Resistance Status to Deltamethrin, Permethrin, and Temephos Along With Preliminary Resistance Mechanism in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) From Punjab, Pakistan

Insecticide resistance: Status and potential mechanisms in Aedes aegypti

Aedes aegypti, an important vector in the transmission of human diseases, has developed resistance to two commonly used classes of insecticides, pyrethroids and organophosphates, in populations worldwide. This study examined sensitivity/resistance to chlorpyrifos, fenitrothion, malathion, deltamethrin, permethrin, and β-cyfluthrin, along with possible metabolic detoxification and target site insensitivity, in three Aedes aegypti mosquito strains. The resistant strain (PR) had developed high levels of resistance to all three pyrethroid insecticides compared to a susceptible population, with 6, 500-, 3200- and 17,000-fold resistance to permethrin, β-cyfluthrin, and deltamethrin, respectively. A newly emerged Ae. aegypti population collected from St. Augustine, Florida (AeStA) showed elevated levels of resistance to malathion (12-fold) and permethrin (25-fold). Synergists DEF (S,S,S,-tributyl phosphorotrithioate) and DEM (diethyl maleate) showed no or minor effects on insecticide resistance in both the AeStA and PRG20strains, but PBO (piperonyl butoxide) completely abolished resistance to both malathion and permethrin in AeStA and partially suppressed resistance in PR. The voltage-gated sodium channel sequences were examined to explore the mechanism that only partially inhibited the suppression of resistance to PBO in PR. Two mutations, V1016G/I and F1534C substitutions, both of which are associated with the development of pyrethroid resistance, were identified in the PRG20 strain but not in AeStA. These results suggest that while cytochrome P450 mediated detoxification may not be solely responsible, it is the major mechanism governing the development of resistance in AeStA. Both P450 mediated detoxification and target site insensitivity through the mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel contribute to the high levels of resistance in the PRG20 strain.

Unstable fipronil resistance associated with fitness costs in fipronil-selected Aedes aegypti L

Mosquitoes are very serious household and medically important pests transmitting many diseases of humans and animals. Among mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti L., is an active transmitter of dengue and lumpy skin disease virus, horrible and terrifying diseases, causing human and animal death throughout the world. Fipronil is a new chemistry insecticide used to control agriculture and medically important insect pests. It affects the GABA receptors in the nervous system and consequently causes the death of the pests. A laboratory experiment was conducted to investigate the onset of fipronil resistance and associated fitness costs in Ae. Aegypti. Moreover, the stability of fipronil resistance was evaluated after five generations of rearing without selection pressure. The population of Ae. Aegypti was exposed continuously for 12 generations to fipronil under controlled conditions. The fipronil selected population (Fipro-Sel Pop) had a 317 and 115.7-fold level of resistance compared to a susceptible and field population, respectively. Relative fitness for Fipro-Sel Pop was 0.57, with a significant disadvantage in larval duration, developmental time, percent hatchability, intrinsic rate of natural increase (r_m), net reproductive rate (R_o), number of larvae in the next generation, and mean relative growth rate (MRGR) when compared to the Unselected population (Un-Sel Pop). However, the relative fitness value of Cross₁ (Un-Sel Pop ♂ × Fipro-Sel Pop ♀) and Cross₂ (Fipro-Sel Pop ♂ × Un-Sel Pop ♀) was 1.69 and 1.12, respectively. It is evident from the results that fipronil resistance comes with a fitness disadvantage, and it is unstable in the Fipro-Sel Pop of Ae. Aegypti. Therefore, the alternation of fipronil with other chemicals or suspension of fipronil usage for some time could improve its efficacy by delaying resistance development in Ae. Aegypti. Further research should be performed to investigate the field applicability of our findings.

INSECTICIDE SUSCEPTIBILITY AND DETECTION OF kdr-GENE MUTATIONS IN AEDES AEGYPTI OF PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN

Dengue is a common disease in Peshawar, Pakistan whose primary vector is Aedes aegypti mosquito. Due to absence of vaccines and proper drugs for dengue, vector control is a necessary tool. Insecticide resistance in vectors is a threat to the control of dengue vector. This study presents the susceptibility status of Ae. aegypti to eight insecticides in district Peshawar and screen the mutations in knock down resistant gene (kdr). Ae. aegypti were found highly resistant to DDT and Deltamethrin while highly susceptible to Cyfluthrin and Bendiocarb. DNA sequencing of two domains (II and III) of kdr-gene have detected four SNPs in domain IIS6 at positions S989P and V1016G and two mutations at position T1520I and F1534C in domain IIIS6. Results showed a low frequency i.e. 0.19 and 0.12 for S989P and V1016G, moderate for T1520I (0.42) and high frequency for F1534C (0.86). Mutational combinations showed that the predominant combination was SSVVTICC (43%) in which T1520I was heterozygous and F1534C was homozygous mutant. This study will be helpful in designing vector control strategies for the control of dengue in the studied area and will provide first knowledge about Kdr gene mutations that confer resistance in this species.

