RESPONSE OF WILD ANOPHELES FUNESTUS TO REPELLENT-PROTECTED VOLUNTEERSIS UNAFFECTED BY MALARIA INFECTION OF THE VECTOR

A field experiment was conducted to compare the biting behavior of Pla smodium falciparum-infected and uninfected Anopheles on humans using m osquito repellents. Repellent formulations (5% [wt/vol] N,N-diethyl-3- methylbenzamide [deet] or 5% [wt/vol] AI3-37220, a piperidine compound , both in 100% ethanol, or 100% ethanol alone [as a control]) were app lied to the lower legs of 3 collectors in each of 4 houses. Collectors caught mosquitoes over 6 collection nights. Mosquitoes were collected into vials after they initiated probing on the leg of a collector. In fected females made up the same proportion of the Anopheles funestus p opulations biting either repellent-protected or unprotected individual s. We conclude that repellent formulations are equally effective again st Plasmodium-infected and uninfected An. funestus.