Successful Completion of the EMCA 2025 Training Course on Insecticide Resistance Monitoring at ITM

The 2025 EMCA training course on insecticide resistance monitoring was successfully conducted at the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) in Antwerp, bringing together 23 participants from 13 countries across Europe and other continents. Organized by the Entomology Unit under the direction of Dr. Isabelle Kramer and with the support of the Head of the Unit Entomology of the institute, Professor Ruth Müller, the course provided a dynamic mix of theoretical and hands-on learning.

As insecticide resistance in mosquitoes poses an increasing threat to effective vector control worldwide, the training course focused on equipping participants with essential knowledge and skills to monitor and address this challenge. Through a combination of short lectures, practical exercises, and structured discussions, participants explored various types of resistance and practiced standard monitoring methodologies such as bioassays and molecular diagnostics.

The practical sessions with live mosquitoes were particularly well received and included:

• WHO insecticide bioassays
• CDC bottle tests
• Insecticide-treated bednet efficacy tests
• Plant-based oil larvicidal assays
• Insecticide behavioral assays

These hands-on modules offered invaluable experience in phenotypic resistance measurement and were characterised as a course highlight in participant feedback.

Furthermore, the concept of behavioral insecticide resistance—highlighting mosquito responses to insecticide exposure—sparked particular interest among participants, especially through the talk on 3D video tracking presented by Sofia Vielma.

The diversity of the participants, representing a range of institutions, countries, and professional backgrounds, greatly enriched the exchange of knowledge and experiences throughout the course. This collaborative environment fostered cross-regional learning and emphasized the global relevance of insecticide resistance monitoring.

The EMCA thanks the ITM for hosting the EMCA 2025 Training Course and commends all participants for their active engagement. This course marks an important step in strengthening international capacity to detect and respond to the growing threat of insecticide resistance in mosquito populations.

For more information about EMCA activities and future training opportunities, please visit www.emca-online.eu.