Amani Capacity Statement
NIMR Snapshot
The National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) is the largest public health research organization in the United Republic of Tanzania. It plays the role of the technical arm of the Ministry responsible for health in the country. NIMR has dual functions, both as a research institution and regulatory agency on matters related to health research in the Country. It is henceforth mandated to carry out, control, coordinate, register, monitor, evaluate and promote health research in the country. One of our top priorities is to generate scientific evidence that will support improvement of health outcomes and services provided by the Government of Tanzania and other stakeholders worldwide. As a national institution, NIMR has the role of linking between implementers and decision-makers for scaling up best practices of proven interventions and uptake of new technologies.
The Institute operates through seven diversified Research Centres in the country namely (Amani, Mbeya, Muhimbili, Mwanza, Tanga, Mabibo and Dodoma). The institute has also seven research stations (Amani Hill, Gonja, Handeni, Haydom, Kilosa, Korogwe, and Ngongongare).
Amani Medical Research Centre
1. Historical perspective
Amani Medical Research Centre was initially established at Ubwari, Muheza by Capt. Dr. Bagster Wilson in 1949 as the former East African Malaria Unit (EAMU) under the Colonial and Welfare Scheme. At that time, EAMU provided services to several Eastern African countries, including British Somaliland, Kenya, Uganda, Tanganyika, and Zanzibar to control of malaria and other vector-borne diseases. In 1951, the Unit was moved to Amani Hill because the premises fell vacant following the former Forestry Research Centre under the East African Agricultural and Forestry Research Organization (EAAFRO) relocating to Muguga in Kenya. The EAMU was then renamed ‘East African Malaria Institute’ (EAMI) and became operational under the East African High Commission (EAHC). During this period, research covered malaria, schistosomiasis and onchocerciasis. In addition, the Centre had a strong training component targeting malaria field workers covering basic malariology and control of malaria vectors.
In 1954, the East African Malaria Institute’ (EAMI) was again renamed the ‘East African Institute of Malaria and Vector Borne Diseases’ (EAIMVBD), still operating under the EAHC. Research on schistosomiasis was phased out in 1960, while bancroftian filariasis and plague were introduced as new research areas at the EAIMVBD, then operating under the East African High Commission (EAHC) in the 1970’s. Following the collapse of the EAC in 1977, the EAIMVBD was renamed ‘Amani Medical Research Centre’, which was to operate under the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), established by Act of Parliament No. 23 of 1979 that became operational in 1980.
Furthermore, in August 2005, a decision was made by the NIMR Council to split the Amani Medical Research Centre into two Centers, namely Tanga and Amani Medical Research Centers. Amani Medical Research Centre was re-established with the two remaining sites of Amani Hill and Gonja Research Stations with a field research station in Handeni. The Headquarters of Amani Medical Research Centre was then relocated from Amani Hill to Ubwari in Muheza, Tanga.
2. Vision
Amani Medical Research Centre is envisioned to become a Centre of Excellence in research related to Vector Biology and Control of Vector-Borne Diseases, Development and Application of Innovative Vector Control Tools and Products in the control of disease vectors, and the application of social sciences research to address diseases of poverty (health needs of the underprivileged people) in Africa and beyond.
3. Research Capacity and Facilities:
Amani Medical Research Centre’s headquarters occupies 31 acres of land in Muheza town, approximately 36kms from Tanga City. The Centre has two research stations (Amani Hill and Gonja Research Stations) and one field stations (Handeni Field Station).
Amani Hill Research Station is located approximately 74kms from Tanga City and 35kms from Muheza: The station occupies a lush green piece of land of 277.58 acres. The Station has spaces for main administrative offices, laboratories, rest houses, as well as residential houses for her staffs.
Gonja Research Station is located in Gonja in Same District – Kilimanjaro. The station occupies about 14.01Ha of land in Gonja town; S:ame 0.818 Ha: The Station has space for main administrative offices, laboratories, rest houses (in Same and Gonja towns), as well as residential houses for staffs. Handeni Field Station is located within the premises of Handeni District Hospital in Tanga region (0.54 Ha).
Amani Medical Research Centre is an Accredited Test Facility, that is certified by the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) as good laboratory practice (GLP) Centre for R&D, Evaluation and Testing of Novel Vector Control Tools and Product in Africa and beyond. The certification fulfils compliance requirements of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Principles of Good Laboratory Practices (GLP).