Selection for resistance to pirimiphos-methyl, permethrin and spinosad in a field strain of Sitophilus oryzae: resistance risk assessment, cross-resistance potential and synergism of insecticides

Indiscriminate use of insecticides in food storage facilities for controlling insect pests has deleterious effects on the environment and non-targeted organisms in the premises. Continuous use of insecticides may result in resistance development in insect pests, which compel the stakeholders to increase the dosage of insecticides to manage resistant insect pests. The increased dosage of insecticides ultimately may result in contamination of stored food stuff that affects human health. The present study was planned to generate data that will be helpful to delay resistance development and to reduce environmental pollution. A field strain of Sitophilus oryzae, one of the most common insect pests of stored foodstuff, was selected separately with pirimiphos-methyl, permethrin, or spinosad for five consecutive generations. The selected strains were studied for resistance risk assessment, time taken to develop resistance to insecticides after continuous exposure in the selection process, preliminary mechanism of resistance, and whether the development of resistance due to the selection with a particular insecticide could develop cross-resistance to other insecticide or not. In comparison to a laboratory susceptible reference strain, the insecticide-selected strains revealed rapid development of resistance against insecticides as a result of selection process: 31.05-fold resistance to pirimiphos-methyl, 156.49-fold resistance to permethrin, and 65.6-fold resistance to spinosad. The selected strains did not show cross-resistance to insecticides to with these strains were not exposed during selection experiments, i.e., strain selected with pirimiphos-methyl did not show cross-resistance to spinosad and permethrin. In the synergism bioassays, the synergists (S,S,S-tributyl phosphorotrithioate and piperonyl butoxide) significantly reduced resistance of the selected strain against insecticides to with these were selected, revealing the probability of metabolic mechanism of resistance. The present study revealed high risks of resistance development to pirimiphos-methyl, spinosad, and permethrin under consistent selection pressure. Lack of cross-resistance among insecticides provides an opportunity to use insecticides in rotation instead of increasing dosages to manage resistant insects that will ultimately pollute the environment.

First comprehensive report of the resistance of Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae) to commonly used insecticides in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

The mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus is a vector of various pathogens including West Nile virus, Saint Louis encephalitis virus, and Western equine encephalitis virus. Insecticides are the main tools for Cx. quinquefasciatus control, but this overreliance on chemical tools has led to the development of resistance to many insecticides in this important insect vector. The resistance of eight field populations of Cx. quinquefasciatus to 10 commonly used insecticides was evaluated. Based on the resistance ratios (RRs), the adults of Cx. quinquefasciatus field populations displayed susceptibility to the organophosphates (OPs) except Al-Masanie adults which exhibited low resistance to fenitrothion (RR₅₀ = 3.62). Conversely, the mosquitoes exhibited susceptibility, low resistance, and moderate resistance to the pyrethroids alpha-cypermethrin (RR = 0.59-2.56), bifenthrin (RR = 0.59-2.19), deltamethrin (RR = 0.60-7.07), cypermethrin (RR = 0.60-2.66), and cyfluthrin (RR = 0.58-2.39). At the larval stage, Cx. quinquefasciatus field populations displayed susceptibility to low resistance to the OPs chlorpyrifos (RR = 0.03-1.75), malathion (RR = 0.19-3.42), fenitrothion (RR = 0.11-2.78), and pirimiphos-methyl (RR = 0.08-1.15). Although these results in Cx. quinquefasciatus field populations indicated that the OPs and pyrethroids maintained high efficacy in controlling this species in the geographical area of this study, these findings should be utilized wisely to avoid any potential negative effects on human health and environmental safety attributable to the application of these broad-spectrum conventional insecticides. However, these findings provide a solid basis for decision-making for Cx. quinquefasciatus integrated vector management programs.

