Boonyarangka P.Sonthilath P.Chaudhury S.Banouvong V.Kuntawunginn W.Sornsakrin S.Taobouathong B.Sinhthapaseuth T.Srichairatanakul U.Arsanok M.Khamkong C.Lattavong L.Srisawat R.Saleepochn T.Imaram W.Mann A.Lindroth E.J.Hongvanthong B.Jones J.Jongsakul K.Mahidol University2026-06-052026-06-052026-05-01Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease Vol.11 No.5 (2026)https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/117091While vector control methods have successfully reduced malaria rates worldwide, such methods are not always suitable for military use. We evaluated the usability, durability, and effectiveness of permethrin-treated uniforms and metofluthrin spatial repellent in preventing mosquito bites among soldiers in the Laos People’s Army that were deployed on a 12-week field exercise. The study enrolled 173 subjects into four different groups: (1) metofluthrin-only, (2) permethrin-treated uniforms, (3) metofluthrin with permethrin-treated uniforms, and (4) a control group. We measured efficacy through self-reported survey responses and a serological test for antibodies to Anopheles salivary antigens and assessed the durability of permethrin treatment over the 12-week exercise. We found that soldiers given metofluthrin and permethrin-treated uniforms were 72% and 46% more likely to report decreased mosquito bites compared to those in the control group and that soldiers with permethrin-treated uniforms had significantly lower (p < 0.05) antibody levels to the Anopheles SG6 salivary antigen. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed that treated uniforms still contained a significant permethrin concentration that showed 50 to 100% mosquito mortality. Overall, our findings show that both metofluthrin and permethrin-treated uniforms were well-tolerated and led to significantly fewer reported mosquito bites, and that permethrin, in particular, was found to be durable throughout the 12-week field exercise and effective in reducing mosquito bite exposure, underscoring its value in military applications.MedicineImmunology and MicrobiologyArticleSCOPUS10.3390/tropicalmed110501422-s2.0-10504019830524146366