The effect of larval nutritional deprivation on the life history and DDT resistance phenotype in laboratory strains of the malaria vector Anopheles arabiensis

Comparison of the effect of bacterial stimulation on the global epigenetic landscape and transcription of immune genes in primarily zoophilic members of the Anopheles gambiae complex (Diptera: Culicidae)

Members of the Anopheles gambiae complex vary in their vector competence, and this is often attributed to behavioural differences. Similarly, there are differences in transmission capabilities of the zoophilic members of this complex despite exhibiting similar behaviours. Therefore, behavioural differences alone cannot fully explain vector competence variation within members of the An. gambiae complex. The immune system of mosquitoes plays a key role in determining susceptibility to parasite infection and consequently transmission capacity. This study aimed to examine variations in the immune response of An. arabiensis, An. merus and An. quadriannulatus, a major, minor, and non-vector respectively. The global epigenetic landscape was characterised and the expression of Defensin-1 and Gambicin was assessed in response to Gram-positive (Streptococcus pyogenes) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacterial infections. The effect of insecticide resistance in An. arabiensis on these aspects was also assessed. The immune system was stimulated by a blood-borne bacterial supplementation. The 5mC, 5hmC, m6A methylation levels and Histone Acetyl Transferase activity were assessed with commercial ELISA kits. The transcript levels of Defensin-1 and Gambicin were assessed by quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction. Species-specific differences in 5mC and m6A methylation existed both constitutively as well as post immune stimulation. The epigenetic patterns observed in the laboratory strains were largely conserved in F1 offspring of wild-caught adults. The methylation patterns in the major vector typically differed from that of the minor/non-vectors. The differences between insecticide susceptible and resistant An. arabiensis were more reflected in the expression of Defensin-1 and Gambicin. The expression of these peptides differed in the strains only after bacterial stimulation. Anopheles merus and An. quadriannulatus expressed significantly higher levels of antimicrobial peptides, both constitutively and after immune stimulation. These findings suggest molecular variations in the immune response of members of the An. gambiae complex.

The effect of larval exposure to acids and detergents on the life history of the major malaria vector Anopheles arabiensis Patton (Diptera: Culicidae)

BACKGROUND

Anopheles arabiensis, a highly adaptable member of the Anopheles gambiae complex, poses a challenge for control efforts due to its outdoor biting and resting behaviour. Consequently, indoor insecticide-based control methods are ineffective against An. arabiensis. Furthermore, An. arabiensis are adapting to breeding in polluted waters, and may be contributing to residual malaria and malaria in urban areas. There have been some advances in understanding the effect of rural pollutants on Anopheles mosquitoes, but the effect of urban pollutants is poorly understood. Thus, in this study, the effect of acidic pollutants [nitric acid (HNO3) and hydrochloric acid (HCl)] and alkaline pollutants (phosphate-free and phosphate-containing detergent) on two laboratory-reared An. arabiensis strains - an insecticide susceptible strain (SENN) and an insecticide-resistant strain selected from SENN (SENN-DDT) - were determined.

RESULTS

The median lethal concentration (LC50) and larval exposure on larval development, adult longevity and insecticide tolerance were evaluated. Nitric acid and phosphate-containing detergent were found to be more toxic than HCl and phosphate-free detergent in terms of LC50 values. Detergent exposure (both phosphate-containing and phosphate-free) increased adult longevity of both strains. Nitric acid reduced larval development time in both SENN and SENN-DDT, whereas HCl reduced larval development time in SENN only. By contrast, both phosphate-containing and phosphate-free detergents increased larval development time of both strains. Furthermore, HNO3 and phosphate-containing detergent increased insecticide tolerance the most.

CONCLUSION

The two An. arabiensis strains responded to urban pollutants differently. Thus, this study provides insight into the adaptation of An. arabiensis to acidic and alkaline urban pollutants. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Generation of specific immune memory by bacterial exposure in the major malaria vector Anopheles arabiensis (Diptera: Culicidae)

There is a growing body of evidence that invertebrates can generate improved secondary responses after a primary challenge. This immunological memory can be primed by a range of pathogens, including bacteria. The generation of immunological memory has been demonstrated in mosquitoes, with the memory primed by a range of initial stimuli. This study aimed to examine whether insecticide resistance affects the capacity to generate immunological memory. The primary hypothesis was tested by examining the capacity of genetically related laboratory-reared Anopheles arabiensis strains that differ by insecticide resistant phenotype to generate immunological memory. The competing hypothesis tested was that the bacterial virulence was the key determinant in generating immunological memory. Immune memory was generated in F1 females but not males. Immunological memory was demonstrated in both laboratory strains, but the efficacy differed by the insecticide resistant phenotype of the strain. An initial oral challenge provided by a blood meal resulted generated better memory than an oral challenge by sugar. The efficacy of memory generation between the two bacterial strains differed between the two mosquito strains. Regardless of the challenge, the two strains differed in their capacity to generate memory. This study therefore demonstrated that insecticide resistant phenotype affected the capacity of the two strains to generate immunological memory. Although this study needs to be replicated with wild mosquitoes, it does suggest that a potential role for insecticide resistance in the functioning of the immune system and memory generation of An. arabiensis.

A bioassay method validation framework for laboratory and semi-field tests used to evaluate vector control tools

Vector control interventions play a fundamental role in the control and elimination of vector-borne diseases. The evaluation of vector control products relies on bioassays, laboratory and semi-field tests using live insects to assess the product's effectiveness. Bioassay method development requires a rigorous validation process to ensure that relevant methods are used to capture appropriate entomological endpoints which accurately and precisely describe likely efficacy against disease vectors as well as product characteristics within the manufacturing tolerance ranges for insecticide content specified by the World Health Organization. Currently, there are no standardized guidelines for bioassay method validation in vector control. This report presents a framework for bioassay validation that draws on accepted validation processes from the chemical and healthcare fields and which can be applied for evaluating bioassays and semi-field tests in vector control. The validation process has been categorized into four stages: preliminary development; feasibility experiments; internal validation, and external validation. A properly validated method combined with an appropriate experimental design and data analyses that account for both the variability of the method and the product is needed to generate reliable estimates of product efficacy to ensure that at-risk communities have timely access to safe and reliable vector control products.

Transfluthrin and Metofluthrin as Effective Repellents against Pyrethroid-Susceptible and Pyrethroid-Resistant Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae)

Aedes aegypti is a major vector of dengue fever in tropical regions. Spatial repellents (SRs) have shown promise in delaying pesticide resistance. Methods for discriminating concentrations (DCs) are well established using various bioassay tools, while data for high-throughput screening system (HITSS) toxicity bioassay (TOX) are absent. In this study, we compared and optimized lethal (LCs) and sub-lethal concentrations (SLCs) of transfluthrin (TFT) and metofluthrin (MFT) on pyrethroid-susceptible (USDA) and pyrethroid-resistant (Pu-Teuy) Ae. aegypti (L.) strains, using the HITSS-TOX. Mean mortality (MT) was 100% at LC99 and DC, compared to LC50 (45.0 ± 3.7%) and LC75 (65.8 ± 7.0%) for the USDA strain. However, the resistant strain (Pu-Teuy) showed reduced susceptibility against TFT and a significantly lower MT at LC50 (12.5 ± 4.4%; t = 5.665, df = 10, p < 0.001), LC75 (9.2 ± 3.5%; t = 4.844, df = 10, p = 0.001), LC99 (55.0 ± 9.9%; t = 4.538, df = 5, p = 0.006), and DC (75.0 ± 5.2%; U = 3.0, p = 0.007). The DC of TFT (0.15222%) was 4.7-fold higher than for MFT (0.03242%) in USDA strain. The baseline DCs established are useful to better understand susceptibility and the efficacy of various repellents against field populations of Ae. aegypti.

Manure and mosquitoes: life history traits of two malaria vector species enhanced by larval exposure to cow dung, whilst chicken dung has a strong negative effect

BACKGROUND

Malaria vectors have a strong ecological association with rice agroecosystems, which can provide abundant aquatic habitats for larval development. Climate-adapted rice cultivation practices, such as the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), are gaining popularity in malaria-endemic countries seeking to expand rice production; however, the potential impact of these practices on vector populations has not been well characterised. In particular, SRI encourages the use of organic fertilisers (OFs), such as animal manures, as low-cost and environmentally friendly alternatives to industrially produced inorganic fertilisers. We therefore set out to understand the effects of two common manure-based OFs on the life history traits of two major African malaria vectors, Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto (s.s.).

METHODS

Larvae of An. arabiensis and An. gambiae s.s. were reared from first instar to emergence in water containing either cow or chicken dung at one of four concentrations (0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0 g/100 ml), or in a clean water control. Their life history traits were recorded, including survival, development rate, adult production, and adult wing length.

RESULTS

Exposure to cow dung significantly increased the development rate of An. gambiae s.s. independent of concentration, but did not affect the overall survival and adult production of either species. Chicken dung, however, significantly reduced survival and adult production in both species, with a greater effect as concentration increased. Interestingly, An. arabiensis exhibited a relative tolerance to the lowest chicken dung concentration, in that survival was unaffected and adult production was not reduced to the same extent as in An. gambiae s.s. The effects of chicken dung on development rate were less clear in both species owing to high larval mortality overall, though there was some indication that it may reduce development rate. Adult wing lengths in males and females increased with higher concentrations of both cow and chicken dung.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that manure-based OFs significantly alter the life history traits of An. gambiae s.s. and An. arabiensis. In both species, exposure to cow dung may improve fitness, whereas exposure to chicken dung may reduce it. These findings have implications for understanding vector population dynamics in rice agroecosystems and may inform the use of OFs in SRI, and rice agriculture more widely, to avoid their adverse effects in enhancing vector fitness.

