Physiological Health Criteria for Pyrethriod Insecticide: A Pre-test Study with Guinea Pigs

A study of the use of lambdacyhalothrin (pyrethroid insecticide) treated curtains, mats and blankets as an alternative strategy to insecticide treated bed net for malaria control, was undertaken from 2003 to 2004 in Oruku – a sub-urban community in Nkanu East Local Government, very near Enugu in Enugu state of Nigeria. Prior to the village study, a pre-test study (safety testing) was done using Guinea pigs from January 2003 to April 2003. It was carried out inside zoological garden University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The objective of the pre-test study was to ascertain the effect of Lambdacyhalothrin on physiology of Guinea pigs before using it in human habitation (Guinea pig has physiology akin to human). The Guinea pigs were maintained in animal cages and acclimatized for four weeks before the introduction of the insecticide. Effect of the insecticide on vital physiological parameters of the Guinea pigs were measured weekly for 15 weeks. The data were analyzed using chi-square, ratio (fscore), correlation coefficient ‘r’ and coefficient of determination (r 2). Result showed that Lambdacyhalothrin at 0.001mg/l to 0.050mg/l concentrations were well tolerated by the guinea pigs and was thought to be safe for use in human environment/habitation with no disruption of physiological activities.