Semi-field evaluation of electrocuting eave tubes for the control of endophagic mosquitoes in south-east Tanzania

Abstract Background: Eave spaces are major entry points through which malaria vectors enter houses. Interventions that target mosquitoes at the eaves have recently been developed. However, most of these interventions are based on insecticides for which resistance has been reported. Here we evaluated the efficacy of mosquito electrocuting eave tubes (MEETs) against Anopheles gambiae s.s. and An. funestus under semi-field conditions. Methods: Experiments were conducted in two semi-field chambers each containing one experimental hut. Six electrocuting eave tubes were installed in each hut, to assess their impact on laboratory-reared Anopheles gambiae s.s. and An. funestus. Each species was assessed separately over ten nights by releasing 200 unfed females per night into each chamber. One volunteer slept in each hut from 7 pm to 5 am. Mosquitoes were collected indoors and outdoors using mouth and prokopack aspirators. Results: MEETs significantly reduced the nightly An. gambiae s.s. indoor and outdoor biting, by 21.1% and 37.4%, respectively. Indoor biting An. funestus were reduced by 87.5% while outdoor biting numbers of An. funestus declined by 10.4%. Conclusions: MEETs pose a promising tool for controlling mosquitoes at the point of house entry. Further validation of its potential under natural field conditions is necessary. Several advantages over insecticide-based eave tubes are foreseen and discussed in this article.