Natural plant diet impacts phenotypic expression of pyrethroid resistance in Anopheles mosquitoes

Success in reducing malaria transmission through vector control is threatened by insecticide resistance in mosquitoes. Although the proximal molecular mechanisms and genetic determinants involved are well documented, little is known about the influence of the environment on mosquito resistance to insecticides. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of plant sugar feeding on the response of Anopheles gambiae sensu lato to insecticides. Adults were fed with one of four treatments, namely a 5% glucose control solution, nectariferous flowers of Barleria lupulina, of Cascabela thevetia and a combination of both B. lupulina + C. thevetia. WHO tube tests were performed with 0.05% and 0.5% deltamethrin, and knockdown rate (KD) and the 24 h mosquito mortality were measured. Plant diet significantly influenced mosquito KD rate at both concentrations of deltamethrin. Following exposure to 0.05% deltamethrin, the B. lupulina diet induced a 2.5 fold-increase in mosquito mortality compared to 5% glucose. Species molecular identification confirmed the predominance of An. gambiae (60% of the samples) over An. coluzzii and An. arabiensis in our study area. The kdr mutation L1014F displayed an allelic frequency of 0.75 and was positively associated with increased phenotypic resistance to deltamethrin. Plant diet, particularly B. lupulina, increased the susceptibility of mosquitoes to insecticides. The finding that B. lupulina-fed control individuals (i.e. not exposed to deltamethrin) also displayed increased 24 h mortality suggests that plant-mediated effects may be driven by a direct effect of plant diet on mosquito survival rather than indirect effects through interference with insecticide-resistance mechanisms. Thus, some plant species may weaken mosquitoes, making them less vigorous and more vulnerable to the insecticide. There is a need for further investigation, using a wider range of plant species and insecticides, in combination with other relevant environmental factors, to better understand the expression and evolution of insecticide resistance.

Reviewing the WHO Tube Bioassay Methodology: Accurate Method Reporting and Numbers of Mosquitoes Are Key to Producing Robust Results

Accurately monitoring insecticide resistance in target mosquito populations is important for combating malaria and other vector-borne diseases, and robust methods are key. The "WHO susceptibility bioassay" has been available from the World Health Organization for 60+ years: mosquitoes of known physiological status are exposed to a discriminating concentration of insecticide. Several changes to the test procedures have been made historically, which may seem minor but could impact bioassay results. The published test procedures and literature for this method were reviewed for methodological details. Areas where there was room for interpretation in the test procedures or where the test procedures were not being followed were assessed experimentally for their impact on bioassay results: covering or uncovering of the tube end during exposure; the number of mosquitoes per test unit; and mosquito age. Many publications do not cite the most recent test procedures; methodological details are reported which contradict the test procedures referenced, or methodological details are not fully reported. As a result, the precise methodology is unclear. Experimental testing showed that using fewer than the recommended 15-30 mosquitoes per test unit significantly reduced mortality, covering the exposure tube had no significant effect, and using mosquitoes older than 2-5 days old increased mortality, particularly in the resistant strain. Recommendations are made for improved reporting of experimental parameters.

Strain Characterisation for Measuring Bioefficacy of ITNs Treated with Two Active Ingredients (Dual-AI ITNs): Developing a Robust Protocol by Building Consensus

Durability monitoring of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) containing a pyrethroid in combination with a second active ingredient (AI) must be adapted so that the insecticidal bioefficacy of each AI can be monitored independently. An effective way to do this is to measure rapid knock down of a pyrethroid-susceptible strain of mosquitoes to assess the bioefficacy of the pyrethroid component and to use a pyrethroid-resistant strain to measure the bioefficacy of the second ingredient. To allow robust comparison of results across tests within and between test facilities, and over time, protocols for bioefficacy testing must include either characterisation of the resistant strain, standardisation of the mosquitoes used for bioassays, or a combination of the two. Through a series of virtual meetings, key stakeholders and practitioners explored different approaches to achieving these goals. Via an iterative process we decided on the preferred approach and produced a protocol consisting of characterising mosquitoes used for bioefficacy testing before and after a round of bioassays, for example at each time point in a durability monitoring study. We present the final protocol and justify our approach to establishing a standard methodology for durability monitoring of ITNs containing pyrethroid and a second AI.

Characterisation of the epigenetic architecture of the major malaria vector Anopheles arabiensis (Diptera: Culicidae) after treatment with epigenetic modulators and heavy metals

Anopheles arabiensis (a member of the An. gambiae species complex) is a major vector of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite its disease vector status, there is currently a paucity of epigenetic information for this species. The aim this study was therefore to analyse global epigenetic markers and their response to metal exposure in insecticide susceptible and resistant laboratory strains of An. arabiensis. This was done using commercially available epigenetic marker quantification kits. In order to validate the efficacy of the kits, several kits were assessed to determine whether changes induced by known epigenetic modulators were detectable using these platforms. The efficacy of the dosages used were determined by examining the effect of the dosages used on insecticide resistant phenotypes. Upon confirmation that the dosages used were sufficient to induce a phenotypic change, the effect on epigenetic markers was assessed. Commercial kits were used to quantify 5-methylcysteine (5-mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcysteine (5-hmC) methylation in DNA, m6A methylation in mRNA as well as Histone Acetyl Transferase (HAT) activity. There was a marked difference in the phenotypic response in adult mosquitoes of the insecticide susceptible strain compared to that of its' resistant counterpart. For males and females of the resistant strain, exposure to nucleic acid modifying drugs typically increased their tolerance to insecticides. The patterns of changes in 5-mC methylation by epigenetic modulators was congruent with previous studies which quantified by mass spectrometry. The two strains differed in methylation patterns under control conditions and responded differentially to larval metal exposure. In the resistant strain, which previously was demonstrated to show increased detoxification enzyme activity and insecticide tolerance after the same treatment, the potential increase in transcriptional activity appeared to be modulated by reduced methylation and increased HAT activity. This study suggests that the commercial epigenetic quantification kits can be used to characterise phenotypic changes in An. arabiensis, and also shows that epigenetic regulation of the response to metal exposure is regulated at the DNA as opposed to the RNA level.

The dynamic gut microbiota of zoophilic members of the Anopheles gambiae complex (Diptera: Culicidae)

The gut microbiota of mosquitoes plays a critical role in the life history of the animal. There is a growing body of research characterising the gut microbiota of a range of mosquito species, but there is still a paucity of information on some members of the Anopheles gambiae complex. In this study, the gut microbiota of four laboratory strains were characterised. SENN (Anopheles arabiensis-insecticide susceptible major vector), SENN DDT (Anopheles arabiensis-insecticide resistant major vector), MAFUS (Anopheles merus-minor vector) and SANGWE (Anopheles quadriannulatus-non-vector) were used in this study. The microbiota of fourth instar larvae, 3-day old, 15-day old non-blood fed and 15-day old blood fed females were characterised by MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy and 16 s rRNA gene sequencing by next generation sequencing. The four strains differed in species richness but not diversity. The major vectors differ in β-diversity from that of the minor and non-vectors. There was no difference in α- or β-diversity in 15 non-blood fed females and 15-day old females that had 3 blood meals before day 15. These differences may be related to a mixture of the effect of insecticide resistance phenotype as well as a potential relationship to vector competence to a limited extent. Bacterial diversity is affected by species and age. There is also a potential relationship between the differences in gut microbiota and capacity to transmit parasites. This genetic background of the mosquitoes, however, play a major role, and must be considered in this relationship.

The Residual Efficacy of SumiShield™ 50WG and K-Othrine® WG250 IRS Formulations Applied to Different Building Materials against Anopheles and Aedes Mosquitoes

Insecticides with novel modes of action are required to complement the pyrethroids currently relied upon for controlling malaria vectors. One example of this is the neonicotinoid clothianidin, the active ingredient in the indoor residual spray (IRS) SumiShield™ 50WG. In a preliminary experiment, the mortality of insecticide-susceptible and resistant An. gambiae adults exposed to filter papers treated with this IRS product reached 80% by 3 days post-exposure and 100% by 6 days post-exposure. Next, cement, wood, and mud tiles were treated with the clothianidin or a deltamethrin-based IRS formulation (K-Othrine WG250). Insecticide resistant and susceptible Anopheles and Aedes were exposed to these surfaces periodically for up to 18 months. Pyrethroid resistant Cx. quinquefasciatus was also exposed at 9 months. Between exposures, tiles were stored in heat and relative humidity conditions reflecting those found in the field. On these surfaces, the clothianidin IRS was effective at killing both susceptible and resistant An. gambiae for 18 months post-treatment, while mortality amongst the resistant strains when exposed to the deltamethrin IRS was not above that of the negative control. Greater efficacy of clothianidin was also demonstrated against insecticide resistant strains of An. funestus compared to deltamethrin, though the potency was lower when compared with An. gambiae. In general, higher efficacy of the clothianidin IRS was observed on cement and mud compared to wood, though it demonstrated poorer residual activity against Ae.aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus.

