The use of permethrin-impregnated wall cloth (Mbu cloth) for control of vectors of malaria and leishmaniases in Kenya — II. Effect On phlebotomine sandfly populations

In order to evaluate the effect of permethrin-treated wall cloth against phlebotomine sandflies, a study lasting 26 months (February 1989 to March 1991) was conducted in Marigat Location of Baringo District, Kenya, an endemic focus of both visceral and cutaneous leishmaniases. In six experimental villages, a total of 2000 houses were fitted with cloth made of cotton and impregnated with permethrin EC 20% at a dosage of 0.5 g/m2 diluted in water. Houses in the two control villages were not fitted with cloths and were located 1.5 km away from the experimental area. Traps made of clear polythene sheeting were coated with castor oil and placed inside houses to collect endophilic sandflies. In the experimental villages, the permethrin-treated wall cloth (called Mbu cloth) reduced the population of sandflies found inside houses by 52-73%. Phlebotomus martini and P. duboscqi, vectors of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniases, were reduced by 76 and 85% respectively. In the experimental villages, highly significant differences were observed between the average numbers of sandflies collected before deployment of the treated wall cloth and those observed after the third treatment of the cloth. No major sandfly reduction was observed however, in the control villages. There was also evidence of feeding reduction due to the permethrin.