Abstract
A field trial was undertaken in order to determine the efficacy of DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) impregnated anklets, wristbands, shoulder and pocket fabric strips against mosquito vectors of disease. The present study was conducted in the urban locality of Pondicherry, India. Human test subjects were exposed to natural populations of mosquitoes for a 12 h (18.00-06.00) night time period. The fabric strips (anklets, wristbands, shoulder, and pocket strips) were impregnated with DEET at two different concentrations of 1.5 mg/cm(2) and 2.0 mg/cm(2). The results clearly revealed that DEET-impregnated anklets, wristbands, shoulder and pocket fabric strips were found more effective against mosquitoes remarkably. The DEET-impregnated anklets, wristbands, shoulder and pocket fabric strips at a concentration of 2 mg/cm(2) provided 5 h complete protection against mosquitoes bites and the reduction of man-landing rate varied between 65.85 and 100%. However, DEET-impregnated fabric strips at a concentration of 1.5 mg/cm(2) provided 4 h complete protection against mosquito bites and the reduction of man-landing rate varied between 51.21 and 100%. The final results clearly demonstrate that repellent activity of DEET-impregnated anklets, wristbands, shoulder, and pocket strips were dose-dependent. Certainly, the DEET-impregnated fabric strips can be used as an effective potential personal protection measure in order to avoid those insects/mosquitoes that prefer to feed outdoors or those that feed in the early evening.