36

■Bio-mathematics, Statistics and Nano-Technologies: Mosquito Control Strategies

This new innovative textile repellent strategy is a relatively new approach to vector

control that has not been utilized extensively as it encourages the use of nano- and micro-

particles in textile production for various purposes, and can be used to release chemicals

like repellents and insecticides in a well-controlled rate; such that does not leave harmful

residual effect in the environment. Previous studies in this capacity have been made. This

includes the evaluation of the mathematical models of effectiveness of repellents where

the probit plane model and exponential decay models were validated with original data

from tests of DEET (N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide) and ethyl hexanediol (2-ethyl-1,3-

hexanediol) in the forearm against the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti (Rutledge LC,

1985). The spectrum of combinations of nano- or micro-particles, repellents, insecticides

and types of textiles has not been extensively studied. Applications though not quite exten-

sive, of repellent-impregnated textiles have been made.

Repellent-impregnated textiles will serve to protect human beings from the bite of in-

sects. This has promises of some level of protection against vector borne diseases such

as malaria, human African trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, lymphatic filariasis, Loa loa fi-

lariasis, onchocerciasis, dengue, yellow fever which pose serious public health problems

in tropical regions, especially in Africa and Asia. In Asia, the impregnation of army uni-

form by repellents against Aedes aegypti has been reported (Banks et al. 2014 and Faulde,

Michael & Uedelhoven, Waltraud 2006).

Outlook for the adoption of repellent-impregnated textiles or fabric for use in Africa

is a promising one putting into consideration its tropical climate which favors the high

diversity of developing vector-species complexes that have the potential to redistribute

themselves across different regions leading to new disease patterns. Climate change and

global warming increases average global temperatures thereby increasing the likelihood

of many vector-borne diseases in new areas. This calls for the adoption of local botanical

repellent productions across several regions and the collaboration of industries and private

sector to develop and promote the use of repellent-impregnated textiles, this time not just

for military uniform but also for extensive use especially across regions affected by vector

borne diseases.

3.9

RESULTS

According to the protocol used for the evaluation, the number of landing on both treated

and untreated textile examined within 3 minutes, were counted and recorded. All the oper-

ation was repeated after one hour unless the first bite is occurred within 3 minutes. From

the beginning of each test, the test will be stopped as a first bite occurs. Two data were cal-

culated. First, the “Protection Time”, PT (the time from treated time to the first bite), and

the “Percentage Protection”, PP which is calculated using Mulla Formula (Reison, 2004;

Talbalaghi, Ali, and Hassandoust, 2018). Thus, the raw data is transferred in the formula:

R = 100^{C −T}

C

.