding containers in areas impacted by the Nam Theun 2 hydroelectric project, Laos.

We assessed risk factors for vectors of dengue and chikungunya viruses near a new hydroelectric project, Nam Theun 2, in Laos. Immature stages of Aedes aegypti were found only in sites within 40 km of the urban provincial capital, but Aedes albopictus was found throughout. Aedes aegypti pupae were most common in water storage jars (odds ratio [OR] = 4.

Border malaria in China: knowledge and use of personal protection by minority populations and implications for malaria control: a questionnaire-based survey.

Background: Malaria control in remote, forested areas of the Mekong region relies on personal protection from mosquito bites. Uptake of these methods may be limited by knowledge of the link between mosquitoes and malaria as well as social and economic aspects. Understanding barriers to uptake will inform malaria control programmes on targets for improvement of delivery.

Field evaluation of traditionally used plant-based insect repellents and fumigants against the malaria vector Anopheles darlingi in Riberalta, Bolivian Amazon.

Inexpensive insect repellents may be needed to supplement the use of impregnated bed-nets in the Amazon region, where the primary malaria vector, Anopheles darlingi (Root), is exophilic and feeds in the early evening. Three plants that are traditionally used to repel mosquitoes in Riberalta, Bolivian Amazon, were identified by focus group, and then they were tested against An. darlingi as well as Mansonia indubitans (Dyar & Shannon)/Mansonia titillans (Walker).

Control of head lice: past, present and future.

Pediculosis capitis is common among children. Rapid and accurate detection is an underlying principle of effective control and the use of a fine-tooth comb in wet, conditioned hair is most sensitive. However, none of the available treatments are fully effective.

Biting time of Anopheles darlingi in the Bolivian Amazon and implications for control of malaria.

Malaria is a growing problem in the Bolivian Amazon where there has been a four-fold increase between 1991 and 1998, largely owing to forest clearance bringing human and vector into closer association. The principle vector in this region is Anopheles darlingi Root, the behaviour of which has been little studied in this part of South America. The peak time of biting of A.

[Evaluation of the enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay in detecting circumsporozoite protein of anopheline vectors in Yunnan].

Objective: To detect circumsporozoite protein (CSP) in anopheline vectors from south Yunnan and to evaluate ELISA in the detection.

Methods: Salivary glands of the anopheline mosquitoes were taken for finding sporozoites by microscopy and part of the glands was used for detecting CSP by ELISA. An.

Permethrin-impregnated mattress liners: a novel and effective intervention against house dust mites (Acari: Pyroglyphididae).

This study tested the efficacy of permethrin-impregnated mattress liners in reducing house dust mites in the homes of volunteers with no previous recorded history of asthma, atopic eczema, or perennial rhinitis. The field trial using permethrin-impregnated (450 mg/m2 of pure permethrin in polyester netting weighing 35 g/m2) mattress liners (n = 9) was conducted for 27 mo. The permethrin-impregnated bedding significantly reduced house dust mites in mattresses for at least 27 mo.

Field evaluation of three plant-based insect repellents against malaria vectors in Vaca Diez Province, the Bolivian Amazon.

The efficacy of repellents against Anopheles darlingi, the main malaria vector in Bolivia, was evaluated. This mosquito has a peak in biting activity early in the evening. Three natural repellents (1 eucalyptus based, 1 neem based, and 1 containing several repellent essential oils) were tested in comparison with 15% deet in human landing catches in Bolivia.