Portable experimental hut tents (PEHTs): a conceptual framework for improved malaria vector control decision-making with a review of fixed experimental hut sites in Africa

BACKGROUND: Insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) remain the primary vector control method across sub-Saharan Africa to prevent malaria transmission, with 2.2 billion pyrethroid (PY) ITNs distributed since 2004. Widespread PY resistance has contributed to stalling progress in recent years; however, new ITNs containing the pyrrole, chlorfenapyr, or the synergist piperonyl butoxide can provide improved efficacy. With more vector control options but limited resources, malaria programs face complex decisions influenced by local transmission intensity, mosquito species, and dynamic insecticide resistance patterns. Decisions are often based on subnational bioassay data, which are not indicative of ITN field performance of newer non-neurotoxic insecticides. METHODS: The gold-standard entomological method for assessing ITN performance is experimental hut trials; however, hut sites are fixed in place and often not representative of high-malaria-burden contexts. This manuscript consists of two components: the first is a literature review of fixed experimental hut sites in Africa. The second describes a new conceptual framework and design of portable experimental hut tents (PEHTs). RESULTS: The literature review identified 34 experimental hut sites in malaria-endemic Africa. The West-African style hut was the most widely adopted design, used in 24 sites, with most (19/34) located near rice fields for consistent vector yield. The novel PEHT design is based on West African-style huts, using large cabin-style tents equipped with a veranda and 3D-printed lightweight mosquito entry points. A major advantage of PEHTs is their portability for use within high-malaria-burden villages to evaluate community-used ITNs of varying ages against local malaria vector populations, which can support data-driven subnational vector control tailoring. Beyond the evaluation of ITNs, PEHTs can be utilized for studies of new vector control technologies, such as spatial repellent emanators, and can generate evidence for improved vector control practices during humanitarian emergencies, military deployments, and in settings with emerging vector-borne disease threats. CONCLUSIONS: This study describes the innovative concept and design of PEHTs for expanded evaluation of vector control tools in a wider geographical range against local, heterogeneous mosquito populations.