Metabolic detoxification and ace-1 target site mutations associated with acetamiprid resistance in Aedes aegypti L

Despite the continuous use of chemical interventions, Aedes-borne diseases remain on the rise. Neonicotinoids are new, safer, and relatively effective pharmacological interventions against mosquitoes. Neonicotinoids interact with the postsynaptic nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) of the insect central nervous system, but the absence of nAChR polymorphism in resistant phenotypes makes their involvement in neonicotinoid resistance uncertain. Thus, an investigation was carried out to understand the role of metabolic detoxification and target site insensitivity in imparting acetamiprid resistance in Aedes aegypti larvae. Studies were conducted on the parent susceptible strain (PS), acetamiprid-larval selected strain for five generations (ACSF-5; 8.83-fold resistance) and 10 generations (ACSF-10; 19.74-fold resistance) of Ae. aegypti. The larval selection raised α-esterase and β-esterase activities by 1.32-fold and 1.34-fold, respectively, in ACSF-10 as compared to PS, while the corresponding glutathione-S-transferase and acetylcholinesterase activity increased by 22.5 and 2%. The ace-1 gene in PS and ACSF-10 showed four mismatches in the 1312—1511 bp region due to mutations in the Y455C codon (tyrosine to cysteine) at the 1367th position (TAC→TGC); I457V codon (isoleucine to valine) at 1372 bp and 1374 bp (ATA→GTG); and R494M codon (arginine to methionine) at 1484 bp (AGG→ATG). The R494M mutation was the novel and dominant type, observed in 70% ACSF-10 population, and has not been reported so far. The studies evidenced the combination of metabolic detoxification and target site mutation in imparting acetamiprid resistance in Ae. aegypti.

Resistance to grain protectants and synergism in Pakistani strains of Sitophilus oryzae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

The widespread use of insecticides for the management of insect pests in storage facilities and food industries have caused insecticide resistance a frequent issue worldwide. Nonetheless, this issue has been little explored in Pakistan that resulted in control failures and increased dosage of insecticides. In the present study, insecticide resistance to chlorpyrifos-methyl, pirimiphos-methyl, permethrin and spinosad was surveyed in five field strains of Sitophilus oryzae: FSD-SO, GJR-SO, DGK-SO, MTN-SO and BWP-SO, collected from five different localities of Punjab, Pakistan, and contrasted with an insecticide susceptible reference strain (Lab-SO). Dose-mortality bioassays were performed in glass vials containing insecticide-treated rice grains, and lethal doses (LD₅₀ and LD₉₅) were calculated and compared using the ratio tests. In comparison to the Lab-SO strain at LD₅₀ and LD₉₅ levels, field strains exhibited: 24.51 to 52.80 and 36.55 to 69.31 resistance ratios (RRs), respectively, for chlorpyrifos-methyl; 15.89 to 45.97 and 55.12 to 194.93 RRs, respectively, for pirimiphos-methyl; 39.76 to 108.61 and 61.33 to 130.12 RRs, respectively, for permethrin; 4.23 to 27.50 and 6.28 to 41.00 RRs, respectively, for spinosad. In the synergism experiments using the Lab-SO and the most resistant strains against each insecticide, the enzyme inhibitors (PBO and DEF) failed to synergize toxicity of insecticides in the Lab-SO strain; however, toxicity of chlorpyrifos-methyl, pirimiphos-methyl and permethrin significantly enhanced in the resistant strains of S. oryzae, suggesting possibility of metabolic mechanism of resistance. In addition, activities of detoxification enzymes (CarE, MFO and GST) were significantly higher in resistant strains compared to the Lab-SO strain. The results revealed presence of insecticide resistance in field strains of S. oryzae that necessitate the need to develop a resistance management strategy.

An impact assessment of insecticides application on the non-targeted mosquito Aedes albopictus (Skuse) in Punjab rice fields, Pakistan

Insecticidal control of insect pests of rice crop may influence the environment and nontarget species in rice fields. Aedes albopictus, one of the most common nontarget species present in rice fields, received lethal and sublethal exposures to insecticides used in rice cultivated fields. The present work explores the effects of insecticides in six non-targeted Ae. albopictus strains collected from rice fields with a history of insecticidal usage in comparison with a laboratory susceptible reference strain (REF) and a strain (LHR) collected from a rice field with no, or minimal, history of insecticidal usage. Two types of effects, the resistance development and performance of biological traits, were studied by selecting seven commonly used insecticides in rice fields in Punjab, Pakistan. The results revealed that the strains collected from the rice fields with histories of insecticidal usage exhibited significant levels of resistance to flonicamid, chlorantraniliprole, gamma-cyhalothrin, fipronil, monomehypo, triazophos, and carbofuran, when compared with REF and LHR strains. In addition, Ae. albopictus strains revealed a significantly weaker performance of biological traits (rate of pupae formation, survival of male and female adults (except females of OKR and MTN strains), and ovipositing females) than those of the REF and LHR strains. However, the fecundity of all field strains was only significantly different with that of the REF strain. In conclusion, the results highlight the problem of the negative effects of insecticidal usage in rice fields on nontarget species present in the same environment, and emphasize the need to adopt pest management activities that are safe for the environment.