The Centre has the state-of-the-art laboratories and other research facilities for Phase I and II trials of various insecticides, insecticide-treated fabrics, and other vector control tools used in the control of disease vectors. The Centre has built 13 suites of experimental huts and platforms for phase II trials. Other experimental facilities include a set of three large semi-field structures (Mosquito Spheres), two animal house, a two set of insectaries, Insecticides Testing Facility (ITF), Molecular Laboratory, General/Parasitology Laboratories and Data Management and ICT Unit.
The Centre is also on record for conducting various phase III community-based randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of major health interventions including Long lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN), Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) and Larvicide trials.
Amani Medical Research Center has an adequate number of qualified staff with a mixture of research disciplines including Medical Entomologists, Epidemiologists, Clinicians, Bio-Statisticians, Social scientists and anthropologists, Laboratory Scientists and Laboratory Technicians. Oher qualified staffs that are available at the Centre include Molecular biologists, Parasitologists, Information Technology staffs (ICT personnel). The Research Staff have a long- and medium-term research experiences of up to over 30 years’ experiences in carrying out health research including evaluation of vector control tools, epidemiological and Clinical Trials, implementation, operational and applied health research, Health Systems and Policy Research. The Centre also has other highly qualified human resources, which include Accountants, Administrators, Laboratory Attendants, and Drivers,
Amani Research Centre has most of the required capacity in infrastructure, skilled personnel and technologies. Similarly, Amani Medical Research Centre has been working closely with the Ministry of Health for the provision of technical support to national disease control programmes, notably the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) and the National Program of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD), required to conduct operational research and control of disease-vectors.
NIMR Amani Research Centre is strong-minded to contribute its capacity in the control and elimination of vector-borne diseases through application of innovative and proven approaches that monitor, detect, prevent, and treat vector borne infections including malaria, and prevent disease related deaths in Tanzania. The Centre has substantial capacities in data driven selection of, and approaches to vector control interventions, informed by entomological monitoring and high-quality technical expertise.
4. Capacity Building
The Centre has substantial experience in capacity building, enabling stakeholders at all levels of the health system to design, plan, implement, and monitor evidence-driven vector control activities. This is achieved through collection, analysis and dissemination of entomological and other data required to evaluate the effectiveness of vector control interventions and inform appropriate course of action regarding strengthening strategies and implementation of interventions.
Amani Research Centre is also envisaged to establish the Research Training Centre based at Amani Hill Research Station. The primary aim of establishing the Amani Training Centre is to contribute effectively to creating a critical mass of academicians, researchers and health service providers with cutting edge skills in the United Republic of Tanzania and beyond. This is in line with the current NIMR Strategic plan (2019 – 2024), which falls under strategic objective D. The Research Training Centre will generate well-trained and skilled workforce required for staffing the rare professions, which include Biomedical Engineering & Medical Instrumentation, Disease Vectors and Control of Vector-Borne Diseases, Research Methodology, Bioethics, and Epidemic Preparedness & Management, and other specialised short training courses including GLP, GCLP etc.
5. Research Experiences
Amani MedicalResearch Centre has more than 73 years of health research experience, working at national, regional and international levels. The Centre has contributed substantially to disease control efforts. Over 4000 scientific papers have been published in national and international peer-reviewed journals. The global malaria community recognizes the Centre as a leader in malaria and vector borne diseases research. The latest focus is on insecticide-treated bed nets’ effectiveness in protecting populations from malaria; intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in infants; monitoring antimalarial treatment efficacy and detecting treatment failures.
Amani Medical Research Centre was one of the African pioneer institutions that carried out the very early field trials to evaluate the efficacy and effectiveness of several insecticides and other vector control tools for malaria vector control dating from 1955. Scientists at Amani Medical Research Centre have contributed extensively on how malaria is prevented and treated worldwide.
Over the past four decades, the Centre has been a long-term dependable partner of the World Health Organization Pesticides Evaluation Scheme (WHOPES) and its successor, the World Health Organization Prequalification Team for Vector Control Products (WHO PQT-VC) in research related to the development and evaluation of public health pesticides and other vector control tools, including insecticide treated nets. For a number of years, Amani Medical Research Centre has been working with several global pharmaceutical companies and the Innovative Vector Control Consortium (IVCC) in the research and development of public health insecticides and other vector control products.
