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The potential solution to the longstanding struggle against malaria might lie in something as straightforward as incorporating soap, as suggested by a recent study.
Researchers at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) have uncovered that the addition of small amounts of liquid soap to certain types of pesticides can amplify their effectiveness by over ten times. Lead author Colince Kamdem, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at UTEP, highlighted the promising finding in light of mosquitoes carrying malaria developing increasing resistance to current insecticides.
“Over the past couple of decades, mosquitoes have grown significantly resistant to most insecticides,” Kamdem stated. “Now, it’s a race to develop alternative compounds with novel mechanisms of action.”
Both lab experiments and field trials have indicated that neonicotinoids, a specific category of insecticide, show promise as an alternative for populations displaying resistance to current insecticides, according to Caroline Fouet, Research Assistant Professor at UTEP.
However, neonicotinoids fail to eliminate certain mosquito species unless their potency is enhanced. In this scenario, Fouet highlighted that soap serves as the enhancing agent.
Malaria, a debilitating disease transmitted by mosquitoes, remains prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and Latin America, causing symptoms like fever, fatigue, headaches, and chills, and can be fatal.
In 2020, the Centers for Disease Control estimated approximately 241 million malaria cases worldwide, resulting in 627,000 deaths.
In a recent study published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, the team identified three low-cost, linseed-oil based soaps widely available in sub-Saharan Africa—Maitre Savon de Marseille, Carolin Savon Noir, and La Perdrix Savon—and combined them with four different neonicotinoids: acetamiprid, clothianidin, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam.
The researchers noted that in all instances, the addition of soap substantially increased the potency of the insecticides.
“Each of the three soap brands raised mortality rates from 30 percent to 100 percent when compared to using the insecticides alone,” stated Ashu Fred, the study’s lead author and a doctoral student at the University of Yaounde in Cameroon.
The team also explored the impact of adding soap to a class of insecticides called pyrethroids. However, they observed no discernible advantages in those cases.
The researchers aim to conduct further experiments to determine the precise quantity of soap required to enhance the insecticides.
“We aim to develop a soap-insecticide blend that can be used indoors in Africa and is safe for users,” Kamdem explained. “While uncertainties remain, such as whether this blend will adhere to materials like mosquito nets, the challenge is both promising and incredibly exciting.”
