Maximizing the Potential of Attractive Targeted Sugar Baits (ATSBs) for Integrated Vector Management

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Current mosquito control efforts are insufficient for preventing mosquito-borne illnesses. Attractive targeted sugar bait (ATSB) technology is an emerging mosquito control method that involves luring mosquitoes to feed on a sugar suspension containing a poison. Here, we comprehensively review the existing literature to evaluate the potential utility of ATSBs for mosquito control. We highlight milestones in the development of ATSBs, focusing on the selection of toxic ingredients and attractive components, methods of deployment, and efficacy studies. We discuss the potential utilization of ATSBs in combination with other control technologies and identify existing gaps in the ongoing development of this promising technology. We conclude that the deployment of ATSBs in integrated mosquito control programs will help address mosquito control challenges and prevent diseases that result from pathogens transmitted by mosquitoes. ABSTRACT: Due to the limitations of the human therapeutics and vaccines available to treat and prevent mosquito-borne diseases, the primary strategy for disease mitigation is through vector control. However, the current tools and approaches used for mosquito control have proven insufficient to prevent malaria and arboviral infections, such as dengue, Zika, and lymphatic filariasis, and hence, these diseases remain a global public health threat. The proven ability of mosquito vectors to adapt to various control strategies through insecticide resistance, invasive potential, and behavioral changes from indoor to outdoor biting, combined with human failures to comply with vector control requirements, challenge sustained malaria and arboviral disease control worldwide. To address these concerns, increased efforts to explore more varied and integrated control strategies have emerged. These include approaches that involve the behavioral management of vectors. Attractive targeted sugar baits (ATSBs) are a vector control approach that manipulates and exploits mosquito sugar-feeding behavior to deploy insecticides. Although traditional approaches have been effective in controlling malaria vectors indoors, preventing mosquito bites outdoors and around human dwellings is challenging. ATSBs, which can be used to curb outdoor biting mosquitoes, have the potential to reduce mosquito densities and clinical malaria incidence when used in conjunction with existing vector control strategies. This review examines the available literature regarding the utility of ATSBs for mosquito control, providing an overview of ATSB active ingredients (toxicants), attractants, modes of deployment, target organisms, and the potential for integrating ATSBs with existing vector control interventions.