There is currently little or no expertise in southern Africa to assess possible insecticide resistance in natural populations of the malaria vector mosquitoes. Two PhD students from the MRC and the South African Institute for Medical Research (SAIMR) will be trained at the Molecular Entomology group, University of Wales Cardiff, in molecular and biochemical techniques to carry out research on the genetics of insecticide resistance and gene flow. This training is central to obtaining the specialised knowledge required to train partners from the three research institutes in southern Africa and to conduct research on insecticide resistance.
The project has proceeded as planned and established the expertise in southern Africa to assess insecticide resistance in natural populations of the malaria vectors. A regional network is in place, with data collection occurring in countries and biochemical analysis at two research institutions, an additional plate reader is available for either Mozambique or Zimbabwe. The training of two PhD students from the MRC and SAIMR at the University of Wales was essential to establishing these capabilities in southern Africa. This process has established the research foundation for ongoing research and resistance monitoring in the region.
During February 2000, a training workshop was held for the seven partners .The workshop was also used to train participants in susceptibility testing, mosquito collections and field and insectary mosquito breeding techniques and a laboratory training programme for the three partner institutes. A second training workshop, conducted by a specialist consultant from Cardiff University, was run later in year two to further develop the biochemical skills of the research institution-based partners from Mozambique, Zimbabwe and the two South African laboratories. A workplan for the remaining 18 months of the project was developed in collaboration with all the partners at the training workshop, clearly outlining the responsibility of individual partners. The following were discussed:
Resistance mechanisms have been detected in more than one species of Anopheline from at least 4 countries, this has resulted in insecticide policy changes in two countries and further research is underway towards elucidating the implications of these resistance mechanisms and their geographical spread. The timing of support by MIM for this project has proved to be fortuitous in terms of the recent development of Insecticide Resistance in Southern Africa and critical to the sustainability of existing and new control activities in the region
Collaborators
Medical Research Council, South African Institute for Medical Research, Department of Health, Cardiff University, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland, Mozambique and Zimbabwe
Funding