Exploring the potential of using cattle for malaria vector surveillance and control: A pilot study in western Kenya
Investigates the potential of insecticide-treated cattle to control mosquitos that survive after control interventions
Abstract
Insecticide-treated cattle are routinely used for control of tsetse and ticks in East Africa, which can also apply to mosquito control using different insecticides.
This study was conducted in western Kenya and investigated the potential of insecticide-treated cattle to control mosquito populations that survive after mosquito control interventions (such as long-lasting insecticidal nets and indoor residual spraying). It targeted mosquitoes that tend to inhabit outdoor areas and to feed on animals, or which accept alternative blood meal sources when preferred human blood-hosts are unavailable, because such mosquitoes help maintain low but constant malaria transmission in areas where indoor vector control has been scaled up.
The study concludes that cattle targeted interventions can offer an opportunity to develop ‘One Health’ integrated vector management tools aimed at improving human and animal health.
This is an output from the “Optimisation of Plant and Animal Based Odours for Malaria Vectors Control’ project. It was partly funded by the UK Department for International Development, a core donor of the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology.
Citation
Njoroge M.M., Tirados I., Lindsay S.W., Vale G.A., Torr S.J. and Fillinger U. (2017) Exploring the potential of using cattle for malaria vector surveillance and control: A pilot study in western Kenya. Parasites & Vectors 10, 18. doi: 10.1186/s13071-13016-11957-8