First Report of Susceptibility Status of the Invasive Vector: Aedes albopictus to insecticides used in vector control in Morocco

TL;DR

This study reports the first assessment of insecticide susceptibility of invasive Aedes albopictus in Morocco, revealing resistance to some insecticides and susceptibility to others, informing future vector control strategies.

Contribution

It provides the first data on insecticide resistance of Aedes albopictus in Morocco, aiding in resistance management and control efforts.

Findings

Susceptible to cyfluthrin

Resistant to DDT, bendiocarb, fenithrothion

Larvae remain sensitive to temephos

Abstract

Aedes albopictus has been newly recorded in Agdal district at Rabat in Morocco. The establishment of this invasive mosquito could affect the public health by causing serious epidemics despite of its high nuisance in urban and sub-urban areas. Vector control is mainly based on environmental management but chemical insecticides can be used to reduce adult mosquito densities during peak periods. However, the level of susceptibility of this mosquito to insecticides has not been studied yet in Morocco. This paper reports the results of the first study conducted to monitor the insecticide resistance of adult and larva Ae. albopictus to the insecticides currently used in the vector control. The study was carried out during May-June 2018 at Rabat from the north-west of the country. Adult susceptibility tests were performed following the WHO test procedures. One organochlorate (DDT 4%), one pyrethroids (cyfluthrin 0.15%), one carbamate (bendiocarb 0.1%) and one organophosphate (fenithrothion 1%) were tested at diagnostic doses (DD). The five-fold DD of bendiocarb were also used to yield information on the intensity of mosquito adult resistance. The results of the performed susceptibility bioassay showed that the vector is susceptible to cyfluthrin and resistant to DDT, bendiocarb and fenithrothion. Larval bioassays to temephos were conducted according to WHO standard operating protocol to establish the dose-mortality relationship and deduct the LC50 and LC90 then resistance ratios. We show that larval populations of Ae. albopictus are still sensible to this insecticide. This information could help policy-makers to plan insecticide resistance management.