Effect of Larval Food Availability on Adult Aedes Aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) Fitness and Susceptibility to Zika Infection

Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) is a mosquito species of significant medical importance. The use of this vector in research studies usually requires a large number of mosquitoes as well as rearing and maintenance in a laboratory-controlled environment. However, laboratory conditions may be different from field environments, presenting stressful challenges such as low food concentration, especially during larval stages, which may, in turn, impair vector biology. Therefore, we tested herein if larval food availability (0.004, 0.009, 0.020, and 0.070% diets) would affect overall adult insect fitness. We observed slower development in mosquitoes fed a 0.004% diet 15 d post-eclosion (DPE) and shorter mean time in mosquitoes fed a 0.020% diet (7 DPE). Larval diet and adult mosquito weight were positively correlated, and heavier females fed higher larval diets exhibited greater blood feeding capacity and oviposition. In addition, larval diet concentrations led to median adult lifespan variations (male/female in days-0.004%: 30 ± 1.41, 45 ± 1.3; 0.009%: 31.5 ± 1.33, 41 ± 1.43; 0.020%: 26 ± 1.18, 41 ± 1.45; 0.070%: 29 ± 1.07, 44 ± 1.34), reduced tolerance to deltamethrin (1 mg/m2) and changes in detoxification enzyme activities. Moreover, in the larval 0.070% diet, females presented higher Zika susceptibility (plaque-forming unit [PFU]: 1.218 × 106) compared with other diets (0.004%: 1.31 × 105; 0.009%: 2.0 × 105; 0.020%: 1.25 × 105 PFU). Altogether, our study demonstrates that larval diet restriction results not only in larval developmental arrest but also in adult fitness impairment, which must be considered in future assessments.

Identifying the fitness costs of a pyrethroid-resistant genotype in the major arboviral vector Aedes aegypti

Background

Effective vector control measures are essential in a world where many mosquito-borne diseases have no vaccines or drug therapies available. Insecticidal tools remain the mainstay of most vector-borne disease management programmes, although their use for both agricultural and public health purposes has resulted in selection for resistance. Despite this, little is known about the fitness costs associated with specific insecticide-resistant genotypes and their implications for the management of resistance. In Aedes aegypti, the primary vector of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika, the best-characterised resistance mechanisms are single-point mutations that protect the voltage-gated sodium channel from the action of pyrethroids.

Methods

We evaluated the fitness cost of two co-occurring, homozygous mutations (V1016G and S989P) by back-crossing a resistant strain of A. aegypti from Timor-Leste into a fully susceptible strain from Queensland. The creation of the backcross strain allowed us to isolate these kdr mutations in an otherwise susceptible genetic background.

Results

In comparison to the susceptible strain, the backcrossed colony exhibited longer larval development times (5 days, P < 0.001), 24% fewer mosquitoes reached the adult stage (P = 0.005), had smaller wing lengths (females, P = 0.019 and males, P = 0.007) and adult female mosquitoes had a shorter average lifespan (6 days, P < 0.0006).

Conclusions

These results suggest specific and significant fitness costs associated with the double homozygous V1016G/S989P genotype in the absence of insecticides. The susceptibility of a population may recover if the fitness costs of resistant genotypes can be emphasised through the use of insecticide rotations and mosaics or the presence of untreated spatial or temporal refuges.

Effects of larval exposure to sublethal doses of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis on body size, oviposition and survival of adult Anopheles coluzzii mosquitoes

BACKGROUND

Application of the larvicide Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bti) is a viable complementary strategy for malaria control. Efficacy of Bti is dose-dependent. There is a knowledge gap on the effects of larval exposure to sublethal Bti doses on emerging adult mosquitoes. The present study examined the effect of larval exposure to sublethal doses of Bti on the survival, body size and oviposition rate in adult Anopheles coluzzii.

METHODS

Third-instar An. coluzzii larvae were exposed to control and sublethal Bti concentrations at LC20, LC50 and LC70 for 48 h. Surviving larvae were reared to adults under standard colony conditions. Thirty randomly selected females from each treatment were placed in separate cages and allowed to blood feed. Twenty-five gravid females from the blood-feeding cages were randomly selected and transferred into new cages where they were provided with oviposition cups. Numbers of eggs laid in each cage and mortality of all adult mosquitoes were recorded daily. Wing lengths were measured of 570 mosquitoes as a proxy for body size.

RESULTS

Exposure to LC70Bti doses for 48 h as third-instar larvae reduced longevity of adult An. coluzzii mosquitoes. Time to death was 2.58 times shorter in females exposed to LC70Bti when compared to the control females. Estimated mortality hazard rates were also higher in females exposed to the LC50 and LC20 treatments, but these differences were not statistically significant. The females exposed to LC70 concentrations had 12% longer wings than the control group (P < 0.01). No differences in oviposition rate of the gravid females were observed between the treatments.

CONCLUSIONS

Exposure of An. coluzzii larvae to sublethal Bti doses reduces longevity of resultant adults and is associated with larger adult size and unclear effect on oviposition. These findings suggest that anopheline larval exposure to sublethal Bti doses, though not recommended, could reduce vectorial capacity for malaria vector populations by increasing mortality of resultant adults.

Effects of inorganic fertilizer on larval development, adult longevity and insecticide susceptibility in the malaria vector Anopheles arabiensis (Diptera: Culicidae)

BACKGROUND

Exposure to inorganic fertilizer is common for the major malaria vector Anopheles arabiensis, which is closely associated with agricultural activities. The aim of this study was to understand if insecticide susceptible and resistant individuals respond to fertilizer exposure in the same manner. Two laboratory strains, SENN, an insecticide susceptible strain, and SENN-DDT, an insecticide resistant strain selected strain selected from SENN, were used in this study. Both strains were exposed to one of three concentrations of a combination nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (NPK) inorganic fertilizer, as well as nitrogenous (urea), phosphorus (superphosphate) and kaelic (potassium chloride, KCl) elemental fertilizer. The time to pupation was monitored, adult longevity was assessed and the insecticide tolerance of adults was determined. The effect of elemental fertilizers on ovipositioning site choice was also assessed.

RESULTS

For both strains, urea increased the number of eggs laid, while superphosphate resulted in a significant decrease in egg laying. Larval NPK exposure decreased the time to pupation in the SENN strain but not in SENN-DDT. Urea exposure increased the time to pupation in both strains, while KCl decreased the time to pupation in both strains. Larval NPK exposure only affected adult male longevity at high concentrations. Larval exposure to NPK and KCl resulted in increased insecticide tolerance in both strains, with variable efficacy from strain to strain.

CONCLUSION

Exposure to inorganic fertilizers has a greater effect on insecticide susceptible An. arabiensis as compared to resistant strains, where the primary advantage is increased insecticide tolerance. These data also demonstrate that larval fertilizer exposure can affect fecundity and fertility, and alter the life histories of adult An. arabiensis. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Consequences of larval competition and exposure to permethrin for the development of the rodent malaria Plasmodium berghei in the mosquito Anopheles gambiae

Background

Mosquitoes and other vectors are often exposed to sublethal doses of insecticides. Larvae can be exposed to the run-off of agricultural use, and adults can be irritated by insecticides used against them and move away before they have picked up a lethal dose. This sublethal exposure may affect the success of control of insect-borne diseases, for it may affect the competence of insects to transmit parasites, in particular if the insects are undernourished.

Methods

We assessed how exposure of larvae and adults to a sublethal dose of permethrin (a pyrethroid) and how larval competition for food affect several aspects of the vector competence of the mosquito Anopheles gambiae for the malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei. We infected mosquitoes with P. berghei and measured the longevity and the prevalence and intensity of infection to test for an effect of our treatments.

Results

Our general result was that the exposure to the insecticide helped mosquitoes deal with infection by malaria. Exposure of either larvae or adults decreased the likelihood that mosquitoes were infected by about 20%, but did not effect the parasite load. Exposure also increased the lifespan of infected mosquitoes, but only if they had been reared in competition. Larval competition had no effect on the prevalence of infection, but increased parasite load. These effects may be a consequence of the machinery governing oxidative stress, which underlies the responses of mosquitoes to insecticides, to food stress and to parasites.

Conclusions

We conclude that insecticide residues are likely to affect the ability of mosquitoes to carry and transmit pathogens such as malaria, irrespective of the stage at which they are exposed to the insecticide. Our results stress the need for further studies to consider sublethal doses in the context of vector ecology and vector-borne disease epidemiology.

Habitat characteristics and insecticide susceptibility of Aedes aegypti in the Ifakara area, south-eastern Tanzania

BACKGROUND

Aedes-borne diseases such as dengue and chikungunya constitute constant threats globally. In Tanzania, these diseases are transmitted by Aedes aegypti, which is widely distributed in urban areas, but whose ecology remains poorly understood in small towns and rural settings.

METHODS

A survey of Ae. aegypti aquatic habitats was conducted in and around Ifakara, a fast-growing town in south-eastern Tanzania. The study area was divided into 200 × 200 m search grids, and habitats containing immature Aedes were characterized. Field-collected Ae. aegypti were tested for susceptibility to common public health insecticides (deltamethrin, permethrin, bendiocarb and pirimiphos-methyl) in the dry and rainy seasons.