An overview of some of our work in malaria vector control initiatives is detailed below.
- Experience in field trials to evaluate the efficacy and effectiveness of insecticides and insecticide treated fabric materials including ITNs for malaria vector control:
Amani Medical Research Centre has undertaken studies on the efficacy of insecticide treated nets (ITNs); long-lasting Insecticidal nets (LLINs); the taxonomy, behavioural, ecology and spatial distribution of malaria vectors (Anopheles gambiae complex, Anopheles funestus and Anopheles stephensi).
The Centre has been a long-term dependable partner of the World Health Organization Pesticides Evaluation Scheme (WHOPES) and its successor, the World Health Organization Prequalification Team for Vector Control Products (WHO PQT-VC) in research related to development and evaluation of public health pesticides and other vector control tools, including insecticide treated nets.
Amani Medical Research Centre provided the first evidence that treated mosquito nets lower malaria transmission and thereafter strongly promoted treated net scale-up (1988-1991).
NIMR Amani Centre has been the WHO reference Centre for conducting trials on the efficacy of various insecticide treated fabrics under various settings, and has put up facilities for Phase II and III trials of insecticides and insecticide treated fabrics. The Centre has contributed to generation of high-quality research data related to development and evaluation of public health pesticides and other vector control tools/products including Attractive Targeted Sugar Baits, Larvicides, Topical and Spatial Repellents.
NIMR Amani Centre has contributed substantially to disease control efforts. The global malaria community recognizes the Centre as a leader in malaria and vector borne diseases research. The famous cross-border Pare-Taveta malaria scheme, dubbed “the most comprehensive malaria elimination trial mounted in East Africa” was designed and implemented by Amani Research Centre Scientists, then under the Institute of Malaria and Vector-Borne Diseases of the British East African colonies of Kenya and Tanganyika. Scientists at NIMR Amani Medical Research Centre have contributed extensively on how malaria is prevented and treated worldwide.
The research findings by NIMR scientists in collaboration with other research institutions including London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene provided strong evidence on the usefulness of ITNs in reducing malaria morbidity and malaria vectors. For the first time the Centre demonstrated the effect of ITNs in reducing vector longevity. Following these findings, NIMR Amani Centre has been involved in a number of trials that has investigated the efficacy of various insecticide treated fabrics and indoor residual spraying (IRS) under various settings. NIMR Amani Centre has been working with several global industrial and pharmaceutical companies, and later on with the Innovative Vector Control Consortium (IVCC) in research and development of public health insecticides and other vector control products.
Selected references:
- Malaria risk factors in north-west Tanzania: The effect of spraying, nets and wealth (2013); PLoS ONE8(6): e65787. Doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0065787
- Indoor Residual Spraying in Combination with Insecticide-Treated Nets Compared to Insecticide-Treated Nets Alone for Protection against Malaria: A Cluster Randomised Trial in Tanzania.PLoS Med 11(4): doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001630.
- Enhanced Protection against Malaria by Indoor Residual Spraying in Addition to Insecticide Treated Nets: Is It Dependent on Transmission Intensity or Net Usage? (2015); PLoS ONE 10(3): e0115661. doi:10.1371/journal. pone.0115661
- Combination of Insecticide Treated Nets and Indoor Residual Spraying in Northern Tanzania Provides Additional Reduction in Vector Population Density and Malaria Transmission Rates Compared to Insecticide Treated Nets Alone: A Randomized Control Trial (2015); PLoS ONE 10(11): e0142671. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.014267.
- Effectiveness of a long-lasting piperonyl butoxide-treated insecticidal net and indoor residual spray interventions, separately and together, against malaria transmitted by pyrethroid-resistant mosquitoes: a cluster, randomized controlled, two-by-two factorial design trial. The Lancet 18, 30427-6 thelancet.com Published online April 11, 2018. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30427-6
- Risk factors for malaria infection prevalence and household vector density between mass distribution campaigns of long-lasting insecticidal nets in Northern Tanzania. Malaria Journal: 19(1): 297, 2020 Aug 20.
