R Farlow Consulting LLC, Burkeville, TX, USA.
Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, Australia.
Malar J. 2020 Nov 25;19(1):432. doi: 10.1186/s12936-020-03494-0.
Vector surveillance provides critical data for decision-making to ensure that malaria control programmes remain effective and responsive to any threats to a successful control and elimination programme. The quality and quantity of data collected is dependent on the sampling tools and laboratory techniques used which may lack the sensitivity required to collect relevant data for decision-making. Here, 40 vector control experts were interviewed to assess the benefits and limitations of the current vector surveillance tools and techniques. In addition, experts shared ideas on "blue sky" indicators which encompassed ideas for novel methods to monitor presently used indicators, or to measure novel vector behaviours not presently measured. Algorithms for deploying surveillance tools and priorities for understanding vector behaviours are also needed for collecting and interpreting vector data.
The available tools for sampling and analysing vectors are often hampered by high labour and resource requirements (human and supplies) coupled with high outlay and operating costs and variable tool performance across species and geographic regions. The next generation of surveillance tools needs to address the limitations of present tools by being more sensitive, specific and less costly to deploy to enable the collection and use of epidemiologically relevant vector data to facilitate more proactive vector control guidance. Ideas and attributes for Target Product Profiles (TPPs) generated from this analysis provide targets for research and funding to develop next generation tools.
More efficient surveillance tools and a more complete understanding of vector behaviours and populations will provide a basis for more cost effective and successful malaria control. Understanding the vectors' behaviours will allow interventions to be deployed that target vulnerabilities in vector behaviours and thus enable more effective control. Through defining the strengths and weaknesses of the current vector surveillance methods, a foundation and initial framework was provided to define the TPPs for the next generation of vector surveillance methods. The draft TTPs presented here aim to ensure that the next generation tools and technologies are not encumbered by the limitations of present surveillance methods and can be readily deployed in low resource settings.
媒介监测为决策提供了关键数据，以确保疟疾控制项目保持有效，并能应对成功控制和消除疟疾规划所面临的任何威胁。收集到的数据的质量和数量取决于所使用的抽样工具和实验室技术，而这些工具和技术可能缺乏收集决策相关数据所需的敏感性。在这里，我们采访了 40 名媒介控制专家，以评估当前媒介监测工具和技术的优势和局限性。此外，专家们还分享了“蓝天”指标的想法，其中包括监测目前使用的指标的新方法，或测量目前未测量的新型媒介行为的想法。为了收集和解释媒介数据，还需要部署监测工具的算法和了解媒介行为的优先事项。
用于抽样和分析媒介的现有工具通常受到高劳动力和资源需求（人力和物资）的限制，再加上高昂的支出和运营成本，以及不同物种和地理区域的工具性能各不相同。下一代监测工具需要通过提高敏感性、特异性和降低部署成本来解决现有工具的局限性，以便收集和使用具有流行病学相关性的媒介数据，从而为更积极主动的媒介控制提供指导。从本次分析中生成的目标产品概况（TPP）的想法和属性为研究和资金提供了目标，以开发下一代工具。
更有效的监测工具和对媒介行为和种群的更全面了解将为更具成本效益和更成功的疟疾控制提供基础。了解媒介的行为将使人们能够部署针对媒介行为弱点的干预措施，从而实现更有效的控制。通过定义当前媒介监测方法的优势和劣势，为定义下一代媒介监测方法的 TPP 提供了基础和初步框架。这里提出的 TTP 草案旨在确保下一代工具和技术不受当前监测方法的限制，并能够在资源匮乏的环境中得到迅速部署。
