'Test Results'

SUMMARY
Laboratories tests of the MosquitoFree™ Catching device against vector mosquitoes in the tropical environment.

OBJECTIVE
To investigate the efficacy of MosquitoFree™ Catching device to attract and kill the following vector mosquitoes:
1. Aedes aegypti - vector of dengue fever/dengue haemorrhagic fever.
2.Culex quinquefasciatus - generally a nuisance mosquito but can transmit urban filariasis and Japanese encephalitis.

MATERIALS AND METHOD
MosquitoFree™ Catching device is first placed in the middle of the Peet Grady Chamber, one foot above the floor. Two Petri dishes with sucrose in wet cotton bungs were put into the two corners of the Peet Grady Chamber. A total of 200 female Aedes aegypti or Culex quinquefasciatus are released into the chamber at 0930h. The MosquitoFree™ Catching device consists of one unit of holding cage, blowing fan and blue light connected to a 240V power supply. 2500ml of "Brew liquid" at the dilution rate of 25 fold will be filled in the cage as an attractant. During the test, it will be regularly checked that both blue light and blowing fan were working well. The number of mosquitoes killed after targeted exposure period was recorded daily over a number of days. A minimum of 3 replicates for each mosquito species was conducted.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Overall 100% and 85% of the female Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus, respectively were killed/knockdown by the device.

CONCLUSION
MosquitoFree™ Catching device provided very good efficacy in trapping and killing Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes.

Associate Professor Dr. Zairi Jaal
Coordinator of Vector Control Research Unit, USM