RESULTS

Of 1515 and 1933 aquatic habitats examined in the dry and rainy seasons, 286 and 283 contained Aedes immatures, respectively (container index, CI: 18.9-14.6%). In the 2315 and 2832 houses visited in the dry and rainy seasons, 114 and 186 houses had at least one Aedes-positive habitat, respectively (house index, HI: 4.9-6.6%). The main habitat types included: (i) used vehicle tires and discarded containers; (ii) flowerpots and clay pots; and (iii) holes made by residents on trunks of coconut trees when harvesting the coconuts. Used tires had highest overall abundance of Ae. aegypti immatures, while coconut tree-holes had highest densities per habitat. Aedes aegypti adults were susceptible to all tested insecticides in both seasons, except bendiocarb, against which resistance was observed in the rainy season.

CONCLUSIONS

To our knowledge, this is the first study on ecology and insecticide susceptibility of Ae. aegypti in Ifakara area, and will provide a basis for future studies on its pathogen transmission activities and control. The high infestation levels observed indicate significant risk of Aedes-borne diseases, requiring immediate action to prevent potential outbreaks in the area. While used tires, discarded containers and flowerpots are key habitats for Ae. aegypti, this study also identified coconut harvesting as an important risk factor, and the associated tree-holes as potential targets for Aedes control. Since Ae. aegypti mosquitoes in the area are still susceptible to most insecticides, effective control could be achieved by combining environmental management, preferably involving communities, habitat removal and insecticide spraying.

Second generation effects of larval metal pollutant exposure on reproduction, longevity and insecticide tolerance in the major malaria vector Anopheles arabiensis (Diptera: Culicidae)

Background

Members of the Anopheles gambiae complex breed in clean, sunlit temporary bodies of water. Anthropogenic pollution is, however, altering the breeding sites of the vectors with numerous biological effects. Although the effects of larval metal pollution have previously been examined, this study aims to assess the transgenerational effects of larval metal pollution on the major malaria vector An. arabiensis.

Methods

Two laboratory strains of An. arabiensis, SENN (insecticide-susceptible) and SENN-DDT (insecticide-resistant), were used in this study. After being bred in water polluted with either cadmium chloride, copper nitrate or lead nitrate, several life history characteristics that can have epidemiological implications (fertility, apoptotic damage to reproductive structures, adult longevity and insecticide tolerance) were examined in the adults and compared to those of adults bred in clean water.

Results

All metal treatments reduced fecundity in SENN, but only lead treatment reduced fertility in SENN-DDT. Cadmium chloride exposure resulted in apoptosis and deformation of the testes in both strains. After breeding generation F0 in polluted water, F1 larvae bred in clean water showed an increase in longevity in SENN-DDT adult females. In contrast, after breeding the F0 generation in polluted water, longevity was reduced after cadmium and copper exposure in the F1 generation. Larval metal exposure resulted in an increase in insecticide tolerance in adults of the SENN strain, with SENN-DDT adults gaining the greatest fold increase in insecticide tolerance.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that a single exposure to metal pollution can have transgenerational effects that are not negated by subsequent breeding in clean water.

Effects of carbohydrate types on larval development and adult traits in a polyphagous fruit fly

Nutrition is a major mediator of insect life-history trait expression. While the role of macronutrient (carbohydrate and protein) balance on trait expression has received substantial attention, the implications of different classes of specific macronutrients remains virtually unexplored. Here, we addressed this gap by varying the type of carbohydrate in larval diets of the polyphagous fruit fly Bactrocera tryoni (aka 'Queensland fruit fly'). Sourcing insects from a colony maintained using larval diets that contain sucrose, we assessed the effects of sucrose, maltose, and lactose on larval development and adult traits. Replacement of sucrose with lactose resulted in slow larval growth, as well as decreases in pupation, adult emergence and adult body weight for both sexes, although adult lipid reserves were unaffected. Sucrose and maltose were equivalent in terms of larval growth, pupation, adult emergence and adult weight of both sexes. Surprisingly, adults from larvae reared on diets containing maltose had lower lipid reserves than adults from larvae reared on diets containing either lactose or sucrose. The sex ratio of adults at emergence from larvae reared on diets containing lactose and maltose was balanced, but was female-biased in adults from larvae reared on diets containing sucrose. Our results show that carbohydrate sources are not equivalent for development of the Queensland fruit fly, affecting both larval development and adult traits. These findings have implications for understanding the ecology of this highly polyphagous species which infests fruits with highly diverse carbohydrate contents, as well as for the rearing and management of this pest species.

Nicotinamide and Demographic and Disease transitions: Moderation is Best

Good health and rapid progress depend on an optimal dose of nicotinamide. Too little meat triggers the neurodegenerative condition pellagra and tolerance of symbionts such as tuberculosis (TB), risking dysbioses and impaired resistance to acute infections. Nicotinamide deficiency is an overlooked diagnosis in poor cereal-dependant economies masquerading as 'environmental enteropathy' or physical and cognitive stunting. Too much meat (and supplements) may precipitate immune intolerance and autoimmune and allergic disease, with relative infertility and longevity, via the tryptophan-nicotinamide pathway. This switch favours a dearth of regulatory T (Treg) and an excess of T helper cells. High nicotinamide intake is implicated in cancer and Parkinson's disease. Pro-fertility genes, evolved to counteract high-nicotinamide-induced infertility, may now be risk factors for degenerative disease. Moderation of the dose of nicotinamide could prevent some common diseases and personalised doses at times of stress or, depending on genetic background or age, may treat some other conditions.

The contribution of gut bacteria to insecticide resistance and the life histories of the major malaria vector Anopheles arabiensis (Diptera: Culicidae)

The gut microbiota of mosquitoes is a crucial determinant of their fitness. As such, the biology of the gut microbiota of Anopheles arabiensis, a major malaria vector of Southern Africa, was investigated. Two laboratory strains of An. arabiensis were used; SENN, an insecticide susceptible strain, and SENN-DDT, a resistant strain. The strains were supplemented with either non-commensal bacteria or antibiotics via a sucrose source to sterilize the gut. The strains were fed the broad-spectrum bactericidal antibiotic gentamicin, or a preferentially gram-positive bactericidal (vancomycin), gram-negative bactericidal (streptomycin) or broad-spectrum bacteriostatic (erythromycin), either by sugar supplementation or by artificially-spiked blood-meal. The effects on adult mosquito longevity and insecticide resistance phenotype were assessed. Bacteria from the midgut of both strains were characterised by MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy. Bactericidal antibiotics increased longevity in SENN-DDT. Bacterial supplementation increased insecticide tolerance. Antibiotic supplementation via sugar decreased tolerance to the insecticides deltamethrin and malathion. Blood-supplemented vancomycin decreased insecticide resistance, while gentamicin and streptomycin increased resistance. SENN showed a greater gut bacterial diversity than SENN-DDT, with both strains dominated by Gram-negative bacteria. This study suggests a crucial role for bacteria in An. arabiensis life history, and that gut microflora play variable roles in insecticide resistant and susceptible mosquitoes.

The effects of larval organic fertiliser exposure on the larval development, adult longevity and insecticide tolerance of zoophilic members of the Anopheles gambiae complex (Diptera: Culicidae)

Zoophilic members of the Anopheles gambiae complex are often associated with cattle. As such, it is likely that the immature aquatic stages will be exposed to cattle faeces as a pollutant. This study aimed to examine the effect of cattle manure on members of the An. gambiae complex found in South Africa. In this study, a commercial organic fertiliser originating from cattle manure was used as a proxy for cattle faeces. Laboratory strains of An. merus, An. quadriannulatus as well as four An. arabiensis strains (SENN and MBN: insecticide susceptible, MBN-DDT: insecticide resistant, unselected, SENN-DDT: insecticide resistant: selected for resistance) were used in this study. The effect of larval fertiliser exposure on larval development rate and adult longevity was assessed in all three species. The effect of larval fertiliser exposure on subsequent adult size, insecticide tolerance and detoxification enzyme activity of the four strains of the malaria vector An. arabiensis was also assessed. Following fertiliser treatment, all strains and species showed a significantly increased rate of larval development, with insecticide susceptible strains gaining the greatest advantage. The adult longevities of An. merus, An. quadriannulatus, insecticide susceptible and resistant An. arabiensis were significantly increased following fertiliser treatment. Insecticide susceptible and resistant An. arabiensis adults were significantly larger after larval organic fertiliser exposure. Larval fertiliser exposure also increased insecticide tolerance in adult An. arabiensis, particularly in the insecticide resistant, selected strain. This 4.7 fold increase in deltamethrin tolerance translated to an increase in pyrethroid resistance intensity, which could exert operational effects. In general, larval exposure to cattle faeces significantly affects the life histories of members of the An. gambiae complex.

