A recent study published in the journal PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases highlights a novel discovery that could aid in the battle against malaria: the addition of liquid soap can enhance the effectiveness of certain pesticides used to combat malaria-carrying mosquitoes.
Malaria, a disease transmitted by infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, poses a significant health threat in regions such as Asia, Latin America, and sub-Saharan Africa. Symptoms include fatigue, fever, headaches, and chills, with potentially fatal consequences if left untreated. Despite recent advancements in malaria treatment, including the approval of vaccines, the rise of insecticide-resistant mosquitoes presents a growing challenge.
Colince Kamdem, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), noticed soap's potential during routine insecticide testing at Cameroon's Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases. Neonicotinoids, a class of insecticide considered as an alternative to combat insecticide-resistant mosquitoes, showed increased effectiveness when combined with a seed-oil based product, recommended by the World Health Organization.
Inspired by these findings, Kamdem and his team explored the potential of inexpensive linseed-oil based soaps, readily available in sub-Saharan Africa, to enhance the potency of neonicotinoids. The results were promising, with all three soap brands tested increasing mosquito mortality rates significantly when combined with neonicotinoids.
Ashu Fred, a PhD student from the University of Yaoundé I in Cameroon and co-author of the study, noted a mortality increase from 30 percent to 100 percent when using soap-infused insecticides compared to insecticides alone. However, the same enhancement was not observed with pyrethroids, another class of insecticides, prompting further research into optimal soap concentration for maximum efficacy.
The ultimate goal is to develop a soap-insecticide formulation that can be safely used indoors in Africa, potentially on mosquito nets. While challenges remain, such as ensuring the formulation's adherence to materials, the prospect of a cost-effective and user-friendly solution is both promising and exciting.
Although malaria was eradicated in the US by the 1970s, recent cases in Florida and Texas serve as a reminder of its reemergence. With climate change exacerbating infectious diseases like malaria, innovative strategies like soap-enhanced pesticides offer hope in the ongoing fight against this deadly disease.