Attractive toxic sugar-baited resting places against wild Aedes aegypti in urban Tanzania

Dengue fever and other viruses such as Zika are a major public health problem. These diseases are transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Disease control relies entirely on controlling the mosquito vectors. There is a need for investment in new methods of killing mosquitoes as the current ones are not effective enough.

I propose to investigate whether Aedes mosquitoes can be attracted to an artificial source of sugar and tempted to feed on a sugar concoction containing low concentrations of a common cattle dewormer (ivermectin). The bait is called an attractive toxic sugar baited resting place (ATSB-RP) and attracts mosquitoes wishing to rest in a dark moist environment. It kills them after they eat the sugar on the inner walls of bait. I will first determine the dose of ivermectin required to kill mosquitoes and then evaluate if mosquitoes will feed on sugar when there is the option to feed on blood. I will then determine if mosquitoes in the wild are attracted to the ATSB-RP.

If successful, ATSB-RPs may be considered for a larger study evaluating its impact on disease transmission.

This grant was awarded under the scheme's previous name of Master's Fellowships in Public Health and Tropical Medicine.