Capabilities

The sites have the capacity to conduct laboratory testing of insecticides, small scale field trials in experimental huts and community intervention studies. These studies may be tailor designed or follow the standard WHO Guidelines. The sites have substantial experience with community based intervention trials.

Insectary

All sites have temperature and humidity controlled facilities for rearing mosquitoes. The mosquito strains include insecticide susceptible strains of An. gambiae s.s., An. arabiensis, Culex quinquefasciatus and pyrethroid resistant strains of Cx. quinquefasciatus, An. gambiae s.s. (kdr), An. arabiensis (metabolic) & OP/Carbamate resistant An. gambiae s.s. (Ace-1).

Laboratory

All sites have laboratories offering entomological testing facilities for WHOPES Phase I/II testing of insecticides including tunnel test apparatus, conveyor and Potter tower sprayers.

There are laboratory facilities for detection of biochemical resistance mechanisms, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of kdr and Ace-1 mutations, speciation, and blood meal analysis.

Experimental huts

Two designs of experimental huts based on the same principles (for assessment of deterrency, bloodfeeding inhibition, induced repellency and mortality due to insecticide) operate in East (Muheza & Moshi) and West Africa (Benin). The East African verandah-trap hut is modified from the initial design of Smith (1965) and is designed to trap mosquitoes exiting through both windows and eaves. The West African design (Darriet et al. 1998) has no eaves but has an internal ‘verandah’ to capture exiting mosquitoes. Both are suitable for evaluating candidate insecticides for IRS, insecticide treated nets (ITNs & LLINs), repellents and a broad range of new malaria control tools.