ABSTRACT
"Assessment of deltamethrin and dimicron in flea control in the Betafo region in Madagascar"" : The effect of two different insecticides on flea control was tested from Januaryto March 2000 in the Ivory village and the Ambatolahy village : Knox-Outr; a microcapsulated formulation of diazinon; organophosphorous compound (240 gr/L) and the deltamethrin powder (2 g/kg ai); respectively. The villages are located 2.5 km apart in the Betafo region in Madagascar. Deltamethrin is a pyrethroid and is still used in the National Plague Control Program; whereas diazinon has not previously been applied in plague control in Madagascar. The flea index and the prevalence of rats carrying fleas in the two villages before and after (at one and two months follow-up; respectively) were measured to evaluate the effect of each insecticide. Flea index decreased significantly in both villages by at the first month follow-up. However; at the second month follow-up no significant differences in comparison to pre-treatment index values were observed in any of the villages. This study has demonstrated a similar immediate effect of deltamethrin and of diazinon; and confirmed the absence of remanent action of the two insecticides."