Larval foraging decisions in competitive heterogeneous environments accommodate diets that support egg-to-adult development in a polyphagous fly

In holometabolous insects, larval nutrition is a key factor underpinning development and fitness. Heterogeneity in the nutritional environment and larval competition can force larvae to forage in suboptimal diets, with potential downstream fitness effects. Little is known about how larvae respond to competitive heterogeneous environments, and whether variation in these responses affects current and next generations. Here, we designed nutritionally heterogeneous foraging arenas by modifying nutrient concentration, where groups of the polyphagous fruit fly Bactrocera tryoni could forage freely at various levels of larval competition. Larval foraging preferences were highly consistent and independent of larval competition, with greatest foraging propensity for high (100%) followed by intermediate (80% and 60%) nutrient concentration diets, and avoidance of lower concentration diets (less than 60%). We then used these larval preferences (i.e. 100%, 80% and 60% diets) in fitness assays in which larvae competition was maintained constant, and showed that nutrient concentrations selected by the larvae in the foraging trials had no effect on fitness-related traits such as egg hatching and pupation success, adult flight ability, sex ratio, percentage of emergence, nor on adult cold tolerance, fecundity and next-generation pupal weight. These results support the idea that polyphagous species can exploit diverse hosts and nutritional conditions with minimal fitness costs to thrive in new environments.

Regional variation in life history traits and plastic responses to temperature of the major malaria vector Nyssorhynchus darlingi in Brazil

The primary Brazilian malaria vector, Nyssorhynchus darlingi (formerly Anopheles darlingi), ranges from 0°S-23°S across three biomes (Amazonia, Cerrado, Mata Atlântica). Rising temperatures will increase mosquito developmental rates, and models predict future malaria transmission by Ny. darlingi in Brazil will shift southward. We reared F1 Ny. darlingi (progeny of field-collected females from 4 state populations across Brazil) at three temperatures (20, 24, 28 °C) and measured key life-history traits. Our results reveal geographic variation due to both genetic differences among localities and plastic responses to temperature differences. Temperature significantly altered all traits: faster larval development, shorter adult life and overall lifespan, and smaller body sizes were seen at 28 °C versus 20 °C. Low-latitude Amazonia mosquitoes had the fastest larval development at all temperatures, but at 28 °C, average development rate of high-latitude Mata Atlântica mosquitoes was accelerated and equivalent to low-latitude Amazonia. Body size of adult mosquitoes from the Mata Atlântica remained larger at all temperatures. We detected genetic variation in the plastic responses among mosquitoes from different localities, with implications for malaria transmission under climate change. Faster development combined with larger body size, without a tradeoff in adult longevity, suggests vectorial capacities of some Mata Atlântica populations may significantly increase under warming climates.

The effect of commercial herbicide exposure on the life history and insecticide resistance phenotypes of the major malaria vector Anopheles arabiensis (Diptera: culicidae)

Herbicides, such as atrazine and glyphosate, are common agrochemicals known to pollute surface ground water. As such, aquatic invertebrates associated with agricultural activities can be exposed to varying doses of these xenobiotics. Anopheles arabiensis, a major malaria vector species in southern Africa, is often closely associated with agricultural activities. This study aimed to examine the effects of larval atrazine or glyphosate exposure on larval and adult life history traits on two laboratory strains of An. arabiensis; one insecticide susceptible (SENN), the other selected for resistance (SENN DDT). Atrazine delayed time to pupation in both strains, but markedly more so in SENN DDT. Glyphosate treatment reduced time to pupation in SENN DDT. Larval atrazine exposure decreased adult longevity in SENN, while both herbicide treatments significantly increased adult longevity in SENN DDT. Larval glyphosate exposure was the more potent enhancer of insecticide tolerance in adult mosquitoes. In SENN DDT, it reduced deltamethrin and malathion-induced mortality, and the LT50 s for these insecticides were increased in association with herbicide exposure. Glyphosate exposure also increased the LT50 s for malathion and deltamethrin in SENN. Exposure to both herbicides had contrasting effects on detoxification enzyme activities. Although both increased cytochrome P450 activity, they had opposite effects on those enzymes involved in reactive oxygen species detoxification. Glyphosate decreased glutathione S-transferase activity, but increased catalase activity with atrazine having the opposite effect. This study demonstrates that larval exposure to the herbicides atrazine and glyphosate can affect the insecticide susceptibilities and life history traits of epidemiological importance in An. arabiensis, with glyphosate being the more potent effector of insecticide resistance.

Effect of environmental variables and kdr resistance genotype on survival probability and infection rates in Anopheles gambiae (s.s.)

BACKGROUND

Environmental factors, especially ambient temperature and relative humidity affect both mosquitoes and malaria parasites. The early part of sporogony is most sensitive and is affected by high temperatures and temperature fluctuation immediately following ingestion of an infectious blood meal. The aim of this study was to explore whether environmental variables such as temperature, together with the presence of the kdr insecticide resistance mutations, have an impact on survival probability and infection rates in wild Anopheles gambiae (s.s.) exposed and unexposed to a pyrethroid insecticide.

METHODS

Anopheles gambiae (s.s.) were collected as larvae, reared to adults, and fed on blood samples from 42 Plasmodium falciparum-infected local patients at a health facility in mid-western Uganda, then exposed either to nets treated with sub-lethal doses of deltamethrin or to untreated nets. After seven days, surviving mosquitoes were dissected and their midguts examined for oocysts. Prevalence (proportion infected) and intensity of infection (number of oocysts per infected mosquito) were recorded for each group. Mosquito mortality was recorded daily. Temperature and humidity were recorded every 30 minutes throughout the experiments.

RESULTS

Our findings indicate that apart from the effect of deltamethrin exposure, mean daily temperature during the incubation period, temperature range during the first 24 hours and on day 4 post-infectious feed had a highly significant effect on the risk of infection. Deltamethrin exposure still significantly impaired survival of kdr homozygous mosquitoes, while mean daily temperature and relative humidity during the incubation period independently affected mosquito mortality. Significant differences in survival of resistant genotypes were detected, with the lowest survival recorded in mosquitoes with heterozygote L1014S/L1014F genotype.

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirmed that the early part of sporogony is most affected by temperature fluctuations, while environmental factors affect mosquito survival. The impact of insecticide resistance on malaria infection and vector survival needs to be assessed separately for mosquitoes with different resistance mechanisms to fully understand its implications for currently available vector control tools and malaria transmission.

Shady business: understanding the spatial ecology of exophilic Anopheles mosquitoes

Background

Understanding the ecology of exophilic anophelines is a key step toward developing outdoor control strategies to complement existing indoor control tools against malaria vectors. This study was conducted to assess the movement pattern of exophilic Anopheles mosquitoes between blood meal sources and resting habitats, and the landscape factors dictating their resting habitat choice.

Results

Resting clay pots were placed at 5 m, 25 m, 50 m, 75 m and 100 m away from isolated focal houses, radiating from them in four directions. The locations of the clay pots represent heterogeneous land cover types at a relatively fine spatial scale in the landscape. The effect of the landscape characters on the number of both female and male anophelines caught was modelled using zero-inflated negative binomial regression with a log link function. A total of 420 Anopheles mosquitoes (353 females and 67 males) belonging to three species; Anopheles arabiensis, Anopheles pharoensis, and Anopheles tenebrosus were caught in the resting clay pots, with An. arabiensis being the dominant species. Canopy cover, distance from the house, and land cover type were the significant landscape characters influencing the aggregation of resting mosquitoes. Both the count and binary models showed that canopy cover was the strongest predictor variable on the counts and the presence of Anopheles mosquitoes in the clay pots. Female Anopheles were most frequently found resting in the pots placed in banana plantations, and at sampling points that were at the greater distances (75 m and 100 m) from the focal house.

Conclusions

This study showed that exophilic Anopheles mosquitoes tend to rest in shaded areas some distance away from human habitation. These findings are important when targeting mosquitoes outdoors, complementing the existing effort being made to control malaria vectors indoors.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12936-018-2499-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Larval density mediates knockdown resistance to pyrethroid insecticides in adult Aedes aegypti

BACKGROUND

Understanding mechanisms driving insecticide resistance in vector populations remains a public health priority. To date, most research has focused on the genetic mechanisms underpinning resistance, yet it is unclear what role environmental drivers may play in shaping phenotypic expression. One of the key environmental drivers of Aedes aegypti mosquito population dynamics is resource-driven intraspecific competition at the larval stage. We experimentally investigated the role of density-dependent larval competition in mediating resistance evolution in Ae. aegypti, using knockdown resistance (kdr) as a marker of genotypic resistance and CDC bottle bioassays to determine phenotype. We reared first-instar larvae from susceptible and pyrethroid-resistant field-derived populations of Ae. aegypti at high and low density and measured the resulting phenotypic resistance and population kdr allele frequencies.

RESULTS

At low density, only 48.2% of the resistant population was knocked down, yet at high density, the population was no longer phenotypically resistant - 93% were knocked down when exposed to permethrin, which is considered susceptible according to WHO guidelines. Furthermore, the frequency of the C1534 kdr allele in the resistant population at high density decreased from 0.98 ± 0.04 to 0.69 ± 0.04 in only one generation of selection.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that larval conditions, specifically density, can impact both phenotype and genotype of pyrethroid-resistant populations. Furthermore, phenotypic susceptibility to pyrethroids may be re-established in a resistant population through a gene x environment interaction, a finding that can lead to the development of novel resistance management strategies that capitalize on density-induced costs.

