Efficacy of the BiteBarrier transfluthrin emanator against susceptible and resistant malaria and arbovirus vectors in the semi-field system in Tanzania

Controlling mosquito-borne diseases is increasingly challenging due to factors such as outdoor and early biting mosquitoes and logistical or behavioral barriers, particularly in displaced populations where the use and efficacy of core interventions are inadequate. This study evaluated the impact of BiteBarrier, a transfluthrin-based spatial emanator, over eight weeks of aging against multiple mosquito species in semi-field system simulating both indoor and outdoor settings. We assessed the protective efficacy using both landing rate and feeding success methods across five mosquito species, including pyrethroid susceptible Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto (s.s.) and Aedes aegypti, An. gambiae s.s. with knock down resistance (KDR), and pyrethroid resistant An. funestus and Culex quinquefasciatus with upregulation of mixed function oxidases. The results show that the feeding endpoint provides more robust estimates of protective efficacy compared to the landing endpoint. The BiteBarrier provided over 93% (95% CI: 92 - 93) protection indoors and 80% (95% CI: 78 - 81) outdoors against mosquito bites and substantial mortality 47% (95% CI: 43 - 53) indoor and 26% (95% CI: 22 - 30) outdoors, regardless of mosquito species or resistance status. Overall, the BiteBarrier shows potential as a tool for reducing mosquito bites and vectorial capacity, offering protection over at least eight weeks of use for both indoor and outdoor environments.