title: Mosquito Behavior Change After Distribution of Bednets Results in Decreased Protection Against Malaria Exposure.
abstract: Behavioral resilience in mosquitoes poses a significant challenge to mosquito control. Although behavior changes in anopheline vectors have been reported over the last decade, there are no empirical data to suggest they compromise the efficacy of vector control in reducing malaria transmission.
  
  
  
  In this study, we quantified human exposure to both bites and infective bites of a major malaria vector in Papua New Guinea over the course of 4 years surrounding nationwide bednet distribution. We also quantified malaria infection prevalence in the human population during the same time period.
  
  
  
  We observed a shift in mosquito biting to earlier hours of the evening, before individuals are indoors and protected by bednets, followed by a return to preintervention biting rates. As a result, net users and non-net users experienced higher levels of transmission than before the intervention. The personal protection provided by a bednet decreased over the study period and was lowest in the adult population, who may be an important reservoir for transmission. Malaria prevalence decreased in only 1 of 3 study villages after the distribution.
  
  
  
  This study highlights the necessity of validating and deploying vector control measures targeting outdoor exposure to control and eliminate malaria.
authors.affiliation: Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Edward K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Thomsen
authors.affiliation: Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Vector Borne Diseases Unit, Madang, 511, Madang, Papua New Guinea.
authors.forename: Gussy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Koimbu
authors.affiliation: Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pulford
authors.affiliation: Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka, Papua New Guinea
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jamea-Maiasa
authors.affiliation: Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka, Papua New Guinea
authors.forename: Yangta
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ura
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Keven
authors.affiliation: Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka, Papua New Guinea
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Siba
authors.affiliation: Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Ivo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.affiliation: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.|University of Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Manuel W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Hetzel
authors.affiliation: Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Lisa J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Reimer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000469:parasitology; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology; D057148:Insecticide-Treated Bednets; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008288:Malaria / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009032:Mosquito Control; D010219:Papua New Guinea; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Infectious Disease Vectors; Insecticide-Treated Bednets; Malaria; Mosquito Control; Mosquito behavior