The impact of temperature on insecticide toxicity against the malaria vectors Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles funestus

Background

It is anticipated that malaria elimination efforts in Africa will be hampered by increasing resistance to the limited arsenal of insecticides approved for use in public health. However, insecticide susceptibility status of vector populations evaluated under standard insectary test conditions can give a false picture of the threat, as the thermal environment in which the insect and insecticide interact plays a significant role in insecticide toxicity.

Methods

The effect of temperature on the expression of the standard WHO insecticide resistance phenotype was examined using Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles funestus strains: a susceptible strain and the derived resistant strain, selected in the laboratory for resistance to DDT or pyrethroids. The susceptibility of mosquitoes to the pyrethroid deltamethrin or the carbamate bendiocarb was assessed at 18, 25 or 30 °C. The ability of the pyrethroid synergist piperonyl-butoxide (PBO) to restore pyrethroid susceptibility was also assessed at these temperatures.

Results

Temperature impacted the toxicity of deltamethrin and bendiocarb. Although the resistant An. funestus strain was uniformly resistant to deltamethrin across temperatures, increasing temperature increased the resistance of the susceptible An. arabiensis strain. Against susceptible An. funestus and resistant An. arabiensis females, deltamethrin exposure at temperatures both lower and higher than standard insectary conditions increased mortality. PBO exposure completely restored deltamethrin susceptibility at all temperatures. Bendiocarb displayed a consistently positive temperature coefficient against both susceptible and resistant An. funestus strains, with survival increasing as temperature increased.

Conclusions

Environmental temperature has a marked effect on the efficacy of insecticides used in public health against important African malaria vectors. Caution must be exercised when drawing conclusions about a chemical’s efficacy from laboratory assays performed at only one temperature, as phenotypic resistance can vary significantly even over a temperature range that could be experienced by mosquitoes in the field during a single day. Similarly, it might be inappropriate to assume equal efficacy of a control tool over a geographic area where local conditions vary drastically. Additional studies into the effects of temperature on the efficacy of insecticide-based interventions under field conditions are warranted.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12936-018-2250-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Morphometric variations of two populations of Anopheles albitarsis F (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Orinoquia region, Colombia

Introducción. Anopheles albitarsis F ha sido registrada con infección natural por Plasmodium falciparum. En la Orinoquía, se encuentra en simpatría con Anopheles darlingi, un vector primario de malaria.Objetivo. Determinar variaciones morfométricas en caracteres diagnósticos de ala y pata posterior de mosquitos adultos procedentes de dos poblaciones naturales de la Orinoquía, donde la malaria constituye un problema de salud pública.Materiales y métodos. Se analizaron, mediante morfometría lineal y geométrica, los patrones de manchas de la vena Costa del ala de hembras silvestres, de hembras obtenidas de series entomológicas y de isofamilias. Se estimó la forma y el tamaño alar. El segundo tarsómero posterior se analizó por morfometría lineal.Resultados. Se observaron dos patrones de manchas de la vena Costa; se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en el tamaño y forma alar (p<0.05) entre las hembras silvestres y las obtenidas en condiciones de laboratorio. Para las poblaciones estudiadas, se proponen como caracteres diagnósticos la proporción PHD/HP de 1.17-1.19 en la vena Costa y 0.38-0.54 para la proporción DSIII2/TaIII2 del segundo tarsómero posterior de la pata posterior.Conclusión. Las poblaciones estudiadas de An. albitarsis F presentaron diferencias significativas entre las hembras silvestres y las obtenidas en condiciones de laboratorio, no solo en el tamaño de las alas, sino también en la forma. Se presentan nuevos rangos para los caracteres diagnósticos de la especie.

The effect of metal pollution on the life history and insecticide resistance phenotype of the major malaria vector Anopheles arabiensis (Diptera: Culicidae)

Metal exposure is one of the commonest anthropogenic pollutants mosquito larvae are exposed to, both in agricultural and urban settings. As members of the Anopheles gambiae complex, which contains several major malaria vector species including An. arabiensis, are increasingly adapting to polluted environments, this study examined the effects of larval metal exposure on various life history traits of epidemiological importance. Two laboratory strains of An. arabiensis, SENN (insecticide susceptible) and SENN DDT (insecticide resistant), were reared in maximum acceptable toxicity concentrations, (MATC-the highest legally accepted concentration) of cadmium chloride, lead nitrate and copper nitrate. Following these exposures, time to pupation, adult size and longevity were determined. Larvae reared in double the MATC were assessed for changes in malathion and deltamethrin tolerance, measured by lethal time bottle bioassay, as well as changes in detoxification enzyme activity. As defence against oxidative stress has previously been demonstrated to affect the expression of insecticide resistance, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activity was assessed. The relative metal toxicity to metal naïve larvae was also assessed. SENN DDT larvae were more tolerant of metal pollution than SENN larvae. Pupation in SENN larvae was significantly reduced by metal exposure, while adult longevity was not affected. SENN DDT showed decreased adult size after larval metal exposure. Adult insecticide tolerance was increased after larval metal exposure, and this effect appeared to be mediated by increased β-esterase, cytochrome P450 and superoxide dismutase activity. These data suggest an enzyme-mediated positive link between tolerance to metal pollutants and insecticide resistance in adult mosquitoes. Furthermore, exposure of larvae to metal pollutants may have operational consequences under an insecticide-based vector control scenario by increasing the expression of insecticide resistance in adults.

Empirical and theoretical investigation into the potential impacts of insecticide resistance on the effectiveness of insecticide-treated bed nets

In spite of widespread insecticide resistance in vector mosquitoes throughout Africa, there is limited evidence that long‐lasting insecticidal bed nets (LLINs) are failing to protect against malaria. Here, we showed that LLIN contact in the course of host‐seeking resulted in higher mortality of resistant Anopheles spp. mosquitoes than predicted from standard laboratory exposures with the same net. We also found that sublethal contact with an LLIN caused a reduction in blood feeding and subsequent host‐seeking success in multiple lines of resistant mosquitoes from the laboratory and the field. Using a transmission model, we showed that when these LLIN‐related lethal and sublethal effects were accrued over mosquito lifetimes, they greatly reduced the impact of resistance on malaria transmission potential under conditions of high net coverage. If coverage falls, the epidemiological impact is far more pronounced. Similarly, if the intensity of resistance intensifies, the loss of malaria control increases nonlinearly. Our findings help explain why insecticide resistance has not yet led to wide‐scale failure of LLINs, but reinforce the call for alternative control tools and informed resistance management strategies.

Fine-scale spatial and temporal heterogeneities in insecticide resistance profiles of the malaria vector, Anopheles arabiensis in rural south-eastern Tanzania

Background: Programmatic monitoring of insecticide resistance in disease vectors is mostly done on a large scale, often focusing on differences between districts, regions or countries. However, local heterogeneities in residual malaria transmission imply the need for finer-scale data. This study reports small-scale variations of insecticide susceptibility in Anopheles arabiensis between three neighbouring villages across two seasons in Tanzania, where insecticidal bed nets are extensively used, but malaria transmission persists.

Methods: WHO insecticide susceptibility assays were conducted on female and male An. arabiensis from three proximal villages, Minepa, Lupiro, and Mavimba, during dry (June-December 2015) and wet (January-May 2016) seasons. Adults emerging from wild-collected larvae were exposed to 0.05% lambda-cyhalothrin, 0.05% deltamethrin, 0.75% permethrin, 4% DDT, 4% dieldrin, 0.1% bendiocarb, 0.1% propoxur, 0.25% pirimiphos-methyl and 5% malathion. A hydrolysis probe assay was used to screen for L1014F ( kdr-w) and L1014S ( kdr-e) mutations in specimens resistant to DDT or pyrethroids. Synergist assays using piperonly butoxide (PBO) and triphenol phosphate (TPP) were done to assess pyrethroid and bendiocarb resistance phenotypes.

Results: There were clear seasonal and spatial fluctuations in phenotypic resistance status in An. arabiensis to pyrethroids, DDT and bendiocarb. Pre-exposure to PBO and TPP, resulted in lower knockdown rates and higher mortalities against pyrethroids and bendiocarb, compared to tests without the synergists. Neither L1014F nor L1014S mutations were detected.

Conclusions: This study confirmed the presence of pyrethroid resistance in An. arabiensis and showed small-scale differences in resistance levels between the villages, and between seasons. Substantial, though incomplete, reversal of pyrethroid and bendiocarb resistance following pre-exposure to PBO and TPP, and absence of kdr alleles suggest involvement of P450 monooxygenases and esterases in the resistant phenotypes. We recommend, for effective resistance management, further bioassays to quantify the strength of resistance, and both biochemical and molecular analysis to elucidate specific enzymes responsible in resistance.