- Efficacy of pyrethroid-treated nets against malaria vectors and nuisance-biting mosquitoes in Tanzania in areas with long-term insecticide-treated net use. Tropical Medicine & International Health (2007); 12 (9), 1061-1073.
- Malaria and mosquito net utilization among schoolchildren in villages with or without healthcare facilities at different altitudes in Iringa District, Tanzania. African Health Science (2007); 8 (2): 114-119
- Evaluation of ICON Maxx, a long-lasting treatment kit for mosquito nets: experimental hut trials against anopheline mosquitoes in Tanzania. Malaria Journal 14:225.
- Evaluation of the long-lasting insecticidal net Interceptor LN: laboratory and experimental hut studies against anopheline and culicine mosquitoes in north-eastern Tanzania. Parasites & Vectors 6: 296.
- Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness against malaria of three types of dual-active-ingredient long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) compared with pyrethroid-only LLINs in Tanzania: a four-arm, cluster-randomised trial, The Lancet 20203; 339:1227-41
- Entomological Monitoring:
- Insecticide susceptibility testing of relevant vector mosquito species to guide selection and rotation of insecticides for vector control interventions
Vector control interventions, particularly long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) and indoor residual spray (IRS), have significantly contributed to the reduction of malaria globally and remain important interventions for malaria control and elimination. However, the development of insecticide resistance in Anopheles mosquitoes to nearly all the classes of available insecticides for public health throughout sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), including Tanzania, presents a great challenge to the effectiveness and long-term implementation strategies for insecticide-based vector control interventions in malaria endemic countries, especially in SSA. To safeguard the efficacy of insecticide-based vector control interventions, evidence-based strategies for preventing and managing insecticide resistances are remarkably needed.
Amani Medical Research centre in collaboration with the Tanzania National Malaria Control programme (NMCP) established the national insecticide resistance monitoring programme in 1999, well before the launching of Global Plan for Insecticide Resistance Management (GPIRM) in 2012. In collaboration with the NMCP, sixteen rounds of insecticide resistance monitoring have been carried out in Mainland Tanzania (i.e., 1999 and 2004, and then from 2008 to 2022).
The GPIRM urges all malaria endemic countries to develop plans for monitoring and managing insecticide resistance to ensure that the limited numbers of insecticides available for vector control are protected and their effectiveness are maintained. As a response to this global outcry of insecticide resistance, in 2014, with the NIMR Amani support, Tanzania developed its first insecticide resistance monitoring and management plan, which became operational from 2016 to date.
Through partnerships with development partners including PMI/USAID NIMR has supported generation of data across the country regarding the extent and intensity of resistance to insecticides; insecticide resistance mechanisms and species composition of malaria vectors and their distribution in different geographical settings across the country.
NIMR Amani centre has significantly contributed to a better understanding of the country insecticide resistance pattern through generation of the following deliverables:
- development of insecticide resistance monitoring and management plan, in line with GPIRM guidelines
- generation of insecticide resistance maps on an annual basis from a total 32 sentinel sites across the country
- strong evidence of exponential expansion of insecticide resistance (particularly pyrethroid resistance)
- provide insecticide resistance data to NMCP that informs choice of insecticide for IRS and type of LLIN for specific areas
- generation of high-quality data to the African Network for Vector Resistance Database
- policy changes for rational selection of insecticides for IRS application
- capacity building (Training of all District Vector Control Officers in mainland Tanzania on malaria vector control and insecticide resistance monitoring)
Selected references:
- Susceptibility status of malaria vectors to insecticides commonly used for malaria control in Tanzania. Tropical Medicine and International Health. Volume 17(6) 742–750 June 2012
- High level of resistance in the mosquito Anopheles gambiae to pyrethroid insecticides and reduced susceptibility to bendiocarb in north-western Tanzania. Malaria Journal 2013, 12(1): 149.
- Increased tolerance of Anopheles gambiae s. to chemical insecticides after exposure to agrochemical mixture. Tanzania Journal of Health Research, Volume 16, Number 4, October 2014 Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/thrb.v16i4.10
- Trends in the selection of insecticide resistance in Anopheles gambiae l. mosquitoes in northwest Tanzania during a community randomized trial of long-lasting insecticidal nets and indoor residual spraying. Medical and Veterinary Entomology 28. doi: 10.1111/mve/12090.