Gradual reduction of susceptibility and enhanced detoxifying enzyme activities of laboratory-reared Aedes aegypti under exposure of temephos for 28 generations

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Aedes aegypti mosquitoes were exposed to temephos for 28 generations.

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This exposure led to a 7.83-fold decrease in temephos toxicity.

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With increase in generational time, Ae. aegypti exhibited increased detoxification.

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Increased detoxification correlated with increase in detoxifying enzymes.

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Repeated exposure of Ae. aegypti to temephos could lead to pesticide resistance.

Temephos, an organophosphate insecticide, is widely accepted for the control of Aedes aegypti, vector of infectious diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, and zika. However, there are claims that repeated and indiscriminate use of temephos has resulted in resistance development in exposed mosquito populations. The present study attempts to evaluate the continuous performance of temephos on the Ae. aegypti population, in laboratory conditions, in terms of toxicity and the effect on marker enzymes associated with metabolic resistance. Results of the toxicity bioassay showed that after the initial exposure, toxicity increased till F4 generation by 1.65 fold, and continuous exposure resulted in a 7.83 fold reduction in toxicity at F28 generation. Percent mortality result showed a marked reduction in mortality with the passage of generations while using the same series of concentrations, viz. 2 ppm, which was 100 % lethal at the initial nine generations, could kill only 22.66 % at F28. Resistance to organophosphates is mainly governed by metabolic detoxifying enzyme families of esterases, glutathione-s-transferase, and cytochrome P450. Analysis of these metabolic detoxifying enzymes showed an inverse trend to toxicity (i.e. toxicity increased in early generations as enzyme activity dropped and then dropped as enzyme activity increased). At the initial exposure, enzyme activity decreased in 2–4 generations, however, repeated exposure led to a significant increase in all the metabolic detoxifying enzymes. From the toxicity level as well as marker enzyme bioassay results, it can be inferred that mosquitoes showed increased detoxification in generational time with an increase in enzymes associated with metabolic detoxification. In conclusion, repeated application of temephos led to resistance development in Ae. aegypti which may be associated with the increase in metabolic detoxifying enzyme activities.

Current Status of Pyrethroids Resistance in Aedes aegypti (Culicidae: Diptera) in Lahore District, Pakistan: A Novel Mechanistic Insight

Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) is a major vector responsible for dengue transmission. Insecticides are being used as the most effective tool to control vector populations in Lahore, Pakistan. Control of Ae. aegypti is threatened by the development of resistance against insecticides. The current status of insecticide resistance was evaluated against pyrethroids (deltamethrin, cypermethrin, and lambda-cyhalothrin) in different populations of Lahore (Model Town, Mishri Shah, Sadar Cantt, Walton, and Valencia). The susceptibility of the larval and adult populations was tested following the standard WHO guidelines. Moderate to high levels of resistance were found against pyrethroids in the larval (RR50: 3.6-27.2 and RR90: 5-90) and adult populations (percentage mortality < 98%). Biochemical assays revealed a statistically significant increase in the enzyme level in all field populations compared to the laboratory strain. The value of esterase was one-fold higher, monooxygenase was 3.9- to 4.7-fold higher, and glutathione S-transferases was 1.9- to 2.6-fold higher in field populations compared to the laboratory strain. These results depict the presence of resistance against deltamethrin, cypermethrin, and lambda-cyhalothrin in field populations of Lahore mediated by metabolic enzymes i.e. esterases, monooxygenases, and glutathione S-transferase.

