This article is part of the supplement: Development of the sterile insect technique for African malaria vectors
Review
Field site selection: getting it right first time around
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* Corresponding author: Colin A Malcolm c.a.malcolm@qmul.ac.uk
1 School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK
2 Tropical Medicine Research Institute, National Centre for Research. P.O. Box 1304, Khartoum, Sudan
3 National Centre for Research, Ministry of Science and Technology P.O. Box 2404, Khartoum, Sudan
4 Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, Unité d'entomologie médicale, B.P. 6010, 97306 Cayenne Cedex, Guyane Française
5 Institut de recherche pour le Développement, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
6 Div. Infectious Diseases, Tropical Medicine & AIDS, Academic Medical Center, F4-217, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands and K&S Consulting, Kalkestraat 20, 6669 CP Dodewaard, The Netherlands
7 National Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 1891, Khartoum 11111, Sudan
8 International Atomic Energy Agency, Agency's Laboratories, Seibersdorf, A-2444, Austria
Malaria Journal 2009, 8(Suppl 2):S9 doi:10.1186/1475-2875-8-S2-S9
Published: 16 November 2009Abstract
The selection of suitable field sites for integrated control of Anopheles mosquitoes using the sterile insect technique (SIT) requires consideration of the full gamut of factors facing most proposed control strategies, but four criteria identify an ideal site: 1) a single malaria vector, 2) an unstructured, relatively low density target population, 3) isolation of the target population and 4) actual or potential malaria incidence. Such a site can exist in a diverse range of situations or can be created. Two contrasting SIT field sites are examined here: the desert-flanked Dongola Reach of the Nile River in Northern State, Sudan, where malaria is endemic, and the island of La Reunion, where autochthonous malaria is rare but risk is persistent. The single malaria-transmitting vector at both sites is Anopheles arabiensis. In Sudan, the target area is a narrow 500 km corridor stretching from the rocky terrain at the Fourth Cataract - just above the new Merowe Dam, to the northernmost edge of the species range, close to Egypt. Vector distribution and temporal changes in density depend on the Nile level, ambient temperature and human activities. On La Reunion, the An. arabiensis population is coastal, limited and divided into three areas by altitude and exposure to the trade winds on the east coast. Mosquito vectors for other diseases are an issue at both sites, but of primary importance on La Reunion due to the recent chikungunya epidemic. The similarities and differences between these two sites in terms of suitability are discussed in the context of area-wide integrated vector management incorporating the SIT.