- Co-occurrence and distribution of East (L1014S) and West (L1014F) African knock-down resistance in Anopheles gambiae sensu lato population of Tanzania. Tropical Medicine and International Health 19, 331-341. doi: 10.1111/tmi.12248.
- A significant association between deltamethrin resistance / Plasmodium falciparum infection and the Vgsc-1014S resistance mutation in Anopheles gambiae highlights the epidemiological importance of resistance markers. Malaria Journal (2016) 15:289. DOI 10.1186/s12936-016-1331-5.
- Modelling Insecticide Resistance of Malaria Vector Populations in Tanzania. J. Trop. Med. Hyg., 107(2), 2022, pp. 308–314 doi:10.4269/ajtmh.21-0262
- Multi-centre discriminating concentration determination of broflanilide and potential for cross-resistance to other public health insecticides in Anophelesvector populations. Sci Rep 12, 22359 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-26990-6
- Trends of insecticide resistance monitoring in mainland Tanzania, 2004–2020. Malar Journal22, 100 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-023-04508-3
- Vector bionomics monitoring to inform selection and timing of vector control interventions which exploit vector behaviours including monitoring and detection of stephensi
All vector control interventions exploit one or more vector behaviour in order to interrupt lifecycle of a given vector. NIMR Amani Centre had been researching on various behaviour developed by a vector in order to avoid control interventions. These behaviours include shift in biting time of mosquitoes from usual time to early and late time, a shift from resting in the house to resting outdoors, etc. Studies conducted in experimental huts revealed the impact of various insecticides on mosquito behaviours. These studies are important to inform Ministry of health and National Malaria Control program of Tanzania and other East African countries in making appropriate decisions when choosing mosquito control tools.
Recently, NIMR Amani Centre in collaboration with the Ministry of Health through the National Malaria Control programme is conducting National Malaria Entomological Surveillance (MVES) in 62 selected sentinel districts. The establishment of functional MVES is in line with the Global Technical Strategy for Malaria (2016 – 2030), which emphasizes that as malaria transmission is reduced, epidemiological and entomological surveillance systems must be strengthened and sustained through substantial long term financial and political commitment. In addition, it also provides an opportunity to build sustainable district-based surveillance model directly implemented by Local Government Authorities and potential for inclusion in the Comprehensive Council Health Plans.
Selected references
- Variation of malaria transmission and morbidity with altitude in Tanzania and with introduction of alphacypermethrin treated nets. Malaria Journal volume 2, Article number: 28 (2003)
- Behavioural and insecticidal effects of organophosphate, carbamate, and pyrethroid-treated mosquito nets against African malaria vectors. Medical and Veterinary Entomology 2003 (1) 317-325.
- Dynamics of Malaria Vector Composition and Plasmodium falciparum infection in mainland Tanzania: 2017-2022 Data from the National Malaria Vector Entomological Surveillance. In-Press Malaria Journal
- Maintenance of well-characterized mosquito colonies:
Amani Medical Research Centre has the OECD GLP Accredited state-of-the-art laboratories and other research facilities for Phase I and Phase II trials of various insecticides, insecticide-treated fabrics, and other vector control tools used in the control of disease vectors. The Centre maintains the well-characterized mosquito colonies of both susceptible and resistant strains derived from local populations, to enable insecticide susceptibility testing and quality as well as performance assessments of vector control interventions.
Amani Medical Research Centre has insectaries, which provide optimum condition for laboratory-reared mosquitoes to survive under laboratory conditions. The insectaries contain 5 mosquitos’ colonies of both susceptible and resistant colonies, which are used in the studies such as testing insecticides, mosquito behaviour, repellents and evaluation of mosquito attractants.
- Susceptible mosquito strains: The three susceptible strains include pyrethroid susceptible gambiae s.s (Kisumu strain) that is originally from Kenya, which brought into culture at our facility in 2003. Other susceptible strain includes Culex quinquefasciatus (TPRI strains) and Aedes egypti (LSHTM strain).
