Scientists at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) have uncovered a breakthrough in the fight against malaria by enhancing pesticide potency with small amounts of liquid soap. Lead author Colince Kamdem, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at UTEP, emphasized the urgency, stating, “Over the past two decades, mosquitoes have become strongly resistant to most insecticides.” Neonicotinoids, a promising alternative insecticide class, proved effective when combined with soap, addressing resistance issues.
Caroline Fouet, Research Assistant Professor at UTEP, explained, “Neonicotinoids do not kill some mosquito species unless their potency is boosted, and in this case, soap is the boosting substance.” Malaria, a deadly mosquito-borne disease prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and Latin America, causes fever, fatigue, and can be fatal. In 2020, there were an estimated 241 million malaria cases worldwide, resulting in 627,000 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
The study, published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, focused on three low-cost, linseed-oil based soaps prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa—Maitre Savon de Marseille, Carolin Savon Noir, and La Perdrix Savon. The soaps, added to four neonicotinoids, showed a drastic increase in potency, with mortality rates rising from 30% to 100%. Ashu Fred, the study’s first author and a doctoral student at Cameroon’s University of Yaounde, emphasized the significance of soap, stating, “All three brands of soap increase mortality compared to when the insecticides were used on their own.”
While soap did not enhance pyrethroids, another class of insecticides, the team is determined to conduct further testing to determine the optimal soap quantity needed for insecticide enhancement. Kamdem expressed enthusiasm about creating a soap-insecticide formulation for indoor use in Africa, highlighting the challenge as both promising and exciting.
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