The effects of ingestion of hormonal host factors on the longevity and insecticide resistance phenotype of the major malaria vector Anopheles arabiensis (Diptera: Culicidae)

Exogenous vertebrate-derived factors circulating in the blood have the capacity to modulate the biology of haematophagous insects. These include insulin, insulin growth factor 1 (IGF) and transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ). The effects of the consumption of these three proteins were examined on laboratory strains of Anopheles arabiensis. SENN, an insecticide susceptible strain and SENN DDT, a resistant strain selected from SENN, were fed with host factor-supplemented sucrose. Adult longevity was measured and insecticide resistance phenotype over time was assessed by WHO bioassay. Detoxification and oxidative stress defence enzyme activity was assessed calorimetrically. Insulin supplementation augmented insecticide resistance in young adult mosquitoes. This effect was due to the hormonal nature of the protein, as heat-denatured insulin did not elicit the same response. In contrast, IGF and TGFβ consumption generally reduced the expression of insecticide resistance. Insulin ingestion significantly reduced longevity in the insecticide susceptible strain. IGF elicited the same response in the susceptible strain, while TGF consumption had no effect on either strain. Consumption of all factors significantly decreased Glutathione S-transferase activity and increased cytochrome P450 and superoxide dismutase activity. This suggests that the altered detoxification phenotype is mediated primarily by cytochrome P450 activity, which would result in an increase in oxidative stress. The increased superoxide dismutase activity suggests that this enzyme class alleviates the oxidative stress as opposed to glutathione-based redox systems. Oxidative stress responses play a crucial role in insecticide resistance and longevity. These data show that ingested hormonal factors can affect mosquito longevity and insecticide susceptibility, both of which are important characteristics in terms of malaria transmission and control.

Insecticide susceptibility of Anopheles mosquitoes changes in response to variations in the larval environment

Insecticide resistance threatens the success achieved through vector control in reducing the burden of malaria. An understanding of insecticide resistance mechanisms would help to develop novel tools and strategies to restore the efficacy of insecticides. Although we have substantially improved our understanding of the genetic basis of insecticide resistance over the last decade, we still know little of how environmental variations influence the mosquito phenotype. Here, we measured how variations in larval rearing conditions change the insecticide susceptibility phenotype of adult Anopheles mosquitoes. Anopheles gambiae and A. stephensi larvae were bred under different combinations of temperature, population density and nutrition, and the emerging adults were exposed to permethrin. Mosquitoes bred under different conditions showed considerable changes in mortality rates and body weight, with nutrition being the major factor. Weight is a strong predictor of insecticide susceptibility and bigger mosquitoes are more likely to survive insecticide treatment. The changes can be substantial, such that the same mosquito colony may be considered fully susceptible or highly resistant when judged by World Health Organization discriminatory concentrations. The results shown here emphasise the importance of the environmental background in developing insecticide resistance phenotypes, and caution for the interpretation of data generated by insecticide susceptibility assays.

The effect of elevated temperatures on the life history and insecticide resistance phenotype of the major malaria vector Anopheles arabiensis (Diptera: Culicidae)

BACKGROUND

Temperature plays a crucial role in the life history of insects. Recent climate change research has highlighted the importance of elevated temperature on malaria vector distribution. This study aims to examine the role of elevated temperatures on epidemiologically important life-history traits in the major malaria vector, Anopheles arabiensis. Specifically, the differential effects of temperature on insecticide-resistant and susceptible strains were examined.

METHODS

Two laboratory strains of A. arabiensis, the insecticide-susceptible SENN and the insecticide-resistant SENN DDT strains, were used to examine the effect of elevated temperatures on larval development and adult longevity. The effects of various elevated temperatures on insecticide resistance phenotypes were also examined and the biochemical basis of the changes in insecticide resistance phenotype was assessed.

RESULTS

SENN and SENN DDT larvae developed at similar rates at elevated temperatures. SENN DDT adult survivorship did not vary between control and elevated temperatures, while the longevity of SENN adults at constantly elevated temperatures was significantly reduced. SENN DDT adults lived significantly longer than SENN at constantly elevated temperatures. Elevated rearing temperatures, as well as a short-term exposure to 37 and 39 °C as adults, augmented pyrethroid resistance in adult SENN DDT, and increased pyrethroid tolerance in SENN. Detoxification enzyme activity was not implicated in this phenotypic effect. Quercertin-induced synergism of inducible heat shock proteins negated this temperature-mediated augmentation of pyrethroid resistance.

CONCLUSION

Insecticide-resistant A. arabiensis live longer than their susceptible counterparts at elevated temperatures. Exposure to heat shock augments pyrethroid resistance in both resistant and susceptible strains. This response is potentially mediated by inducible heat shock proteins.

A(maize)ing attraction: gravid Anopheles arabiensis are attracted and oviposit in response to maize pollen odours

BACKGROUND

Maize cultivation contributes to the prevalence of malaria mosquitoes and exacerbates malaria transmission in sub-Saharan Africa. The pollen from maize serves as an important larval food source for Anopheles mosquitoes, and females that are able to detect breeding sites where maize pollen is abundant may provide their offspring with selective advantages. Anopheles mosquitoes are hypothesized to locate, discriminate among, and select such sites using olfactory cues, and that synthetic volatile blends can mimic these olfactory-guided behaviours.

METHODS

Two-port olfactometer and two-choice oviposition assays were used to assess the attraction and oviposition preference of gravid Anopheles arabiensis to the headspace of the pollen from two maize cultivars (BH-660 and ZM-521). Bioactive compounds were identified using combined gas chromatography and electroantennographic detection from the headspace of the cultivar found to be most attractive (BH-660). Synthetic blends of the volatile compounds were then assessed for attraction and oviposition preference of gravid An. arabiensis, as above.

RESULTS

Here the collected headspace volatiles from the pollen of two maize cultivars was shown to differentially attract and stimulate oviposition in gravid An. arabiensis. Furthermore, a five-component synthetic maize pollen odour blend was identified, which elicited the full oviposition behavioural repertoire of the gravid mosquitoes.

CONCLUSIONS

The cues identified from maize pollen provide important substrates for the development of novel control measures that modulate gravid female behaviour. Such measures are irrespective of indoor or outdoor feeding and resting patterns, thus providing a much-needed addition to the arsenal of tools that currently target indoor biting mosquitoes.

The Role of Oxidative Stress in the Longevity and Insecticide Resistance Phenotype of the Major Malaria Vectors Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles funestus

Oxidative stress plays numerous biological roles, both functional and pathological. The role of oxidative stress in various epidemiologically relevant biological traits in Anopheles mosquitoes is not well established. In this study, the effects of oxidative stress on the longevity and insecticide resistance phenotype in the major malaria vector species An. arabiensis and An. funestus were examined. Responses to dietary copper sulphate and hydrogen peroxide were used as proxies for the oxidative stress phenotype by determining the effect of copper on longevity and hydrogen peroxide lethal dose. Glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities were determined colorimetrically. Oxidative burden was quantified as protein carbonyl content. Changes in insecticide resistance phenotype were monitored by WHO bioassay. Insecticide resistant individuals showed an increased capacity for coping with oxidative stress, mediated by increased glutathione peroxidase and catalase activity. This effect was observed in both species, as well as in laboratory strains and F₁ individuals derived from wild-caught An. funestus mothers. Phenotypic capacity for coping with oxidative stress was greatest in strains with elevated Cytochrome P450 activity. Synergism of oxidative stress defence enzymes by dietary supplementation with haematin, 3-Amino-1, 2, 4-triazole and Sodium diethyldithiocarbamate significantly increased pyrethroid-induced mortality in An. arabiensis and An. funestus. It is therefore concluded that defence against oxidative stress underlies the augmentation of the insecticide resistance phenotype associated with multiple blood-feeding. This is because multiple blood-feeding ultimately leads to a reduction of oxidative stress in insecticide resistant females, and also reduces the oxidative burden induced by DDT and pyrethroids, by inducing increased glutathione peroxidase activity. This study highlights the importance of oxidative stress in the longevity and insecticide resistance phenotype in malaria vectors.

The Influence of Insecticide Resistance, Age, Sex, and Blood Feeding Frequency on Thermal Tolerance of Wild and Laboratory Phenotypes of Anopheles funestus (Diptera: Culicidae)

Resistance to insecticides is a global phenomenon and is increasing at an unprecedented rate. How resistant and susceptible strains of malaria vectors might differ in terms of life history and basic biology is often overlooked, despite the potential importance of such information in light of changing climates. Here, we investigated the upper thermal limits (ULT50) of wild and laboratory strains of Anopheles funestus Giles mosquitoes, including resistance status, sex, age, and blood feeding status as potential factors influencing ULT50. No significant differences in ULT50 were observed between strains displaying different resistance patterns, nor was there a significant difference between wild and laboratory strains. In some instances, strains showed a senescence response, displaying decreased ULT50 with an increase in age, and differences between males and females (females displaying higher ULT50 than males). Blood feeding did not seem to influence ULT50 in any way. For An. funestus, it seems evident that there is no cost to resistance despite what is displayed in other anopheline species. This could have significant impacts for vector control, with resistant populations of An. funestus performing just as well, if not better, than susceptible strains, especially under changing environmental conditions such as those expected to occur with climate change.

Modelling the impact of declining insecticide resistance with mosquito age on malaria transmission

Background

The evolution of insecticide resistance can lead to an increase in the entomological indicators of malaria transmission, such as mosquito survival and blood feeding rates, thus threatening efforts to control malaria. Yet, there is little evidence from the field that malaria control programmes are failing due to insecticide resistance. One explanation for this apparent contradiction is the growing evidence that insecticide resistance declines with mosquito age. Once a mosquito is first infected by Plasmodium parasites, it will not be able to transmit those parasites until they have undergone development, which lasts around 10 days. Thus, although the evolution of resistance in a population will enhance the survival of young mosquitoes, the insecticide may still kill old, and thus potentially infectious, mosquitoes, and thereby maintaining its efficacy in controlling malaria.