Insecticide resistance and underlying targets-site and metabolic mechanisms in Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus from Lahore, Pakistan

Insecticide resistant Aedes populations have recently been reported in Pakistan, imposing a threat to their control. We aimed to evaluate the susceptibility of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus populations from Lahore to WHO-recommended insecticides and to investigate metabolic and target-site resistance mechanisms. For this purpose, we first carried out bioassays with the larvicides temephos and pyriproxyfen, and the adulticides malathion, permethrin, deltamethrin, alpha-cypermethrin, and etofenprox. We looked for Knockdown resistance mutations (kdr) by qPCR, High-Resolution Melt (HRM), and sequencing. In order to explore the role of detoxifying enzymes in resistance, we carried out synergist bioassay with both species and then checked the expression of CYP9M6, CYP9J10, CYP9J28, CYP6BB2, CCAe3a, and SAP2 genes in Ae. aegypti. Both species were susceptible to organophosphates and the insect growth regulator, however resistant to all pyrethroids. We are reporting the kdr haplotypes 1520Ile + 1534Cys and T1520 + 1534Cys in high frequencies in Ae. aegypti while Ae. albopictus only exhibited the alteration L882M. PBO increased the sensitivity to permethrin in Ae. aegypti, suggesting the participation of P450 genes in conferring resistance, and indeed, CYP928 was highly expressed. We presume that dengue vectors in Lahore city are resistant to pyrethroids, probably due to multiple mechanisms, such as kdr mutations and P450 overexpression.

Resistance to insecticides and synergism by enzyme inhibitors in Aedes albopictus from Punjab, Pakistan

The widespread use of insecticides has ecological consequences such as emergence of insecticide resistance and environmental pollution. Aedes albopictus is a major vector of dengue virus in the Punjab province, Pakistan. Control of Ae. albopictus with insecticides along with source eradication is critical in the prevention and control of dengue fever but is threatened by the development of insecticide resistance. Here, field strains of Ae. albopictus from eight cities of Punjab were evaluated for resistance against temephos, deltamethrin and permethrin. For temephos, high resistance (RR_LC50 > tenfold) was found in larvae of the Rawalpindi strain, moderate resistance (RR_LC50 = five- to tenfold) in Multan, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Lahore and Sheikhupura strains, and low resistance (RR_LC50 < fivefold) in Kasur and Sahiwal strains. In the case of deltamethrin, high resistance was seen in adults of the strain from Faisalabad, moderate resistance in the strains from Sialkot, Sheikhupura, Lahore and Kasur, and low resistance in Sahiwal, Multan and Rawalpindi strains. For permethrin, adults of all the field strains exhibited high levels of resistance. In synergism bioassays, toxicity of all the insecticides in the field strains significantly enhanced when tested in combination with piperonyl butoxide or S,S,S-tributylphosphorotrithioate, suggesting the probability of metabolic-based mechanisms of resistance. In conclusion, field strains of Ae. albopictus from Punjab exhibit resistance to temephos, deltamethrin and permethrin, which might be associated with metabolic mechanisms of resistance.

Susceptibility to indoxacarb and synergism by enzyme inhibitors in laboratory and field strains of five major stored product insects in Pakistan

Resistance to commonly used grain protectants and fumigants in stored product insect pests necessitates the need to explore alternative substances. Indoxacarb is a reduced-risk oxadiazine insecticide that is generally used in field crops, but there are limited reports of its susceptibility in stored insect pests. The objective of this study was to determine susceptibility to indoxacarb in laboratory and field strains of five major stored product insects: Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius), Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky), S. oryzae (Linnaeus), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), and Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.), using dose-mortality bioassays on wheat grains. In most of the cases, the susceptibility of laboratory strains of all the studied pests were significantly higher than the corresponding field strains. The LD₅₀ and LD₉₉ values (mg a.i./kg of grains) of field strains ranged from 0.13 to 0.38, and 3.44 to 24.76, respectively (for R. dominica), 0.26 to 0.55, and 5.26 to 19.37, respectively (for S. oryzae), 0.41 to 1.01, and 13.11 to 22.46, respectively (for S. zeamais), 0.67 to 1.37, and 15.43 to 43.44, respectively (for T. castaneum), and 0.52 to 0.92, and 18.06 to 61.63, respectively (for O. surinamensis). Synergism bioassays implementing piperonyl butoxide or S,S,S-tributyl phosphorotrithioate along with indoxacarb on selected field strains revealed enhanced susceptibility to indoxacarb. The study demonstrates relative susceptibility to indoxacarb in major stored product insects. Synergism results support the probability of metabolic-based mechanisms responsible for mitigating indoxacarb toxicity. The results might be helpful for monitoring future variation in susceptibility to indoxacarb in the selected insect species and for setting field rates.