Adding This To Mosquito Repellent Will Make It 10 Times More Effective Say Scientists
Health News
Published: 20 November 2023 17:53 CET
We have, all at some point in our lives, experienced the irritation of a mosquito bite. We slap on the insect repellent hoping that it will keep the little critters away, but somehow, occasionally they still attack. Scientists have noticed this and in the ever-evolving battle against malaria, have persistently sought innovative strategies to outmanoeuvre the adaptability of disease-carrying mosquitoes.
The latest research published in the scientific journal PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases by scientists from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) suggests that a product as simple as soap could be the key to overcoming the persistent battle against malaria-carrying mosquitoes.
Dr. Colince Kamdem, lead author of the study and associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at UTEP, emphasises the urgency of finding alternative compounds due to the increasing resistance of mosquitoes to current insecticides. He states, "In the last two decades, mosquitoes have become very resistant to most insecticides. We are now in a race to develop alternative compounds with new modes of action."
The study reveals a breakthrough discovery: adding small amounts of liquid soap to certain mosquito pesticides can enhance their effectiveness by more than 10 times!
Professor Caroline Fouet, the second author of the study, highlights the promising potential of neonicotinoids, a special class of insecticides, as an alternative for combating mosquito populations resistant to existing insecticides. However, neonicotinoids may not be effective against certain mosquito species unless their potency is increased, and this is where the addition of soap comes into play.
Malaria, a devastating disease transmitted by mosquitoes, poses a significant threat in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and Latin America. In Spain, it is already considered "high risk" due to geographical proximity to the African continent. The disease manifests with symptoms such as fever, fatigue, headaches, and chills, and it can be fatal. In 2020, an estimated 241 million cases of malaria occurred worldwide, causing 627,000 deaths, according to the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
Dr. Kamdem's inspiration for exploring the potential of soap came from his previous work at the Center for Research in Infectious Diseases in Cameroon. During routine insecticide testing, using existing protocols established by the World Health Organization (WHO), he observed increased mosquito mortality when a seed oil-based product, similar to kitchen soap, was added to insecticidal concoctions.
Kamdem explained "This compound belongs to the same class of substances as kitchen soap, so we thought: why don't we try products that have the same properties?" This led the research team to experiment with three low-cost soaps based on linseed oil—Maître Savon de Marseille, Carolin Savon Noir, and La Perdrix Savon—when combined with four neonicotinoids: acetamiprid, clothianidin, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam.
The results were promising, as Ashu Fred, the first author of the study and a doctoral student at the Cameroonian University of Yaoundé I, explains, "The three brands of soap increase mortality from 30 percent to 100 percent compared to when the insecticides were used alone." The researchers also tested adding soap to pyrethroids, another class of insecticides, but did not observe similar benefits.
Looking ahead, the researchers aim to conduct further tests to determine the optimal amount of soap needed to enhance the insecticides. Dr. Kamdem envisions the development of a soap-insecticide formulation that could be used indoors in Africa and would be safe for users.
Despite uncertainties about whether such a formulation will adhere to materials like mosquito nets, the researchers find the challenge promising and exciting. Dr. Kamdem concludes, "There are unknowns about whether such a formulation will stick to materials like mosquito nets, but the challenge is promising and very exciting."
In the fight against malaria, the unexpected synergy of soap and insecticides provides a ray of hope. While uncertainties linger, the discovery marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing quest for innovative health solutions.
Source: Larazon
