title: Responses of Anopheles gambiae complex mosquitoes to the use of untreated bednets in The Gambia.
abstract: Population dynamics of the Anopheles gambiae complex of malaria vector mosquitoes were studied in four small hamlets in The Gambia. Bednets were used to reduce man/vector contact in two of the hamlets. High densities of An. gambiae, sensu lato, were present for only 3-8 weeks during the rainy season, depending on the position of the hamlet within the study area. The proportions of blood-fed mosquitoes caught indoors (83.0%) and existing from houses (11.6%) were lower in hamlets where bednets were used than in hamlets without (96.5% and 33.1% respectively). Fewer of the blood-fed mosquitoes had fed on man in houses where people slept under bednets (68.2%) than in those without (81.5%). However, the average number of infective bites received by children was still greater than one a year in hamlets where bednets were used. Consequently bednets are considered unlikely to be an effective malaria control measure so long as they are untreated with insecticide.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Laboratories, Fajara, The Gambia.
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lindsay
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Shenton
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Snow
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Greenwood
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000502:physiology*; D001512:Bedding and Linens; D005714:Gambia; D006801:Humans; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000502:physiology*; D008288:Malaria / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009032:Mosquito Control / Q000379:methods