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Field trials on the efficacy of DEET-impregnated anklets, wristbands, shoulder, and pocket strips against mosquito vectors of disease

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Abstract

A field trial was undertaken in order to determine the efficacy of DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) impregnated anklets, wristbands, shoulder and pocket fabric strips against mosquito vectors of disease. The present study was conducted in the urban locality of Pondicherry, India. Human test subjects were exposed to natural populations of mosquitoes for a 12 h (18.00–06.00) night time period. The fabric strips (anklets, wristbands, shoulder, and pocket strips) were impregnated with DEET at two different concentrations of 1.5 mg/cm2 and 2.0 mg/cm2. The results clearly revealed that DEET-impregnated anklets, wristbands, shoulder and pocket fabric strips were found more effective against mosquitoes remarkably. The DEET-impregnated anklets, wristbands, shoulder and pocket fabric strips at a concentration of 2 mg/cm2 provided 5 h complete protection against mosquitoes bites and the reduction of man-landing rate varied between 65.85 and 100%. However, DEET-impregnated fabric strips at a concentration of 1.5 mg/cm2 provided 4 h complete protection against mosquito bites and the reduction of man-landing rate varied between 51.21 and 100%. The final results clearly demonstrate that repellent activity of DEET-impregnated anklets, wristbands, shoulder, and pocket strips were dose-dependent. Certainly, the DEET-impregnated fabric strips can be used as an effective potential personal protection measure in order to avoid those insects/mosquitoes that prefer to feed outdoors or those that feed in the early evening.

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Acknowledgment

The authors sincerely thank (late) Dr. Vijai Dhande, the Director, Vector Control Research Centre, Pondicherry, India for approving this research work and the facilities provided to carry out this study. In addition, we are greatly indebted to Dr. M. Kalyanasundarm, Deputy Director, Vector Control Research Center, Pondicherry, India for his constant encouragement throughout the studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit of Vector Biology & Control, School of Environmental Health Science, Faculty of Public Health, Jimma University, P.O. Box No. 378, Jimma, Ethiopia

    Kaliyaperumal Karunamoorthi

  2. Vector Control Research Center, ICMR Complex, Indhira Nagar, Pondicherry, India

    Kaliyaperumal Karunamoorthi & Shanmugavelu Sabesan

  3. Research Scholar, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, India

    Kaliyaperumal Karunamoorthi

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  1. Kaliyaperumal Karunamoorthi
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  2. Shanmugavelu Sabesan
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Correspondence to Kaliyaperumal Karunamoorthi.

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Karunamoorthi, K., Sabesan, S. Field trials on the efficacy of DEET-impregnated anklets, wristbands, shoulder, and pocket strips against mosquito vectors of disease. Parasitol Res 105, 641–645 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-009-1433-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-009-1433-x

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