- Resistant mosquito strains: NIMR has also a well-maintained colony of resistant mosquito strains, which include gambiae s.s (Zeneti local strain). The strain was brought into culture at our test facility in 2003 from Muheza, Tanga. The strain has exhibited more than 46% survival following exposure to pyrethroids in WHO susceptibility bioassays, and over 30-fold pyrethroid resistance ratio compared to susceptible strain. Resistance is due to > 50% (kdr) allelic frequency and overexpression of metabolic enzymes implicated in pyrethroid detoxification (CYP6P3 or other). Other resistant strain includes An. gambiae (hybrid Muleba-kif strain), which was brough from Muleba in Kagera region and cross-bred with An. gambiae s.s (Kisumu strain). The NIMR Amani Centre also maintains a susceptible colony of Anopheles stephensi.
- Quality control of the colonised strains:
NIMR Amani ensures that the quality of these colonies is always high and constant, so as to ensure standardized results of replicate experiments. Therefore, a routine and regular monitoring of biometric measurements from a representative sample of each mosquito strain is conducted to confirm that the populations are suitable for use in assays, that there is no decline over time in weight or size due to infection or sub-optimum rearing conditions, and that there is homogeneity in the colony (i.e., that there are no large variations in weight or size between mosquitoes of the same strain). Molecular characterisation is being conducted to confirm the species and the resistance status of the mosquito colonies. For resistant colony maintenance of resistance, Larvae of this colony is being selected using permethrin at 0.05 µg/ml.at the frequency of once in every 2 months
For colony fitness, fitness test using wing size is done on monthly basis and before commencement of any test and If mosquitoes are healthy the average wingspan size should be between 2.6-3.4mm. For monitoring of the resistance status of the colonized strains, every 3 months, 100 mosquitoes (3 to 5 days old) are sampled for WHO tube bioassay test with impregnated papers (Deltamethrin or Permethrin, Pirimiphos methyl, Bendiocarb) to check for the resistance. status
References
- Strain Characterisation for Measuring Bioefficacy of ITNs Treated with Two Active Ingredients (Dual-AI ITNs): Developing a Robust Protocol by Building Consensus. Insects 13, 434. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13050434
- ITNs Durability Monitoring for Attrition, Bio-efficacy, Chemical content and Degradation of LLINS for Malaria Vector Control
With the support from the Global Funds, NIMR Amani Research Centre in collaboration with the Tanzania National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) has been at the forefront in monitoring insecticidal efficacy and durability of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) in Tanzania. LLINs are the front-line malaria vector control tool in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with most countries adopting universal coverage campaigns with free or subsidised nets.
Following recommendations by WHO and RBM End Malaria Partnership, NIMR Amani Centre has been conducting both prospective and retrospective durability studies in Tanzania to understand the effective life of different LLINs types in community use by measuring the physical integrity of net fibres, the decay of chemical residues on the fibres and the biological efficacy against the malaria vectors over time.
Studies conducted by NIMR Amani and its collaborators have shown that LLIN functional survival is less than 3 years and differs substantially between products, and these differences strongly determine the value for money for each respective LLIN type. As new LLIN products come on the market, especially those with new active ingredients, it will be imperative to monitor their comparative durability to ensure that the most cost-effective products are procured for malaria control.
Information obtained from these studies are useful in future planning of the net replacement strategies in an LLIN programme in Tanzania and understanding the factors associated with the durability of LLIN products.
Selected references:
- The consequences of changing population access on net use patterns and physical degradation of nets after 22 months of ownership. Malaria Journal, 20:171(2021) https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-021-03686-2
- Durability of Olyset campaign nets distributed between 2009 and 2011 in eight districts of Tanzania. Malaria Journal 2016, 15:176. doi: 10.1186/s12936-016-1225-6. http://malariajournal.com/content/15/1/176.
- Investigating mosquito net durability for malaria control in Tanzania – attrition, bioefficacy, chemistry, degradation and insecticide resistance (ABCDR): study protocol. BMC Public Health 13 December 2014, 14:1266. Doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-14-1266.
- Insecticidal Efficacy, Physical Degradation and Fabric Integrity of LLINS for Malaria Control in Mainland Tanzania; Technical Report of the National Institute for Medical Research submitted to the Ministry of Health through the National Malaria Control Programme; Tender: ME/007/2021-2022/HQ/C/40 of 29/11/2021.
