Project Details

Project Description

Evaluation of Novel Spatial Emanators for Malaria Vector Control

Principal Investigator:
Dr Corine Ngufor

Lead Institutions:
African Institute for Research in Infectious Diseases (AIRID)
PAMVERC-BENIN

Funder:
SC Johnson & Son

Timeline:
2022 – 2025

Background

Residual malaria transmission persists in many endemic settings despite widespread deployment of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS). Spatial emanators — passive devices that release volatile active ingredients into the surrounding environment — represent a promising complementary approach by disrupting mosquito host-seeking behaviour and reducing human–vector contact.

This project evaluated two novel transfluthrin-based spatial emanators with different durability profiles:

Mosquito Shield, designed for short-term protection with a functional lifespan of approximately 32 days.

Guardian, a longer-lasting device providing protection for up to 12 months.

All evaluations were performed in compliance with OECD Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) principles, ensuring the generation of high-quality, reliable, and regulatory-grade data.

Project Objectives

• Assess resistance status of local malaria vectors to transfluthrin through laboratory bioassays.
• Evaluate entomological efficacy of Mosquito Shield and Guardian under semi-field conditions.
• Determine protective efficacy against wild, free-flying mosquito populations.
• Generate robust data to support regulatory evaluation and WHO prequalification submission.

Core Activities

Laboratory Research

• Bioassays to assess susceptibility and resistance of malaria vectors to transfluthrin.
• Measurement of knockdown and mortality responses.
• Testing against both susceptible and insecticide-resistant mosquito strains.

Experimental Hut Trials

• Evaluation of efficacy against wild, free-flying mosquitoes under realistic housing conditions.
• Measurement of deterrence, exophily, blood-feeding inhibition, and mortality.
• Comparative assessment of short-duration (Mosquito Shield) and long-duration (Guardian) devices.

Regulatory & Policy Translation

• Analysis of key protective efficacy indicators across ecological and resistance contexts.
• Compilation of entomological efficacy data submitted to the World Health Organization (WHO) to support prequalification review.

AIRID and PAMVERC-BENIN’s Role

AIRID led the scientific design, implementation, and analysis of OECD GLP-compliant laboratory bioassays and experimental hut studies in Benin. Our GLP-aligned infrastructure and established field platforms ensured the generation of rigorous, regulatory-grade evidence to support innovation in malaria vector control.