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Efficacy of Aquatain^TM, a Monomolecular Surface Film, against the Malaria Vectors Anopheles stephensi and An. gambiae s.s. in the Laboratory

Monomolecular films are used for mosquito control because of their asphyxiating effect on larvae and pupae. Compared with other films, Aquatain mosquito formulation (AMF^TM) has an improved spreading ability and flexibility on a water surface. In the laboratory, AMF^TM showed larvicidal, pupicidal, and oviposition deterrent effects against the malaria vectors Anopheles stephensi and An. gambiae. At a dose of 1 mL/m², the median lethal time to death for late larval instars was 3.02 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.76–3.25) and 0.98 (95% CI = 0.75–1.20) days for An. stephensi and An. gambiae, respectively. None of the treated larvae pupated. Pupal mortality reached 100% within two hours for both species. AMF^TM repelled gravid females from ovipositing in treated oviposition cups. Without the choice of an untreated cup, the lowered water surface tension caused most females to drown while attempting to oviposit. This physical control method has the potential to become a safe, cost-effective, and resistance-proof malaria vector control tool.

Received November 20, 2008. Accepted for publication February 13, 2009.

Acknowledgments: We thank David Coe and Graham Strachan (Ultimate Agri-Products, Noble Park, Victoria, Australia) for providing AMF^TM and its specifications; the Malaria Research and Reference Reagents Resource Center, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta, GA) for providing An. stephensi eggs; Leo Koopman, André Gidding, and Frans van Aggelen for rearing An. gambiae mosquitoes; Dr. Sander Koendraadt for helping with statistical analysis; and Dr. Ulrike Fillinger for comments on the on the initial draft of the manuscript; and three anonymous reviewers for useful comments.

Financial support: Tullu Bukhari is supported by the Higher Education Commission, Pakistan through The Netherlands Organization for International Cooperation in Higher Education. Bart G. J. Knols is supported by a VIDI grant (#864.03.004) from the Dutch Scientific Organization.

^* Address correspondence to Bart G. J. Knols, Laboratory of Entomology, PO Box 8031, 6700 EH, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands. E-mail: bart.knols{at}wur.nl

Authors’ addresses: Tullu Bukhari and Bart G. J. Knols, Laboratory of Entomology, PO Box 8031, 6700 EH, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands, E-mails: tullu.bukhari{at}wur.nl and bart.knols{at}wur.nl.