Author(s)

Jamila A. Datti¹, Muhammad M. Mukhtar¹, Maimuna T. Usman¹, Bilkisu I. Abba², Binta G. Kurfi¹, Sulaiman S. Ibrahim^1,3*

¹Department of Biochemistry, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria.
²Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria.
³Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, UK.

Information on Culex mosquitoes (vectors of filarial worm and viral encephalitis) from northern Nigeria is scanty, hindering evidence-based control. Here, two Culex populations (Kano and Kaduna) were characterized. Culex quinquefasciatus and Culex pipiens were found breeding in sympatry, with some hybrid individuals identified. Larval bioassays revealed high temephos resistance (LC₅₀s = 1.34 mg/mL and 3.01 mg/mL for Kano and Kaduna, respectively). Larvae were more sensitive to α-cypermethrin (LC₅₀s = 0.026 mg/mL and 0.067 mg/mL for Kano and Kaduna). WHO adult tube bioassays revealed high pyrethroid and DDT resistance, with mortalities of 44.01% ± 6.79%, 35.83% ± 12.58%, 29.69% ± 9.97% and 52.47% ± 4.34% for permethrin, deltamethrin, α-cypermethrin and DDT, respectively. Highest resistance was observed with bendiocarb (mortality = 13.58% ± 3.98%). High resistance was obtained with fenitrothion and malathion (mortalities = 21% ± 4.76% and 56.47% ± 8.67%, respectively), while a full susceptibility was observed with pirimiphos-methyl. Pre-exposure to piperonylbutoxide (PBO) significantly recovered α-cypermethrin susceptibility (mortality = 82% ± 5.16%, χ² = 50.99, p < 0.0001), compared with the conventional bioassay (mortality = 32 ± 7.30). Mortalities of <20% were obtained in cone bioassays with Yorkool, DuraNet and PermaNet3.0 (side panels) nets, suggesting a loss of efficacy of conventional long-lasting insecticidal nets. However, mortalities of 99% and 86% were obtained in Kano and Kaduna populations using the roof of PermaNet3.0 (containing PBO and deltamethrin). Despite the high frequency of the 1014F VGSC knockdown resistance mutation allele (0.90), no correlation was observed between the 1014F kdr genotype and resistance phenotype. Sequencing of fragments of the acetylcholinesterase-1 gene detected no G119S mutation, in malathion-alive and malathion-dead females. These suggest a preeminent role of metabolic resistance in these Culex populations.

Culex quinquefasciatus, Metabolic, Resistance, Insecticides, LLINs, PBO, P450s

A. Datti, J. , M. Mukhtar, M. , T. Usman, M. , I. Abba, B. , G. Kurfi, B. and S. Ibrahim, S. (2022) Evaluation of Efficacy of Insecticides and Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets for Control of Culex quinquefasciatus Say Populations from Northern Nigeria. Advances in Entomology, 10, 186-203. doi: 10.4236/ae.2022.102014.