Improved Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) Case Detection and Vector Control to Support the VL Elimination Initiative in Bangladesh

The objective of this study is to test the efficacy Inesfly 5AIGRNG TM containing Alphacypermethrin 0.7%; D-Allethin 1.0% and Pyriproxyphen (0.063%), and other intervention with control group. The formulation is vinyl paint with an aqueous base, with the active ingredients residing within Ca CO3 and resin microcapsules, allowing a gradual release of active ingredients. Microcapsules range from one to several hundred micrometers in size. Inesfly has been tested for control of malaria and chagas disease vector with encouraging results. The product is effective even against vectors, resistant to pyrethroids.

A randomized control trial will be performed with Inesfly 5AIGRNG TM containing Alphacypermethrin 0.7%; D-Allethin 1.0% and Pyriproxyphen (0.063%), commercial available durable wall lining (DWL), impregnated of existing bed-net with insecticide tablet, KO TAB 123, indoor residual spraying (IRS) with Delthamethrin against a control group (study with 5 arms). The study will be carried out in villages located in Mymensingh District , one of the high VL endemic district in Bangladesh. The VL burden of the villages will be estimated using the VL case reports in the last 12 months. Four high endemic villages will be selected for the study. As per sample size calculation the investigators need minimum 31 households to see the efficacy of the interventions (see sample size calculation part below). The investigators will include 50 households for each intervention and 50 for control (No intervention). Twenty-five households (HHs) from each village will be selected randomly which will be considered as a cluster. Field Research Assistant will be listed all the study households. Only subjects who agree to participate and freely signed the consent form will be included in the study. Household roster and household head interview for socio-demographic, socio-economic and knowledge about VL and VL vectors will be done. Based on sample size calculation, 18 HHs from each cluster will be selected randomly for entomological analysis which includes sand fly density measurement (base line and 1, 3, 6, 9,12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 months after intervention), WHO Cone bioassay on the intervention surfaces and control surfaces at 1, 3, 6, 9,12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 months after intervention After performing baseline sand fly density measurements, clusters will be redefined with High density (sand fly density =>50th percentile), and low (sand fly density (<50th percentile). One cluster will be selected randomly from each density group for the intervention with Inesfly, commercial DWL, and the control group with no intervention. All groups will receive the routine vector control services by the national program. Acceptability survey of the intervention will be conducted at 6 weeks since intervention to see the community acceptance of the intervention.

Entomological methods:

Sand fly collection and density measurement For the entomological activities for objective 2 and objective 3 HH head will be informed and his/her informed, written voluntary consent will be obtained before the start of any activities. HH head and members will be requested one day before by the research team to make space for conduct installation of DWL / wall paining with Inesfly by removing materials including furniture to a safe place. They also will be informed that for entomological activities i.e. for collection of sand fly by CDC light trap research team will visit the HH for two consecutive days as on day one they will visit in the evening to place CDC light trap in a corner of the main room and to take it out on the following morning. As sand fly collection will be done before intervention and at 1 month, 6 months and 12 months after intervention research team will visit the HH 4 times for sand fly collection. In addition to conduct the WHO Cone bioassay test which will be done again at 1 month, 3 months and 12 months since intervention the HH will be visited again 3 times by the research team.

Sand flies will be collected on two consecutive nights with CDC light traps by trained personnel with guidance from a member of the study team. Light traps will be kept in a corner from 6 pm to 6 am, 2 inch away from the wall with a distance of 6 inches between the floor and the bottom of the sac. The sand fly density will be expressed as number of P. argentipes per light trap per night. Sand fly identification will be done as follows: