Cf. Curtis et al., COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT INSECTICIDES AND FABRICS FOR ANTI-MOSQUITO BEDNETS AND CURTAINS, Medical and veterinary entomology, 10(1), 1996, pp. 1-11
Various formulations of six insecticides (a carbamate and five pyrethr
oids), were impregnated into bednets and curtains made from cotton, po
lyester, polyethylene or polypropylene fabric. For bioassays of insect
icidal efficacy, female Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes were made to walk
on the fabrics for 3 min and mortality was scored after 24 h. The mai
n concentrations tested were: bendiocarb 400 mg/m(2), cyfluthrin 30-50
mg/m(2), deltamethrin 15-25 mg/m(2), etofenprox 200 mg/m(2), lambda-c
yhalothrin 5-15 mg/m(2) and permethrin 200-500 mg/m(2). Field trials i
n Tanzania used experimental huts (fitted with verandah traps) entered
by wild free-flying Anopheles gambiae, An.funestus and Culex quinquef
asciatus mosquitoes. Results of testing the impregnated fabrics in exp
erimental huts showed better personal protection provided by bednets t
han by curtains. Permethrin cis:trans isomer ratios 25:75 and 40:60 we
re equally effective, and the permethrin rate of 200 mg/m(2) performed
as well as 500 mg/m(2). Bioassay data emphasized the prolonged insect
icidal efficacy of lambda-cyhalothrin deposits, except on polyethylene
netting. Most of the impregnated nets (including the 'Olyset' net wit
h permethrin incorporated during manufacture of the polyethylene fibre
) and an untreated intact net performed well in preventing both Anophe
les and Culex mosquitoes from feeding on people using them overnight i
n the experimental huts. Anopheles showed high mortality rates in resp
onse to pyrethroid-treated nets, but only bendiocarb treated curtains
killed many Culex. Holed nets treated with either cyfluthrin (5 EW for
mulation applied at the rate of 50 mg a.i./m(2)) or lambda-cyhalothrin
(2.5 CS formulation at 10 mg a.i./m(2)) performed well after 15 month
s of domestic use. Treatment with deltamethrin SC or lambda-cyhalothri
n CS at the very low rate of 3 mg/m(2) gave good results, including af
ter washing and re-treatment.