title: Evaluation of textile substrates for dispensing synthetic attractants for malaria mosquitoes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The full-scale impact of odour-baited technology on the surveillance, sampling and control of vectors of infectious diseases is partly limited by the lack of methods for the efficient and sustainable dispensing of attractants. In this study we investigated whether locally-available and commonly used textiles are efficient substrates for the release of synthetic odorant blends attracting malaria mosquitoes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The relative efficacy of (a) polyester, (b) cotton, (c) cellulose + polyacrylate, and (d) nylon textiles as substrates for dispensing a synthetic odour blend (Ifakara blend 1(IB1)) that attracts malaria mosquitoes was evaluated in western Kenya. The study was conducted through completely randomized Latin square experimental designs under semi-field and field conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Traps charged with IB1-impregnated polyester, cotton and cellulose + polyacrylate materials caught significantly more female Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto (semi-field conditions) and An. gambiae sensu lato (field conditions) mosquitoes than IB1-treated nylon (P = 0.001). The IB1-impregnated cellulose + polyacrylate material was the most attractive to female An. funestus mosquitoes compared to all other dispensing textile substrates (P < 0.001). The responses of female An. funestus mosquitoes to IB1-treated cotton and polyester were equal (P = 0.45). Significantly more female Culex mosquitoes were attracted to IB1-treated cotton than to the other treatments (P < 0.001). Whereas IB1-impregnated cotton and cellulose + polyacrylate material attracted equal numbers of female Mansonia mosquitoes (P = 0.44), the catches due to these two substrates were significantly higher than those associated with the other substrates (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The number and species of mosquitoes attracted to a synthetic odour blend is influenced by the type of odour-dispensing material used. Thus, surveillance and intervention programmes for malaria and other mosquito vectors using attractive odour baits should select an odour-release material that optimizes the odour blend.
authors.forename: Collins K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Mweresa
authors.affiliation: International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, P,O, Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya. rmukabana@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Wolfgang R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Mukabana
authors.forename: Philemon
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Omusula
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Otieno
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gheysens
authors.forename: Willem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Takken
authors.forename: Joop J A
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: van Loon
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002482:Cellulose; D032561:Cotton Fiber; D003465:Culex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D008288:Malaria / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission*; D009032:Mosquito Control / Q000379:methods*; D010058:Oviposition; D010675:Pheromones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011091:Polyesters; D013784:Textiles
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D010675:Pheromones; D011091:Polyesters; C010411:insect attractants; C006903:carbopol 940; D002482:Cellulose