First initiative to develop a standard methodology for the evaluation of Attractive Targeted Sugar Baits in different settings against targeted mosquito vectors: a methodological review

(2025) 24:323 Reegan et al. Malaria Journal https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-025-05545-w Malaria Journal Open Access METHODOLOGY First initiative to develop a standard methodology for the evaluation of Attractive Targeted Sugar Baits in different settings against targeted mosquito vectors: a methodological review Appadurai Daniel Reegan1,2 , Sam Joy3 , Purushotham Jambulingam1 and Manju Rahi1,2*    Abstract Background Vector-borne diseases remain a major global health problem, mostly in tropical and subtropical areas. Effective vector control is crucial for controlling vector borne diseases (VBDs). Over the years various vector control tools and strategies have been employed globally. However, the recent challenges including insecticide-resistant, alterations in vector behaviour, and non-target effects have highlighted the need for novel vector control tools and alternate strategies. One such tool is the Attractive Targeted Sugar Baits (ATSBs), which uses the sugar-seeking habit of adult mosquitoes. The ATSB strategy operates on an “attract and kill” approach, where mosquitoes are lured to the bait and to feed on sugar combined with an insecticide. For this, a standard methodology needs to be developed for a uniform evaluation of ATSBs. Results The ATSB vector control strategy has shown promising results in studies carried out in various parts of Africa and the Middle East on controlling populations of mosquito species. Although numerous experiments have been conducted and are ongoing in various countries, there remains a lack of standardized guidelines for evaluating ATSBs. In 2023, the ICMR along with partners drafted the 3rd edition of Common Protocols for evaluating public health vector control products. The revised edition included a trial methodology for ATSB. Taking this into consideration, the phase-wise standard methodology is presented in this review for the uniform evaluation of different formulations/ products of ATSBs. Conclusions The methodologies, outlined in this article will serve as the standard methodology for testing ATSB formulations/products under laboratory conditions (Phase I), small-phase (Phase II), and large-phase field trial (Phase III) conditions. Keywords ATSB, Protocol, Vector control tool, Methodology *Correspondence: Manju Rahi Full list of author information is available at the end of the article © The Author(s) 2025. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. Reegan et al. Malaria Journal (2025) 24:323 Background Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) contribute considerably to the worldwide disease burden for about 17% of all communicable diseases. These diseases result in more than 700,000 annual deaths, with the burden specifically high in tropical and subtropical countries [1]. Vector-based interventions are an essential component in the control and elimination of VBDs. The Integrated Vector Management (IVM) strategy, employing a variety of vector control products, tools, and strategies, has been in use for the past few decades and has made considerable outcome to the control and prevention of VBDs. These vector control tools/products utilize various strategies to reduce the population of disease-carrying vectors, thereby preventing the transmission of VBDs. Some of these key tools and strategies include long-lasting insecticidal nets, space sprays, indoor residual spray, chemical and biological-based larvicide, environmental modification actions such as breeding habitat reduction, and genetic modifications of vectors. The increasing challenges in recent years posed by factors viz global environmental changes (climate changes), insecticide-resistance of vectors, alterations in vector behaviour, vector expansion into new regions, and concerns regarding non-target effects and environmental safety have directly impacted the vector control strategies in several ways and thereby highlights the need for novel vector control tools and alternate strategies towards control and prevention of VBDs [2]. Development of these novel/alternative vector control tools requires thorough scientific evaluation through laboratory and field trials, with documented evidence of their impact on vector disease control, before implementing as public health tool. Some of the promising novel vector control tools include products such as synergist-treated insecticide nets, endectocides, novel synthetic pyrethroids, neonicotinoids, non-pyrethroid compounds, genetically modified vectors, newer formulations for indoor residual spray (IRS), newer strains for use in larvicides, and insecticide-treated wearables [68]. Attractive Targeted Sugar Baits (ATSBs) ATSB signifies an innovative class of vector management that leverages the benefit of the sugar-seeking behaviour of adult mosquitoes to kill both male and female mosquitoes [3]. In this method, any fruit juice or flower aroma that is attractive is used as an attracting agent, sugar infusion as a luring food, and any chemical insecticide that is toxic is used to kill adult vector mosquitoes. Various researchers have reported to have studied different ATSBs with different insecticides and formulations [4–7]. Various mosquitocides such as boric acid, spinosad, eugenol, pyriproxyfen, dinotefuron, ivermectin, and micro-coated garlic oil have been tested in both laboratory and field Page 2 of 20 settings for ATSBs [8–10, 63]. ATSBs have been reported to be successful in controlling mosquito species both outdoors and indoors [8]. ATSBs has been assessed against Anopheles and Culex and Phlebotomus vectors in some countries either as a standalone tool for vector control or as an additional intervention tool to other vector control strategies. Table 1 and Table 2 summarizes various studies carried out on different formulations and bait stations of ATSBs conducted in laboratory, semi-field, and field conditions. A literature survey showed that fruit juices and sucrose solution were used in different percentages with insecticide to prepare ATSB. Many of the laboratory experiments recorded above 80% mortality and a few with 100% mortality (Table 1). Similarly, researchers have used different concentrations in the semi-field and fi (...truncated)