Materials and Methods

The current evidence for age-related insecticide resistance is reviewed. A mathematical model is then described that predicts how the decline of resistance with the age of a mosquito will affect the intensity of transmission of malaria. The model combines the behavioural response of the mosquitoes to insecticides with an epidemiological model of malaria.

Results

It was found that phenotypic resistance decreases between 1.37% to 9.71% per day, independent of the mosquito species or strain. The models suggest that a decline in resistance within this range strongly diminishes the predicted impact of insecticide resistance on the effectiveness of malaria transmission-controlling interventions.

Conclusions

Our model can be used to assess the threat of insecticide-resistance for the control of malaria. The model confirms observations from the field suggesting that, even where genetically insecticide-resistant mosquitoes dominate populations, insecticides can substantially reduce the transmission of malaria.

Resisting infection by Plasmodium berghei increases the sensitivity of the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae to DDT

Background

The evolution of insecticide resistance threatens current malaria control methods, which rely heavily on chemical insecticides. The magnitude of the threat will be determined by the phenotypic expression of resistance in those mosquitoes that can transmit malaria. These differ from the majority of the mosquito population in two main ways; they carry sporozoites (the infectious stage of the Plasmodium parasite) and they are relatively old, as they need to survive the development period of the malaria parasite. This study examines the effects of infection by Plasmodium berghei and of mosquito age on the sensitivity to DDT in a DDT-resistant strain of Anopheles gambiae.

Methods

DDT-resistant Anopheles gambiae (ZANU) mosquitoes received a blood meal from either a mouse infected with Plasmodium berghei or an uninfected mouse. 10 and 19 days post blood meal the mosquitoes were exposed to 2%, 1% or 0% DDT using WHO test kits. 24 hrs after exposure, mortality and Plasmodium infection status of the mosquitoes were recorded.

Results

Sensitivity to DDT increased with the mosquitoes’ age and was higher in mosquitoes that had fed on Plasmodium-infected mice than in those that had not been exposed to the parasite. The latter effect was mainly due to the high sensitivity of mosquitoes that had fed on an infected mouse but were not themselves infected, while the sensitivity to DDT was only slightly higher in mosquitoes infected by Plasmodium than in those that had fed on an uninfected mouse.

Conclusions

The observed pattern indicates a cost of parasite-resistance. It suggests that, in addition to the detrimental effect of insecticide-resistance on control, the continued use of insecticides in a population of insecticide-resistant mosquitoes could select mosquitoes to be more susceptible to Plasmodium infection, thus further decreasing the efficacy of the control.

Aquatain® Mosquito Formulation (AMF) for the control of immature Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto and Anopheles arabiensis: dose-responses, persistence and sub-lethal effects

Background

Persistent monomolecular surface films could benefit larval source management for malaria control by reducing programme costs and managing insecticide resistance. This study evaluated the efficacy of the silicone-based surface film, Aquatain® Mosquito Formulation (AMF), for the control of the Afrotropical malaria vectors, Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto and Anopheles arabiensis in laboratory dose–response assays and standardized field tests.

Methods

Tests were carried out following guidelines made by the World Health Organization Pesticide Evaluation Scheme (WHOPES). Sub-lethal effects of AMF were evaluated by measuring egg-laying and hatching of eggs laid by female An. gambiae s.s. that emerged from habitats treated with a dose that resulted in 50% larval mortality in laboratory tests.

Results

Both vector species were highly susceptible to AMF. The estimated lethal doses to cause complete larval mortality in dose–response tests in the laboratory were 1.23 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.99-1.59) ml/m² for An. gambiae s.s. and 1.35 (95% CI 1.09-1.75) ml/m² for An. arabiensis. Standardized field tests showed that a single dose of AMF at 1 ml/m² inhibited emergence by 85% (95% CI 82-88%) for six weeks. Females exposed as larvae to a sub-lethal dose of AMF were 2.2 times less likely (Odds ratio (OR) 0.45, 95% CI 0.26-0.78) to lay eggs compared to those from untreated ponds. However, exposure to sub-lethal doses neither affected the number of eggs laid by females nor the proportion hatching.

Conclusion

AMF provided high levels of larval control for a minimum of six weeks, with sub-lethal doses reducing the ability of female mosquitoes to lay eggs. The application of AMF provides a promising novel strategy for larval control interventions against malaria vectors in Africa. Further field studies in different eco-epidemiological settings are justified to determine the persistence of AMF film for mosquito vector control and its potential for inclusion in integrated vector management programmes.

The effect of multiple blood-feeding on the longevity and insecticide resistant phenotype in the major malaria vector Anopheles arabiensis (Diptera: Culicidae)

Background

Anopheles arabiensis is a major malaria vector in Africa. Adult females are likely to imbibe multiple blood meals during their lifetime. This results in regular exposure to potential toxins and blood-meal induced oxidative stress. Defence responses to these stressors may affect other factors of epidemiological significance, such as insecticide resistance and longevity. The aims of this study were to examine the effect of multiple blood-feeding on insecticide tolerance/resistance with increasing age, to assess the underlying biochemical mechanisms for the responses recorded, and to assess the effect of multiple blood-feeding on the life histories of adult females drawn from insecticide resistant and susceptible laboratory reared An. arabiensis.

Methods

Laboratory reared An. arabiensis females from an insecticide resistant and an insecticide susceptible colony were offered either a single blood meal or multiple blood meals at 3-day intervals. Their tolerance or resistance to insecticide was then monitored by WHO bioassay four hours post blood-feeding. The biochemical basis of the phenotypic response was assessed by examining the effect of blood on detoxification enzyme activity and the effect of blood-meals on detoxification enzyme activity in ageing mosquitoes.

Results

Control cohorts that were not offered any blood meals showed steadily decreasing levels of insecticide tolerance/resistance with age, whereas a single blood meal significantly increased tolerance/resistance primarily at the age of three days. The expression of resistance/tolerance in those cohorts fed multiple blood meals generally showed the least variation with age. These results were consistent following exposure to DDT and pyrethroids but not to malathion. Multiple blood-meals also maintained the DDT and permethrin resistant phenotype, even after treatment females had stopped taking blood-meals. Biochemical analysis suggests that this phenotypic effect in resistant females may be mediated by the maintenance of increased glutathione s-transferase activity as a consequence of multiple blood-feeding. Multiple blood-feeding increased the longevity of insecticide resistant females regardless of their mating status, but only increased the longevity of unmated susceptible females.

Conclusion

These data suggest that multiple blood-feeding confers a competitive advantage to insecticide resistant females by increased longevity and maintenance of the expression of resistance with age.

Geometric morphometric analysis of Colombian Anopheles albimanus (Diptera: Culicidae) reveals significant effect of environmental factors on wing traits and presence of a metapopulation

Anopheles albimanus is a major malaria mosquito vector in Colombia. In the present study, wing variability (size and shape) in An. albimanus populations from Colombian Maracaibo and Chocó bio-geographical eco-regions and the relationship of these phenotypic traits with environmental factors were evaluated. Microsatellite and morphometric data facilitated a comparison of the genetic and phenetic structure of this species. Wing size was influenced by elevation and relative humidity, whereas wing shape was affected by these two variables and also by rainfall, latitude, temperature and eco-region. Significant differences in mean shape between populations and eco-regions were detected, but they were smaller than those at the intra-population level. Correct assignment based on wing shape was low at the population level (<58%) and only slightly higher (>70%) at the eco-regional level, supporting the low population structure inferred from microsatellite data. Wing size was similar among populations with no significant differences between eco-regions. Population relationships in the genetic tree did not agree with those from the morphometric data; however, both datasets consistently reinforced a panmictic population of An. albimanus. Overall, site-specific population differentiation is not strongly supported by wing traits or genotypic data. We hypothesize that the metapopulation structure of An. albimanus throughout these Colombian eco-regions is favoring plasticity in wing traits, a relevant characteristic of species living under variable environmental conditions and colonizing new habitats.

Indirect effects of cigarette butt waste on the dengue vector Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

Despite major insecticide-based vector control programs, dengue continues to be a major threat to public health in urban areas. The reasons for this failure include the emergence of insecticide resistance and the narrowing of the spectrum of efficient products. Cigarette butts (CBs), the most commonly discarded piece of waste, also represent a major health hazard to human and animal life. CBs are impregnated with thousands of chemical compounds, many of which are highly toxic and none of which has history of resistance in mosquitoes. This study was performed to examine whether exposure to CB alters various biological parameters of parents and their progeny. We examined whether the mosquito changes its ovipositional behaviors, egg hatching, reproductive capacity, longevity and fecundity in response to CB exposure at three different concentrations. Females tended to prefer microcosms containing CBs for egg deposition than those with water only. There were equivalent rates of eclosion success among larvae from eggs that matured in CB and water environments. We also observed decreased life span among adults that survived CB exposure. Extracts of CB waste have detrimental effects on the fecundity and longevity of its offspring, while being attractive to its gravid females. These results altogether indicate that CB waste indirectly affect key adult life traits of Aedes aegypti and could conceivably be developed as a novel dengue vector control strategy, referring to previously documented direct toxicity on the larval stage. But this will require further research on CB waste effects on non-target organisms including humans.