- Comparative functional survival and equivalent annual cost of three Long Lasting Insecticidal Net (LLIN) in Tanzania: a three-year prospective cohort study (202); PLoS Med 17(9): e1003248. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003248
- NIMR Amani experiences on other malaria vector control interventions
- Implementation research on the role of Bio-larviciding in the control of malaria and other mosquito borne diseases
Amani Medical Research Centre conducted the implementation research to optimize Bio-larviciding with Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bactivec®) and Bacillus sphaericus (Griselesf®) for malaria vector control in mainland Tanzania. NIMR Amani Research Centre conducted the first studies related to laboratory, semi-field and community-based evaluations of the efficacy and effectiveness of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bactivec®) and Bacillus sphaericus (Griselesf®) for control of mosquito vectors in Tanzania. The findings from these studies have provided clear evidence on the imporance of using biolarvicing in the control and elimination of all mosquito-borne diseases in the country.
Selected references:
- Bacterial larvicides used for malaria vector control in sub-Saharan Africa: review of their effectiveness and operational feasibility. Parasites Vectors; 12:426 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-019-3683-5
- The effect of coexistence between larvae Anopheles gambiae and Cules quinquefasciatus on larvicidal efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis. East Africa Science 2021, Volume 3, Issue 1.
- Laboratory and semi-field evaluation of the efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bactivec®) and Bacillus sphaericus (Griselesf®) for control of mosquito vectors in northeastern Tanzania, In-Press Parasitology and Vector-Borne Diseases, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crpvbd.2022.100089.
- House screening for the control of malaria vectors
Mosquitoes are vectors for many diseases such as malaria. Insecticide-treated bed nets and indoor residual spraying of insecticides are the principal malaria vector control tools used to prevent malaria in the tropics. NIMR Amani Centre has developed other innovative interventions aim at reducing man-vector contact. For example, house screening provides additive or synergistic effects to other implemented measures.
- 3D mosquito screens to create window double screen traps for mosquito control
A three-dimensional window screen (3D-Screen) has been developed to create a window double-screen trap (3D-WDST), effectively capturing and preventing the escape of mosquitoes. A 2015 laboratory study demonstrated the 3D-Screen’s efficacy, capturing 92% of mosquitoes in a double-screen setup during wind tunnel assays. To further evaluate its effectiveness, phase II experimental hut trials were conducted in Muheza, Tanzania. Three experimental hut trials were carried out between 2016 and 2017. Trial I tested two versions of the 3D-WDST in huts with open or closed eaves, with one version using a single 3D-Screen and the other using two 3D-Screens. Trial II examined the 3D-WDST with two 3D-Screens in huts with or without baffles, while Trial III compared handmade and machine-made 3D structures. Mosquito capturing efficacy of the 3D-WDST was measured by comparing the number of mosquitoes collected in the test hut to a control hut with standard exit traps. The 3D-WDST proved effective in capturing malaria vectors under semi-field experimental hut conditions. Using 3D-Screens on both sides of the window openings was more effective than using a single-sided 3D-Screen. Additionally, both hand- and machine-made 3D structures exhibited equally effective performance, supporting the production of durable cones on an industrial scale for future large-scale studies evaluating the 3D-WDST at the community level.
Selected references:
- Mosquito screens to create window double screen traps for mosquito control. Parasites & Vectors, 10:304; DOI 10.1186/s13071-017-2238-x.
- Efficacy of 3D screens for sustainable mosquito control: a semi-field experimental hut evaluation in northeastern Tanzania. Parasites Vectors16, 417 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-06032-4
- Affordable house designs to improve health in rural Africa: a field study from north-eastern Tanzania
NIMR Amani Centre conducted studied how building elements, which have been successfully employed in southeast Asia to prevent mosquitos from entering and cooling the house, could be integrated in a more sustainable house design in rural north-eastern Tanzania, Africa, to decrease mosquito density and regulate indoor climate. The results showed that new design houses had fewer mosquitoes and were cooler than modified and unmodified traditional homes. New house designs are an underused intervention and hold promise to reduce malaria transmission in sub-Saharan Africa and keep areas malaria-free after elimination.
Reference:
1) Affordable house designs to improve health in rural Africa: a field study in north-eastern Tanzania. The Lancet Planetary Health, vol 1, No. 5, e188-e199, Aug 2017.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(17)30078 5.http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(17)30078-5/fulltext