A wind tunnel bioassay system for screening mosquito repellents

J Am Mosq Control Assoc. 2000 Sep;16(3):234-40.

Abstract

A wind tunnel bioassay system to screen mosquito repellents is described. A wind tunnel is utilized to exploit the upwind flight response of host-seeking mosquitoes. Mosquitoes within the wind tunnel are activated with human breath, fly upwind, and land on heated chick skins. This behavioral sequence results in a consistently high percentage of the test population approaching repellent or control stimuli. The bioassay system is calibrated with diethyl methylbenzamide against Aedes aegypti and demonstrates a reproducible dose-response relationship. The persistence of diethyl methyl benzamide after a 1-h period is also recorded. The design of the bioassay system permits simultaneous, independent testing of 3 candidate repellents. The wind tunnel bioassay system is compared to other techniques for evaluating mosquito repellents.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aedes
  • Animals
  • Biological Assay / instrumentation
  • Biological Assay / methods*
  • Chickens
  • Culicidae*
  • DEET
  • Humans
  • Insect Repellents / standards*
  • Skin
  • Wind

Substances

  • Insect Repellents
  • DEET