Evaluation of Alternative Methods for Testing the Bioefficacy of Household Ambient Insecticide Products Against Aedes albopictus.
Ambient insecticides are receiving increasing attention in many developed countries because of their value in reducing mosquito nuisance. As required by the European Union Biocidal Products Regulation 528/2012, these devices require appropriate testing of their efficacy, which is based on estimating the knockdown and mortality rates of free-flying (free) mosquitoes in a test room. However, evaluations using free mosquitoes present many complexities. The performances of 6 alternative methods with mosquitoes held in 2 different cage designs (steel wire and gauze/plastic) with and without an operating fan for air circulation were monitored in a test room through a closed-circuit television system and were compared with the currently recommended method using free mosquitoes. Results for caged mosquitoes without a fan showed a clearly delayed knockdown effect, whereas outcomes for caged mosquitoes with a fan recorded higher mortality at 24 h, compared to free mosquitoes. Among the 6 methods, cages made of gauze and plastic operating with fan wind speed at 2.5-2.8 m/sec was the only method without a significant difference in results for free mosquitoes, and therefore appears as the best alternative to assess knockdown by ambient insecticides accurately.
1  Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università, 16-35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy.
Rudi
R
Cassini
2  Entostudio; Viale del lavoro, 66-35020 Ponte San Nicolò (PD), Italy.
Mara
M
Scremin
1  Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università, 16-35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy.
Barbara
B
Contiero
2  Entostudio; Viale del lavoro, 66-35020 Ponte San Nicolò (PD), Italy.
Andrea
A
Drago
2  Entostudio; Viale del lavoro, 66-35020 Ponte San Nicolò (PD), Italy.
Christian
C
Vettorato
1  Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università, 16-35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy.
Federica
F
Marcer
1  Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università, 16-35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy.
Antonio Frangipane
AF
di Regalbono
D000330:Aedes / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006795:Household Products / Q000032:analysis*; D007306:Insecticides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007558:Italy; D009032:Mosquito Control / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards
D007306:Insecticides
Aedes albopictus; bioefficacy; insecticide; mosquitoes; pyrethroid