Evidence of Insecticide Resistance to Pyrethroids and Bendiocarb in Anopheles funestus from Tsararano, Marovoay District, Madagascar

Abstract EN

Introduction.

In Madagascar, malaria control relies on the countrywide use of long lasting insecticide treated bed nets (LLINs) and on indoor residual spraying (IRS) in the central highland area as well as a small area on the eastern coast.

We tested insecticide resistance mechanisms of Anopheles funestus from Tsararano, a malaria endemic village in the coastal health district of Marovoay.

Methods.

Insecticide susceptibility bioassays were done in July 2017 on first-generation Anopheles funestus (F1) to assess (i) the susceptibility to permethrin (0.05%), deltamethrin (0.05%), DDT (4%), malathion (5%), fenitrothion (1%), and bendiocarb (0.1%); (ii) the effect of preexposure to the piperonyl butoxide (PBO) synergist; and (iii) the enzymatic activities of cytochrome P450, esterases, and glutathione S-transferases (GST).

Results.

Our results demonstrated that An.

funestus was phenotypically resistant to pyrethroids and bendiocarb, with a mortality rate (MR) of 33.6% (95%CI: 24.5-43.7%) and 86% (95%CI: 77.6-92.1%), respectively.

In contrast, An.

funestus were 100% susceptible to DDT and organophosphates (malathion and fenitrothion).

Preexposure of An.

funestus to PBO synergist significantly restored the susceptibility to bendiocarb (MR=100%) and increased the MR in the pyrethroid group, from 96% (95%CI: 90.0-98.9%) to 100% for deltamethrin and permethrin, respectively (χ2 = 43, df = 3, P< 0.0001).

Enzymatic activities of cytochrome P450 and α-esterases were significantly elevated among An.

funestus compared with the IPM reference strain (Mann-Whitney U= 30, P<0.0001; U = 145.5, P <0.0001, respectively).

No significant differences of β-esterases activities compared to the IPM reference strain were observed (Mann-Whitney U = 392.5, P = 0.08).

Conclusion.

In Tsararano, despite the absence of an IRS programme, there is evidence of high levels of insecticide resistance to pyrethroids and bendiocarb in An.

funestus.

Biochemical data indicated that a metabolic resistance mechanism through the cytochrome P450 genes is operating in the An.

funestus population.