Insecticide resistance and its intensity in urbanAnopheles arabiensisin Kisumu City, Western Kenya:Implications for malaria control in urban areas
Authors: Machani Maxwell G. , Nzioki Irene , Onyango Shirley A. , Onyango Brenda , Githure John , Atieli Harrysone , Wang Chloe , Lee Ming-Chieh , Githeko Andrew K. , Afrane Yaw A. , Ochomo Eric , Yan Guiyun 
Published: May 2024

Background

The rise of insecticide resistance poses a growing challenge to the effectiveness of vector control tools, particularly in rural areas. However, the urban setting has received comparatively less focus despite its significance in attracting rural to urban migration. Unplanned urbanization, often overlooked, exacerbates insecticide resistance asAnophelesmosquitoes adapt to the polluted environments of rapidly expanding cities. This study aimed to assess the insecticide susceptibility status of malaria vectors and identify potential underlying mechanisms across three distinct ecological settings characterized by differing levels of urbanization in Kisumu County, Kenya.

Methods

Field-derivedAn. gambiae(s.l.) larvae collected from a long stretch of urban-to-rural continuum were phenotyped as either resistant or susceptible to six different insecticides using the World Health Organization (WHO) susceptibility test. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques were used to identify the species of theAn. gambiaecomplex and screened for mutations at voltage-gated sodium channels (Vgsc-1014F, Vgsc-1014S, Vgsc-1575Y) and acetylcholinesterase Ace1-119S. Metabolic enzymes activities (non-specific β-esterases and monooxygenases) were evaluated in mosquitoes not exposed to insecticides using microplate assays. Additionally, during larval sampling, a retrospective questionnaire survey was conducted to determine pesticide usage by the local inhabitants.

Results

Anopheles arabiensisdominated in urban (96.2%) and peri-urban (96.8%) areas, whileAn. gambiae(s.s.) was abundant in rural settings (82.7%). Urban mosquito populations showed high resistance intensity to deltamethrin (Mortality rate: 85.2% at 10x) and suspected resistance to Pirimiphos-methyl and bendiocarb while peri-urban and rural populations exhibited moderate resistance intensity to deltamethrin (mortality rate >98% at 10x). Preexposure of mosquitoes to a synergist piperonyl butoxide (PBO) significantly increased mortality rates: from 40.7% to 88.5% in urban, 51.9% to 90.3% in peri-urban, and 55.4% to 87.6% in rural populations for deltamethrin, and from 41.4% to 78.8% in urban, 43.7% to 90.7% in peri-urban, and 35% to 84.2% in rural populations for permethrin. In contrast, 100% mortality to chlorfenapyr and clothianidin was observed in all the populations tested. The prevalence of L1014F mutation was notably higher in urbanAn. arabiensis(0.22) unlike the peri-urban (0.11) and rural (0.14) populations while the L1014S mutation was more prevalent in ruralAn. gambiae(0.93). Additionally, urbanAn. arabiensisexhibited elevated levels of mixed function oxidases (0.8/mg protein) and non-specific esterases (2.12/mg protein) compared to peri-urban (0.57/mg protein and 1.5/mg protein, respectively) and rural populations (0.6/mg protein and 1.8/mg protein, respectively). Pyrethroids, apart from their use in public health through LLINs, were being highly used for agricultural purposes across all ecological settings (urban 38%, peri-urban 36% and rural 37%) followed by amidine group, with organophosphates, neonicotinoids and carbamates being of secondary importance.

Conclusion

These findings show high resistance ofAn. arabiensisto insecticides commonly used for vector control, linked with increased levels of detoxification enzymes. The observed intensity of resistance underscores the pressing issue of insecticide resistance in urban areas, potentially compromising the effectiveness of vector control measures, especially pyrethroid-treated LLINs. Given the species’ unique behavior and ecology compared toAn. gambiae, tailored vector control strategies are needed to address this concern in urban settings.